NEWS

Jointly hosting the GAUNTLET OF POLO® for the third consecutive season, the United States Polo Association (USPA), USPA Global Licensing (USPAGL) and International Polo Club Palm Beach (IPC) are pleased to announce the nine teams that will contend for the trophy in 2021. The pinnacle of American high-goal competition, the GAUNTLET OF POLO® produced a record number of teams and fiercely competitive games in its first year, crowning an inaugural champion. Drawing the most skilled athletes and finest horses in the world, the GAUNTLET OF POLO® is a true test of endurance over the course of three months of competition.

Featuring 14 teams, the 2020 GAUNTLET OF POLO® was postponed during the USPA Gold Cup® due to health concerns related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Claiming the first of the three trophies, the C.V. Whitney Cup 11-10, Las Monjitas solidified their place as the only contender for the 2020 title. The conclusion of the 2020 USPA Gold Cup® will be played in February at the world-renowned International Polo Club Palm Beach (Wellington, Florida) before the start of the 2021 GAUNTLET OF POLO® season. Reigning 2019 GAUNTLET OF POLO® Champions Pilot are among the nine teams, seeking to inscribe their name on the trophy for the second time and secure the $900,000 prize money purse in 2021.

2021 GAUNTLET OF POLO® TEAMS:

1. Tonkawa (22) Sapo Caset (10), Francisco Elizalde (9), Cody Ellis (3), Jeff Hildebrand (0.5)
2. Cessna (22) Chip Campbell (2), Mariano Obregon (7), Ezequiel Ferrario (7), Jared Zenni (6)
3. Pilot (22) Gonzalito Pieres (10), Facundo Pieres (10), Kristos Magrini (2), Curtis Pilot (0.5)
4. Park Place (22) Hilario Ulloa (10), Juan Britos (8), Matt Coppola (4), Andrey Borodin (0)
5. Coca-Cola (22) Gillian Johnston (1.5), Julian de Lusarreta (8), Nicolas Pieres (9), Mackenzie Weisz (4)
6. Scone (22) Adolfo Cambiaso (10), Poroto Cambiaso (6), Mariano 'Peke' Gonzalez Jr. (6), David Paradice (0)
7. Santa Clara (22) Will Johnston (2), Miguel Novillo Astrada (9), Felipe Vercellino (6), Luis Escobar (5)
8. La Indiana (22) Jeff Hall (6), Polito Pieres (10), Nicolas Escobar (4), Michael Bickford (2)
9. Aspen/Dutta Corp (21) Timmy Dutta (4), Lucas Diaz Alberdi (6), Gringo Colombres (8), Stewart Armstrong (3)

“Looking forward to the third annual GAUNTLET OF POLO®, we are proud to have created the most prestigious tournament series in the country which continues to attract many of the best players and teams in the sport,” said Robert Puetz, CEO of the United States Polo Association. “Although the 2021 season will look different than anyone had envisioned or hoped, we are confident fans will enjoy a superior viewing experience through Global Polo TV and are thrilled for the highly-anticipated conclusion of the 2020 USPA Gold Cup®.”

The 2021 GAUNTLET OF POLO® will begin February 17-March 7, with the C.V. Whitney Cup®, continue with the USPA Gold Cup®, March 10-28, and conclude with the illustrious U.S. Open Polo Championship® March 31-April 18. Revising the prize money distribution for the 2021 season, the new format still guarantees a total of $1 million in prize money, however runners-up in each tournament will also receive a portion of the earnings. $100,000 will be awarded to each of the winning teams of the C.V. Whitney Cup® and USPA Gold Cup® and $25,000 to each runner up. Similarly, $200,000 in prize money will be presented to the winner of the U.S. Open Polo Championship® and $50,000 awarded to the runner up. Additionally, any team who wins all three tournaments consecutively will receive a $500,000 bonus and be crowned as the GAUNTLET Champion.

All three tournaments will be livestreamed on Global Polo TV’s (GPTV) OTT platform, accessible on globalpolo.com and on major apps including iOS, Android, Roku and Amazon FireTV. Plus, on Sunday, May 9 the U.S. Open Polo Championship® Final will be aired to millions of viewers on CBS Sports. November 2020 marked the beginning of GPTV’s transition to a pay-to-view live game packages for non-USPA members consisting of three package options: the Polo Pass, the GAUNTLET OF POLO® Pass and the Premium Polo Pass. All USPA playing and lifetime members who have paid their membership dues will receive the Premium Polo Pass complimentary while all USPA Social Members will receive the Polo Pass for free, once dues are paid in full. The Polo Pass is the only one of the three passes which excludes the 2021 GAUNTLET OF POLO®. Special offers will be available at www.globalpolo.com through December 31, 2020.

For more information on the GAUNTLET OF POLO®, please visit uspolo.org/gauntlet-of-polo. For more information about spectatorship and COVID-19 protocols at the International Polo Club Palm Beach, please click here.