NEWS

In preparation for the start of the 2022 GAUNTLET OF POLO®, the United States Polo Association (USPA) hosted the C.V. Whitney Cup® draw on Monday, January 31, at the International Polo Club Palm Beach (IPC) in Wellington, Florida. Attended by representatives from each of the nine teams, the Monday night draw featured live music and an Argentine-style asado held poolside at the club’s Mallet Grill. Kicking off his first season in a new role, USPA Chief Operating Officer & In-House Counsel Chris Green welcomed everyone to the 2022 GAUNTLET OF POLO®.

Both USPA Chairman Stewart Armstrong and Michael Prince (President and CEO of USPA Global Licensing Inc.) spoke about the significance of the GAUNTLET for the brand and the sport in its fourth consecutive year. The official C.V. Whitney Cup® draw was conducted by Jimmy Newman, IPC Polo Manager, and Haley Bryan, IPC Polo Coordinator, and determined the playing order for the first tournament of the GAUNTLET OF POLO®, which begins Sunday, February 6 at IPC. All games will be livestreamed exclusively on Global Polo TV.

Showcasing nine competitive high-goal teams and nine 10-goal players, the GAUNTLET OF POLO® brings together the world’s best polo players and their incredible horse strings for three months of nonstop action. Hoping to start the 2022 season off strong with consecutive titles, 2021 C.V. Whitney Cup® defending champions Park Place will return with a new addition to their roster. Challengers also vying for the GAUNTLET and a potential $200,000 in prize money include the inaugural and reigning GAUNTLET champions, Pilot, as well as new teams La Fe and Dutta Corp/Show+. Making a strong debut as an 18-goal team, La Fe has reached both the Iglehart Cup and Ylvisaker Cup Finals.

Revising the prize money distribution for the 2022 season, the new format guarantees a total of $200,000 in prize money. $50,000 will be awarded to each of the winning teams of the C.V. Whitney Cup® and USPA Gold Cup®. Similarly, $100,000 in prize money will be presented to the winner of the U.S. Open Polo Championship® and any team that wins all three tournaments will be crowned the GAUNTLET Champion. In keeping with the spirit of philanthropy, U.S. Polo Assn. will provide a $2,500 donation to the winner and runner-up teams of all three finals to be donated to a polo charity of their choice.

The list of participating teams in their newly announced tournament brackets are available below:

Bracket I

1. Coca-Cola (21) Gillian Johnston (1), Nico Escobar* (5), Rufino Bensadon (8), Julian de Lusarreta (7)
2. Park Place (22) Andrey Borodin (0), Juan Britos (9), Hilario Ulloa (10), Cody Ellis* (3)
3. Pilot (22) Curtis Pilot (0), Mackenzie Weisz (5), Facundo Pieres (10), Matias Torres Zavaleta (7)

Bracket II

1. Cessna (21) Will Johnston (2), Camp Campbell (2), Miguel Novillo Astrada (9), Gringo Colombres (8)
2. La Indiana (21) Stewart Armstrong (3), Jeff Hall (6), Lucas ‘Luckitas’ Criado Jr. (5), Mariano Aguerre (7)
3. SD Farms (22) Sayyu Dantata (2), Lucas Escobar* (4), Pelon Stirling (10), Peco Polledo (6)

Bracket III

1. Dutta Corp/Show+ (22) Timmy Dutta* (4), Tomas Garcia del Rio (8), Iñaki Laprida (7), Joaquin Avendaño (3)
2. La Fe (20) Louis Devaleix (0), Robi Bilbao (5), Francisco Elizalde (9), Lucas Diaz Alberdi (6)
3. Scone (22) David Paradice (0), Keko Magrini (3), Poroto Cambiaso (9), Adolfo Cambiaso (10)

FORMAT

Teams play within their bracket. Following bracket play, all teams will be ranked 1-9 based on win-loss, then net goals, then gross goals. Teams ranked eighth and ninth will have a playoff game. After the playoff game, teams will play a quarterfinal. Teams ranked 1, 2, 3 and 4 will draw from remaining teams (5,6,7,8) for quarterfinal parings. Semifinals will be paired by draw and the winners of the semifinals will advance into the C.V. Whitney Cup® Final.

“The 18-goal polo we’ve seen the first few weeks here in Wellington, Florida, has been outstanding,” USPA Chairman and GAUNTLET OF POLO® competitor Stewart Armstrong said. “I expect the polo we’re going to see throughout the GAUNTLET is going to be really outstanding. I want to thank the team owners who have put teams in this tournament and I certainly want to congratulate all the players who found their way onto these competitive teams. May the best team win.”

The 2022 GAUNTLET OF POLO® will begin February 6-27, with the C.V. Whitney Cup®, followed by the USPA Gold Cup® March 1-27 and conclude with the U.S. Open Polo Championship® March 29-April 24. All Sunday featured games will be held on the prestigious U.S. Polo Assn. Stadium Field.

*Nico Escobar, Lucas Escobar, Kristos "Keko" Magrini and Timmy Dutta are Active Team USPA Members. Cody Ellis is a Graduating Team USPA Member. Team USPA is a USPA program designed to enhance and grow the sport of polo in the United States by identifying young, talented American players and providing mentored training and playing opportunities leading to a pool of higher rated amateur and pro players and the resultant giveback to the sport of polo.