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Azerbaijan Land of Fire Retain Snow Polo World Cup St. Moritz Trophy

Azerbaijan Land of Fire Retain Snow Polo World Cup St. Moritz Trophy

Snow Polo World Cup St. Moritz 2023

The excitement was palpable as the most glamorous and spectacular snow polo event in the world reached its climax. The world’s press, polo aficionados, and more than 25,500 spectators from both St. Moritz and across the globe all gathered for this much-anticipated snow-held event.

Everyone looked forward to a true clash of the polo Titans as some of the best polo players in the world battled on the frozen lake of St. Moritz. Snow Polo World Cup founder and CEO Reto Gaudenzi enthuses, “We have had fantastic weather, great polo, and have sold every ticket available. The event this year is unbelievable!”

Snow Polo World Cup St. Moritz 2023

And he certainly is not wrong—this is an incredible event that needs to be experienced to be believed and needs to be on everybody’s to-do list.

The first match of the day saw a fast and flowing game as Flexjet takes on World Polo League for the Casablanca Trophy. Flexjet’s Clemente Delfosse opened the scoring, but World Polo League quickly dominated the play for the first half. After half-time, Flexjet began to flex their muscles but were unable to catch mother and son Melissa and Grant Ganzi duo’s World Polo League. The latter eventually won with 7 to 5.5.

Snow Polo World Cup St. Moritz 2023

The record-breaking crowds were in for a treat with the second match of the day. The audience saw Clinique La Prairie and The Kusnacht Practice go head to head in the subsidiary final for the St. Moritz Trophy. Clinique La Prairie’s Matthias Normann wasted no time in opening the scoring. The Kusnacht Practice struggled to find their form in the first half, with fantastic defense from Clinique La Prairie hampering each attempt on goal. 

With evenly matched teams, the game was fast-flowing, open, and thrilling to watch. The 1 to 0 score at half-time did not reflect the efforts of both sides. The start of the third chukka saw Alejo Taranco equalize, but he was effectively marked out of the second half. Juan Guerrero took the lead to the delight of their supporters, which brought on frenzied efforts from Clinique La Prairie to equalize. They managed with a strong penalty from Marc Ganzi, which meant that with just 20 seconds left on the clock, the match was pushed into a sudden death, golden goal overtime period. 

An expectant hush fell over the crowd as they watch this pivotal part of the match. As commentator Jan-Erik Franck points out, “You could hear a snowflake drop, it’s so tense.” 

After a frenetic battle for possession, a penalty was given in favor of Clinique La Prairie, which ‘The Cobra’ Ganzi effortlessly sent home to secure the second win for the Ganzi family.

Snow Polo World Cup St. Moritz 2023

For the finale, a skilled and on form St. Moritz team faced last year’s winners—the well-drilled Azerbaijan Land of Fire team. Sparkling sunshine, music pumping out courtesy of DJ Mr Mike and ‘on tap’ Perrier Jouët champagne meant the fur clad, uber glam spectators were in high spirits as the first ball was thrown in. The pressure was on for Azerbaijan Land of Fire to deliver the goods for the second year, and they were on full power from the first throw in. Their line-up had also seen a tactical change of players to allow the final to take place between teams of even handicaps. So the talented Tito Gaudenzi who plays off 2 goals and had played in the team’s two winning matches was replaced by Tarlan Gurbanaliyev for the final.

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Azerbaijan Land of Fire were determined to bag the trophy for a second year running; meanwhile, St. Moritz players Max Charlton and Nacho Gonzalez were both planning a sixth victory in the prestigious tournament. As expected from the first throw in, the action was fast-paced and passionate with fast, flowing attacking play matched with skilled, strong defense from both teams.

Snow Polo World Cup St. Moritz 2023

Azerbaijan Land of Fire played from the outset with their usual veuve and enthusiasm, which was equally matched by team St. Moritz with alacrity. With little dividing the teams, it was too close to call at half-time, with the scores at 3 to 2 to Azerbaijan Land of Fire. At the start of the fourth chukka, the scores were even. Despite both teams playing off all cylinders, the result was still tied at five goals apiece at the end of the chukka. Play then went into extra time for only the second occasion in the last 15 years of the tournament’s history. Despite valiant efforts from team St. Moritz, Adrian Laplacette Jr.converted a penalty in the golden goal period to claim the trophy for the second year running.

The Most Valuable Player honors was awarded to Adrian. Meanwhile, the Polo Times and Evivva St. Moritz Best Playing Pony was awarded by Nick Hine to Max Charlton for Cicatriz, the gelding which played so brilliantly in the third chukka, owned by Spencer McCarthy.

After three days of truly world-class polo, the spectacular event drew to a close. It was time for the team of 180 people who are employed to make sure the event runs with classic Swiss efficiency to say a fond farewell. Until, of course, next year—see you at the 39th Snow Polo World Cup St. Moritz on January 26 to 28 next year!

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