The Standard Chartered Gold Cup 2020, held under the Patronage of His Highness Sheikh Maktoum Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai, is scheduled to kick off on 16 February 2020 with the participation of eight of the region’s renowned polo teams. The tournament’s live draw was held on 10 February 2020 at Al Habtoor Polo Resort & Club, home ground of the Dubai Polo Gold Cup (DPGC) Series.
Growing in parallel with the city of Dubai, the Gold Cup (Dubai Open) is one of the five- mid to high-goal tournaments that fall under the umbrella of the DPGC Series. Along with the Silver Cup and Dubai Challenge Cup, also part of the DPGC Series, the Gold Cup is certified by the World Polo Tour (WPT). As part of the WPT Championship Cup, the Dubai Open is considered to be one of the highest competitions in terms of points, on par with just four global tournaments held in Argentina, Spain, UK and US. Awarding 125 points to its winners, 65 points to finalists, 45 points to semi-finalists and 30 points to other participating players. The tournament is played under the banner of the Hurlingham Polo Association (HPA), as per strict HPA rules and umpire supervision.
The Dubai Open saw at least six and up to eleven teams compete each year since inception and has achieved prominence through high-intensity games with world-class players such as 10-goal superstars Pelon Stirling, Pablo Mac Donough, Polito Pieres, and Alejandro Novillo Estrada ; famous 9-goalers including Lucas Montverde, Naci Heguy, Nico Pieres, and Alfredo Cappella.
In the tournament’s 11th year, Standard Chartered Bank takes on the role of title sponsor.
At the live draw, Mohammed Khalaf Al Habtoor, Vice Chairman & CEO of Al Habtoor Group, Founder of the DPGC Series and Patron of Habtoor Polo team was joined by Ali Hammad, Market Head, Private Banking, MENA region for Standard Chartered Bank; Joseph Tayar, General Manager of Al Habtoor Motors’ Prestige Division, and Santiago Torreguitar, Tournament Director of Emirates Polo Association.
Al Habtoor said: “We’re honoured to complete a decade of world-class polo in the region and are celebrating the achievement with our new partner, Standard Chartered Private Bank. As we begin another exciting season of the Dubai Open, I look forward to a thrilling tournament with the eight teams gracing our fields over the next days.”
Ali Hammad, Market Head, Private Banking, Middle East and North Africa (MENA) said, “The Standard Chartered Gold Cup 2020 tournament is in line with our brand values and our strategy at Standard Chartered Private Bank, which aims at driving the acceleration of our business growth in the MENA region. The Bank has been a long-standing advocate of various sporting events and teams around the globe, including a 10-year sponsorship of the leading English football club, Liverpool FC and a 16-year sponsorship of the Standard Chartered Dubai Marathon”.
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Dubai Polo Gold Cup, P.O. Box 25444, Dubai, U.A.E.
The Standard Chartered Gold Cup will have the participation of top-ranking World Polo Tour players, including Facundo Sola (ranked 19 in the world), Alfredo Capella Barabucci (ranked 42 in the world), who are both 9-goal handicap players; Juan Gris Zavaleta (ranked 22 in the world), and many others who have come directly from the Argentine Open
Participating teams include:
Abu Dhabi Polo Team (Patron: Faris Al Yabhouni)
AM/UAE Polo Team (Patron: Sheikha Alya Al Maktoum)
Bangash Polo Team (Patron: Haider Bangash)
Dubai Wolves (Patron: Habtoor Al Habtoor)
Ghantoot Polo Team (Patron: Ali Al Merri)
Habtoor Polo Team (Patron: Mohammed K. Al Habtoor)
UAE Polo Team (Patron: HH Sheikha Maitha bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum)
Zedan Polo Team (Patron: Amr Zedan)
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ABOUT DUBAI POLO GOLD CUP SERIES
The Dubai Polo Gold Cup (DPGC) Series was founded in 2009 by Mohammed K. Al Habtoor, patron of Habtoor Polo team. Year on year, the tournament has reached new heights. In 2012, the Gold Cup was recognized by the World Polo Tour (WPT), and in January 2014 the WPT committee credited the Gold Cup tournament as being the highest competition in terms of points within the WPT Challenge Cup category, elevating it to 50 points for the winner. 2015 marked the first time that the WPT upgraded the Gold Cup tournament from ‘Challenge Cup’ to the highly coveted ‘WPT Cup’, resulting in winners received 60 points. In 2017 the tournament was moved up to WPT Championship Cup – the highest competition in terms of points, awarding its winners with 125 points. The Silver Cup is are ranked under the ‘WPT Challenge Cup’ category – with winners receiving 50 and 25 points. The Dubai Challenge Cup belongs under the WPT Challenge Cup category giving its winners 20 points.
The DPGC Series is proud to be the only tournament series with this exclusive accreditation in the GCC and MENA Region, ranking it among the best polo tournaments worldwide.
