Gold Cup 2022 Tournament Fixture Announced

GOLD CUP 2022 FIXTURE  |  PRESS CONFERENCE REPLAY

The schedule of Gold Cup 2022 (Dubai Open) tournament was officially released at a press conference and live draw held in Al Habtoor Polo Resort hotel. The event welcomed the presence of the sponsors, media and participating teams.

The prestigious Dubai Open is held under the Patronage of HH Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and is scheduled on 14th February until 5^th of March. The tournament will have eight teams vying for the coveted cup of the Dubai Polo Gold Cup (DPGC) Series.

The Gold Cup is one of the five tournaments of the DPGC Series and is now on its 13^th year. The tournament is recognized and certified by the World Polo Tour (WPT) and played under the WPT Championship Cup which is considered as one of the highest competition in terms of points. It awards 125 points to its winners, 65 points to the finalists, 45 points to the semi-finalists and 30 points to all other participating players.

It is the only tournament in the United Arab Emirates that is played in this category, on a par with tournaments held in Argentina, Spain, UK and USA. The tournaments under the DPGC Series are follows Hurlingham Polo Association (HPA) rules and plays under the provision of its umpires.

This year, the Dubai Open has received support from numerous sponsors – Auto Millennium Group, Gulf Business Machines, PROW, and Plutas Trading.

Mohammed K. Al Habtoor, Vice Chairman & CEO of Al Habtoor Group, Founder of the DPGC Series and Patron of Habtoor Polo team were joined by HE Saeed Mohammed Hareb, Secretary General of the Dubai Sports Council, Gareth Bernett-Jones, Managing Director of Auto Millennium Group and Santiago Torreguitar, Tournament Director of the UAE Polo Federation.

Mohammed Al Habtoor said, “We are proud to host another year of the Dubai Open. The tournament has grown from a 10-12 goal handicap tournament in 2009 to an internationally recognized and widely anticipated 18 goal tournament in the Middle East since 2015. The milestones that we have achieved over the years were made possible through the confidence of our sponsors, polo patrons, and athletes.

The last two years were challenging for us as it was for the rest of the world, and yet we continue to tread boldly in to our 13^th year, continuously hosting a world-class polo event that will serve as an impetus to developing a new generation of polo athletes in the country.”

Participating teams of the Gold Cup 2022 tournament include:

UAE Polo

Patron: HH Sheikha Maitha Bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum

Players:

• HH Sheikah Maitha Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum (0)
• Lucas Monteverde Jr. (5)
• Tommy Beresford (6)
  Jacinto Crotto (7)

Abu Dhabi Polo
Patron: Faris Yabhouni

Players:

• Faris Yabhouni (0)
• Segundo Amadori (4)
• Jeronimo del Carril (7)
• Santiago Ceradas (7)

AM Polo
Patron: HH Sheikha Alia Al Maktoum

Players:

• Sheikha Alia Al Maktoum (0)
• Pablo Urquiza (4)
• Benjamin Urquiza (6)
• Alejandro Muzzio (8)

Bangash Dodson & Horrell Polo
Patron: Haider Bangash

Players:

• Haider Bangash (0)
• Federico von Potobsky (5)
• Nicolas Corti Madena (5)
• Benjamin Panelo (7)

Dubai Wolves by CAFU

Patron: Habtoor Al Habtoor

Players:

• Habtoor Al Habtoor (1)
• Charles Cooney (3)
• Carlos Ulloa (6)
• Alfredo Cappella (8)

Ghantoot Polo
Patron: Nasser Al Shamsi

Players:

• Nasser Al Shamsi (1)
• Kian Hall (3)
• Pablo Llorente (7)
• Marcos Araya (7)

Habtoor Polo
Patron: Mohammed Al Habtoor

Players:

• Mohammed K. Al Habtoor (0)
• Matias Gonzales (4)
• Juan Jauretche (6)
• Bautista Bayugar (8)

Zedan Polo
Patron: Amr Zedan

Players:

• Amr Zedan (0)
• Gonzalo Ferrari (5)
• Manuel Plaza (6)
• Tomas Panelo (7)

MAIN SPONSOR

Auto Millennium Group

AUTOMILLENNIUM GROUP is the largest automotive related products, services, and customization group in the region with 16 years of experience.

 
With over 1 million happy customers, it is the only group in the region that has anything, and everything related to automotive having partnerships with prestigious brands such as Bentley, Bugatti, McLaren, Lamborghini, Ferrari, Maserati, JLR, BMW, Mitsubishi, Kia, Toyota to name a few.
 
SIGNATURE FACTORY is the first-ever Car Customization Factory in the Middle East for enhancing the appearance of new vehicles with interior and exterior upgrades. Our production line currently manufactures 500 cars monthly operating 24hrs a day, together with RETROFIT for add-on accessories such as wireless chargers, rear entertainment systems, blind spot detection etc.
 
RHINOMOTIVE an industry Game Changer that not only offers an extensive high-quality automotive aftermarket product portfolio but a complete integrated and efficient work system that reduces cost and increases profit margins.
 
AUTOCARE360 offers 30+ car care services for full vehicle protection with AUTOCLINIC+ our retail arm.
 
For more information: https://www.automillennium.com/

OTHER SPONSORS

Gulf Business Machines

With more than 30 years of experience, 7 offices and over 1500 employees across the region - Gulf Business Machines (GBM) is a leading end-to-end digital solutions provider, offering the region’s broadest portfolio, including industry-leading digital infrastructure, digital business solutions, security and services.

GMB has nurtured partnerships with the world’s leading technology companies and invested in a talented, skilled workforce to implement solutions that cater to customer’s specific, complex and diverse business needs. With on-the ground, readily available expertise, GBM provides round-the-clock support to customers across the region

For more information: https://www.gbmme.com/

PROW

CO-SPONSORS

Hildon Water

Hildon is an English Natural Mineral Water which lies deep within the chalk hills of Hampshire, as a result it is of the highest quality. Bottled at its source on the Hildon Estate in Hampshire and Imported from the UK, it is distributed exclusively by Top Shelf Beverages in the region, Hildon Natural Mineral Water is a proud sponsor and supporter of the Dubai Polo Gold Cup Series 2016.

Diamond Lease

Diamondlease L.L.C, a fully owned subsidiary of the Al Habtoor Group, was established in 1996 to offer automotive rental and leasing solutions, as an alternative to owning and maintaining vehicles, to Corporate and Individual customers in the UAE. Diamond lease serves more than 700 companies and multinational conglomerates operating in UAE, handling and managing their transportation requirements. 

Diamondlease is an ISO 9001:2008 certified company with a fleet of over 8400 vehicles. It was the first local Car Rental Company in UAE to receive an ISO certification and has proudly held the accreditation since 1999.

In recognition of its sound business ethics and outstanding customer service, Diamondlease was one of the first car rental companies to have been nominated as a member of the prestigious Dubai Service Excellence Scheme (DSES) in 2003. Diamondlease has been awarded the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) Travel Awards being adjudged the “Best Car Rental Company” – Local Brand for 7 years in a row.

GIFT SPONSOR

Plutas Trading

With a passion & love for all things beautiful, Plutas Luxury Brands was established in 2018, by a small dynamic, energetic and well experienced team, arriving from Luxury Hospitality backgrounds and in the Distribution of opulent Brands for 10 years.

For more information: http://www.plutastrading.com/

MEDIA PARTNERS:

Pololine TV

PLTV is the first online streaming polo site, broadcasting over 25 tournaments LIVE per year around the globe, reaching +200k viewers. The production and edition of exclusive content makes PLTV the most comprehensive polo channel in the world.

Al Badia Magazine

Since 2008, Al Badia, the prestigious Arabic venture is devoted to bringing the latest news and views on the equestrian world, Polo sporting and lifestyle. In fact, it is a tribute to the age-old passion for the thoroughbred, an integral part of the rich Arabian culture.

 
Al Badia focuses a gamut of information on the highly valued sport of horseracing, including information about events taking place in the Arab world and about organizations and services sought by equestrians of all disciplines.

Besides being a specialized lifestyle magazine to meet the refined taste of the equestrian community, it features a wide range of information including very exclusive coverages like interviews of the Sheikhs and the who’s who of the Arab world. It targets the crème de la crème of the society and is widely circulated across different regions of the Gulf & Middle East.

 
Al Badia is a good platform to showcase premium brands, as it has a wide readership comprising sports enthusiasts, socialites, eminent personalities, celebrities and the royalty.

Sport360

Sport360 is a leading digital publisher and sports consultancy agency. Known in the region for almost a decade as the leading sports publisher in Arabic and English, Sport360 is the embodiment of sporting passion.

GOVERNMENT SUPPORT

Dubai Sports Council

Dubai Sports Council is the official government body responsible for the development of the sport sector in the Emirate of Dubai. Under the Chairmanship of H.H. Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, and its 14 Board

Members; the Council supervises the work of nine local clubs in Dubai, six of which practice a variety of individual and or team sports, such as football, handball and archery; in addition to the chess club and a club devoted for those with special needs.

Since its inception in 2006, with the vision of creating a unique sporting community, the Council organizes various annual major Sports Championships and Conferences, in cooperation with multiple International/National sports bodies and Dubai Government Entities, such as the Dubai International Sports Conference, Samsung Beach Soccer Intercontinental Cup and the FINA Diving World Series; in an attempt to enhance the culture, knowledge and expertise of professionalism in all aspects of the field; from the overall preparation and/or execution of the event.
 
Dubai became the first Arab and Middle East city to host the Sport Accord International Convention in 2010, and stages the annual Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Creative Sports Award, the most prestigious Award of the Middle East Region. Though the Council works on various major international sports events, it does not overlook the importance of spreading the awareness of a healthier, more active lifestyle locally; and in order to achieve such objectives, physical activity programs and initiatives, such as the Dubai Pulse Physical Activity program, the Furjan District Championships and the Dubai Beach Soccer League, have all been designed to target the various communities within the Emirate.

UAE Polo Federation

The UAE Polo Federation is the official governing body of the sport of polo in the United Arab Emirates. The association has been organized to promote the game of polo with the goal of improving the sport, coordinating the activities of its affiliated clubs and registered players and providing rules, handicaps and conditions for those tournaments, competitions, including the safety of participants.