The southern hemisphere’s big polo season gets under way tomorrow. The 132nd Hurlingham Open is scheduled to begin on Tuesday 23 September, and it runs until the final on Saturday 4 October.
The field
Eight teams will contest the first leg of the Triple Crown: La Natividad La Dolfina, La Irenita La Hache, UAE Polo, Ellerstina Indios Chapaleufú, La Ensenada, La Hache Cría and Polo, Los Machitos El Refugio and Sol de Agosto. La Natividad La Dolfina, the 40-goal team of Adolfo and Poroto Cambiaso with Camilo and Bartolomé Castagnola, arrive as the team to beat.
The format
The Hurlingham Open is a short, intense tournament that builds to a single final on 4 October. In an Open, matches start at zero, so the favourites have no handicap cushion. That rewards teams with depth and calm under pressure, and upsets can happen.
- Teams: eight
- Format: short Open ending in one final
- Schedule: 23 September to 4 October
- Venue: Hurlingham, Buenos Aires Province
Who could challenge?
Ellerstina, led by Facundo Pieres with Gonzalo Pieres and the Heguy brothers, are the next highest rated of the established teams at 36 goals. La Hache La Irenita and UAE Polo are both 37 goals on paper, which puts them one goal ahead of Ellerstina in handicap terms, though handicaps do not count in an Open. Los Machitos and Sol de Agosto, at 32, are the underdogs, but both have talented, experienced players, and a short tournament is a great leveller.
A historic event
The first Hurlingham Open was played in 1893, and the Hurlingham team won it. It is among the oldest tournaments in Argentina and the one that opens the Triple Crown each year.
The weather could have a say. We will watch the forecast and bring you the results next Monday.
Sources: Polo School Argentina, Triple Crown 2025, ESPN Deportes, Triple Corona 2025
