Despite the chilly weather, the matches at the 25th Barnes French Open have been hotly contested since 4 September. After a series of hard-fought group matches, some of which required penalty shoot-outs to separate the teams, the quarter-finalists have now been decided.
In the qualifying round of the Barnes French Open, Juan-Martin Zubia and Talandracas (in grey and pink) dominated Javier Guerrero and Essso. The two teams could meet again next week in the semi-finals! © Justine Jacquemot
But it was the performances of the great players in Chantilly that left the most lasting impression, even more than these suspenseful sessions. There were long, pinpoint passes and penalties converted from midfield – Alfredo Cappella knows all about this, having propelled Clinova Noa Capital to their first ever quarter-final – as well as exceptional horses from England and Sotogrande, ridden by riders who were like centaurs. Twenty-two matches have already been played, and none of them left the audience indifferent.
Even the first match of David ‘Pelón’ Stirling, fresh from winning a tournament in the United States, caused a real traffic jam around the main pitch No. 2 last Tuesday. Not a single seat was left empty, with a crowd rarely seen for a match that was not even a final. Stirling and his Octogone team did not disappoint; they qualified alongside the incisive Louis Hine, who had already scored 18 goals before the quarter-finals, and the young Justo Laulhé, who is only 15 years old (handicap 3) and has a promising future ahead of him.
Zone A: Tédélou and Kazak move on
Zone A certainly had its fair share of twists and turns. Tédélou defeated Kazak, while Las Brisas beat the Battistoni Polo Team. Three teams ended up tied on points, necessitating a penalty shootout to determine the outcome. Tédélou and Kazak came out on top, securing the first two spots in the quarter-finals of the 25th Barnes French Open and finishing first and second in the group respectively.
Zone B: Great performance by Clinova
Octogone Polo Team beat La Esperanza 10–5 to finish top of the group and secure their place in the quarter-finals.
Clinova Noa Capital narrowly defeated La Berta thanks to a last-minute goal, securing second place and qualification for them. This is the first time this team has qualified for the quarter-finals in their three years of participating in the Barnes Open de France.
Zone C: La Magdeleine reaches the quarter-finals for the fourth consecutive year
La Magdeleine secured their place in the next round with a resounding victory over their southern Parisian neighbours, Sainte-Mesme. The formidable duo of Facundo Llorente and Jero del Carril showed no mercy, scoring 12 goals against their opponents — 10 of which were scored by the latter.
For second place in this quarter-final pool, a penalty shootout was required on Friday morning between the three other teams in this zone, and the winner was Brittany Polo Club with Diego Cavanagh.
Zone D: The top seeds did not disappoint
Talandracas dominated Jolly Roger and finished the group stage undefeated. They secured first place and qualification with Juan Martín Zubia, who has already scored 22 goals in three matches!
Essso defeated Eternal J and secured the second spot. Sapo Caset, a regular top scorer in Palermo, did not disappoint with 21 goals.
The quarter-finals will see the following teams face off:
Tédélou vs. Essso
Talandracas vs. Kazak
La Magdeleine vs. Clinova Noa Capital
Octogone Polo Team vs Brittany Polo Club
A high-intensity weekend!
The quarter-finals promise to be thrilling on Saturday 13 and Sunday 14 September, with knockout matches where the slightest mistake could be costly. It’s the perfect opportunity to experience the excitement at the Polo Club du Domaine de Chantilly for yourself: entry is free, the atmosphere is unbeatable, the horses are magnificent, and the spectacle is guaranteed. With top-level sport, a friendly atmosphere and an enchanting setting, everything is in place for an unforgettable weekend of world-class international polo.
The scores will be released in real time on ChukkerApp.
The matches will be broadcast live on Pololine TV.