Thursday, 17 September 2026
Akasha–Kazak: the line-up for the 2026 Open de France BARNES final is set. Five years after the two teams last met for the title – when Akasha was still known as La Magdeleine – Sunday’s final will be a rematch of the 2021 encounter, which Alexandre Garese and his team won convincingly. Since then, Kazak have added their name to the roll of honour with victory in 2023. One of the two captains will therefore claim a second Open de France title on Sunday. But this final will also showcase the emerging generation that has made such an impact throughout the tournament: Ciro Urturi, Pedro Chavanne, Leon Donoso… young players who have challenged the established order and come of age over these three weeks at Chantilly.
Akasha knock out the defending champions
After the nail-biting quarter-finals earlier in the week, Thursday’s semi-finals were a little less breathless. But the finalists still had to earn their places.
In the first semi-final, Akasha defeated Octogone 9-7, knocking out the defending champions. The two teams remained neck and neck throughout the first half of the match, at 3-3 and then 4-4, before Akasha began to pull away.
Tommy Beresford and Facundo Fernández Llorente accounted for all of their team’s goals, six for Beresford and three for Llorente. Akasha led 9-6 going into the final chukker and were sufficiently in control to withstand Octogone’s last push.
At 20, Ciro Urturi is the youngest member of the Akasha team. The Argentine perfectly illustrates the emerging generation that has been one of the features of the 2026 Open. Still rated 1 goal at the Open de France two years ago, he now plays off 3 at Chantilly and has already been raised to 4 in some countries. This season he has notably won in Dubai and Sotogrande and has already represented the Argentina Polo Team.
Pedro Chavanne fires Kazak into the final
Jolly Roger put up strong resistance against Kazak in the second semi-final. But Sébastien Aguettant’s team remained in front from the first chukker to the last and always appeared to have the match under control.
Once again, the youngsters took matters into their own hands. Pedro Chavanne, who even took over penalty-taking duties from Palermo veteran Teodoro Lacau, scored six of Kazak’s eight goals, with Leon Donoso adding the other two. Between them, the two young players accounted for their team’s entire score.
“The semi-final was actually very tough,” admitted Pedro Chavanne after leaving the field. “They were a very strong team and the match stayed close. It’s my first time playing at Chantilly. The tournament is extremely competitive, very difficult, with a lot of teams, so I’m very happy to be in the final.”
The young Argentine was one of the outstanding players in the semi-final. But on Sunday he will face a team he already knows well: Akasha comfortably defeated Kazak 11-6 when the two sides met earlier in the tournament.
“Yes, they beat us well in that first match. The final is going to be very tough. But we’re going to go out there, give it everything and try to win, obviously.”
The 2021 rematch
There is another story behind Sunday’s final. Akasha and Kazak have already faced each other for the title, in 2021, although Alexandre Garese’s team was then known as La Magdeleine.
That year, La Magdeleine won convincingly, 12-5, after taking control from the opening chukker. Facundo F. Llorente, already playing alongside Alexandre Garese and still part of Akasha five years later, was named Most Valuable Player of the final.
Kazak have since added their name to the roll of honour, winning the Open de France in 2023. Both Alexandre Garese and Sébastien Aguettant therefore have the opportunity to claim their second Open de France title on Sunday.
For Kazak, it is a chance to avenge the 2021 defeat – but also, more immediately, the loss to Akasha just a few days ago.
17 vs 17: when the youngsters break through the ceiling
The match-up is all the more remarkable because the Open de France BARNES is a tournament limited to 16 goals. Yet both finalists will take to the field on Sunday with a combined team handicap of 17 goals.
This unusual situation is the result of handicap changes affecting several of their young players since the teams originally entered the tournament – and in many ways it sums up this year’s Open: some of its young talents have progressed faster than the tournament’s handicap ceiling.
Ciro Urturi, 20, for Akasha; Pedro Chavanne for Kazak; and not forgetting 16-year-old Chilean Leon Donoso: all have taken on a new dimension over these three weeks at Chantilly.
And there is something rather delightful about the contrast. Just a few hours after scoring six goals in the semi-final of France’s leading polo tournament and earning his place in a 17-goal final, Pedro Chavanne calmly explained that once Chantilly is over, he will return to Argentina to play several tournaments, including the Abierto Juvenil, with one very simple objective: “to keep improving.”
Before that, he has a final to play. And not just any final.
It will bring together the two great rivals from the south-west of Paris, Akasha and Kazak. It will pit a rapidly emerging generation against players accustomed to the biggest stages in international polo. Above all, it will bring together two 17-goal teams – something not seen in a tournament final in France since the beginning of this century.
A fitting climax to the 2026 edition and to these three weeks of the World Polo Festival, which have delivered their share of emotion, surprises and improbable scenarios. Not least the Essso–Kazak quarter-final that went all the way to a seventh chukker, with the goals eventually doubled in width before the two teams could finally be separated.
On Sunday, only the final chapter remains to be written.
Sunday: the party before, during and after the final
The closing day will be about much more than the five chukkers of Akasha–Kazak and the final of the Women’s Open de France SkinCeuticals. From late morning onwards, the Polo Club du Domaine de Chantilly will come alive around the Orangerie and the event village, with stands, food trucks and entertainment throughout the day.
The programme begins with the Mini Open de France – Coupe des Potrillos, followed by the parade of the Women’s Open de France SkinCeuticals finalists. After the anthem and team presentations, the women’s final gets underway at 12 noon.
The Rallye de l’Open will then arrive on site, while prize-givings, the finals lunch and entertainment will build towards the main event of the afternoon.
At 3:10 pm, Akasha and Kazak will make their ceremonial entrance onto the main field. The teams will be presented, the anthem played and then, at 3:30 pm, this historic Open de France BARNES final will begin.
It is an open day, with free access and everyone welcome to join the celebration.
Women’s Open de France SkinCeuticals: now it’s the women’s turn
The Open de France BARNES takes a break on Friday to leave the canchas to the decisive stages of the Women’s Open de France SkinCeuticals.
The final four will be decided on Friday in particularly nerve-racking fashion. While Augustinus Bader and Lia Salvo secured direct qualification by winning both of their group matches, behind them the situation could hardly have been tighter: five of the other six teams finished with one win and one defeat.
They will therefore have to go through an exercise that is simple in principle but merciless when you have to face it: the unforgiving penalty shoot-out. Five teams competing for just three semi-final places.
Qualified:
Augustinus Bader (LUX)
The contenders:
La Monarquia (GER)
Why Not (AUS)
Swee (SWE)
Jamja (IND)
Lost Creek (USA)
Final Open de France BARNES – Sunday 20 September – 3:30 pm
AKASHA (17) – KAZAK (17)
Akasha: Alexandre Garese 0; Ciro Urturi 3; Facundo Fernández Llorente 7; Tommy Beresford 7.
Kazak: Sébastien Aguettant 0; Pedro Chavanne 5; Leon Donoso 5; Teodoro Lacau 7.
SEMI-FINAL RESULTS
AKASHA 9 – 7 OCTOGONE
Akasha (17): Alexandre Garese 0; Ciro Urturi 3; Facundo Fernández Llorente 7 (3 goals); Tommy Beresford 7 (6 goals).
Octogone (16): Alexis Morange 0; Hazel Jackson 2; Louis Hine 6 (6 goals); Pelón Stirling 8.
Score progression Akasha: (0-1)* / 3-3 / 4-4 / 6-4 / 9-6 / 9-7.
KAZAK 8 – 6 JOLLY ROGER KING OF POLO
Kazak (17): Sébastien Aguettant 0; Pedro Chavanne 5 (6 goals); Leon Donoso 5 (2 goals); Teodoro Lacau 7.
Jolly Roger King of Polo (16): Niclas Johansson 0; Nicolas Tomasevich 3; Manuel Plaza de Ayala 6 (5 goals); Alfredo Bigatti 7.
Score progression Kazak: (0-1)* / 2-1 / 3-2 / 5-3 / 6-4 / 8-6.
* (0-1) = one-goal handicap advantage awarded to the 16-goal team.
The horses of the day:
AKASHA – OCTOGONE
BPP : Oriental Teoria. Dolfina Figo x Open Suma, 8 ans, played by Pelon Stirling (Octogone)
BPP AACCP : Irenita Pieza Musical. Losmachitos Libano x Irenita Sinfonia, 8 ans, played by Facudo F. Llorente.
KAZAK- JOLLY ROGER KING OF POLO
BPP : Clarita Ortiga. Fino Nevado x Machitos Hortencia, 10 ans, played by Pedro Chavanne (Kazak).
BPP AACCP : Ve Ocho Akela. Open Lionel x Ve Ocho Candy Crush, 7 ans, played by Pedro Chavanne (Kazak).
Finals Day
Sunday, September 20, from 11:00 AM (Terrain d’Honneur 1 & 2, l’Orangerie)
Three finals in a single day, entertainment, the Rallye d’Aumale, stands, and food trucks: the highlight of three weeks of competition.
11:00 AM – Village and Polo Lounge open
12:00 PM – Open de France Ladies’ Final
3:00 PM – Open de France BARNES Final
5:30 PM – Trophée Castel Final
The club is also opening its doors to anyone wishing to try polo through a taster session. All the information can be found here: www.poloclubchantilly.com/polo-school
MEDIA ROOM
ACCREDITATION FORM
PRACTICAL INFORMATION:
Getting to the Polo Club
Simply search for Polo Club du Domaine de Chantilly in your GPS or navigation app. All major navigation systems will guide you directly to the club entrance.
Match Broadcasts
All Open de France BARNES matches will be filmed and available on replay on Pololine TV. From the quarterfinals onward, matches will also be broadcast live.
Results and statistics
Live scores, results and full tournament statistics will be available on the Polo Club’s website and via the ChukkerApp, which also provides coverage of all tournaments played at Chantilly throughout the season.
PRACTICAL INFORMATION
Polo Club de Chantilly
La Ferme d’Apremont
60300 Apremont
France
www.poloclubchantilly.com
MEDIA CONTACTS
To learn more about polo, feel free to ask us any questions you may have! Or request an interview with a player or an official from the organization.
Pascal Renauldon
+33 6 08 75 94 07
p.renauldon@rbpresse.com
Adèle Renauldon
+33 6 50 05 69 34
adele@rbpresse.com
ABOUT THE POLO CLUB DU DOMAINE DE CHANTILLY:
Founded by Patrick Guerrand Hermès and a group of shareholders in 1995 and managed since then by Philippe Perrier, the Polo Club du Domaine de Chantilly covers an area of 130 hectares. With nine grass pitches and one sand pitch (arena), it is the largest polo club in Europe and has been hosting the renowned French Open since 2001, attracting the world’s best players to this prestigious tournament, one of 60 grass tournaments held each year on the grounds of the Ferme d’Apremont. As the headquarters of the French Polo Federation, the Polo Club du Domaine de Chantilly is open to all: all matches from April to October are free to the general public. poloclubchantilly.com – @polodechantilly
BARNES. When Excellence Becomes Tradition
Some events are more than annual appointments; they become traditions.
For its 26th edition, the Open de France BARNES brings together, in the heart of the Domaine de Chantilly, some of the world’s finest polo players in a sport where precision, commitment and excellence define every performance.
These same values lie at the heart of BARNES. Just as success on the polo field demands experience, anticipation and trust, exceptional real estate requires deep market knowledge, an understanding of heritage and the ability to recognise what makes every property truly unique.
By renewing its partnership with the Polo Club du Domaine de Chantilly, BARNES reaffirms its commitment to an art of living where heritage, elegance and excellence naturally come together. Year after year, Chantilly perfectly embodies the spirit that BARNES proudly shares.
Welcome to the 2026 Open de France BARNES.
SkinCeuticals, Partner of the Ladies French Open
Recognised as the No. 1 skincare brand recommended by aesthetic physicians worldwide*, SkinCeuticals is a global leader in antioxidant protection and advanced corrective skincare.
Built on decades of scientific research, the brand develops high-performance skincare solutions designed to help prevent visible signs of skin ageing while complementing professional aesthetic procedures.
Outdoor sport places athletes in constant contact with sun exposure and environmental aggressors. Through science-backed skincare and advanced antioxidant expertise, SkinCeuticals supports those who pursue performance both on and off the field.
Driven by a shared commitment to excellence, precision and performance, the partnership between SkinCeuticals and the Polo Club du Domaine de Chantilly was a natural fit.
*Source: Kline & Company, Professional Skincare Global Series 2025, manufacturer sales in the worldwide physician-dispensed skincare market.
U.S. Polo Assn. Official Jersey and Apparel Sponsor of the French Open: BARNES
U.S. Polo Assn., the official sports brand of the United States Polo Association (USPA), continues its partnership with the Polo Club du Domaine de Chantilly for a fourth consecutive season in 2026.
With a multi-billion-dollar global footprint, distribution in nearly 190 countries, more than 1,200 retail stores, and thousands of additional points of sale, U.S. Polo Assn. is one of the world’s leading licensed sports brands. The brand offers apparel, footwear, and accessories for men, women, and children while actively supporting the growth of polo in the United States and around the world.
In 2026, U.S. Polo Assn. will once again serve as the Official Jersey and Apparel Sponsor of the Open de France BARNES, taking place from September 4 to 20 at the Polo Club du Domaine de Chantilly. The brand will provide custom performance jerseys for all participating teams as well as apparel for the club’s staff and more.
The Polo Club du Domaine de Chantilly is proud to partner with U.S. Polo Assn. as the brand celebrates its recent campaign, The Polo Shirt: An Icon Born from the Game™, highlighting the authentic connection between U.S. Polo Assn.’s most recognizable product and its origins in the sport of polo. This partnership reflects a shared commitment to promoting the sport of polo and strengthening the international profile of one of Europe’s leading polo events.