Six Gold Cup quarter-finalists decided
By Herbert Spencer
Six of the eight British Open quarter-finalists have been decided after Wednesday’s close matches for the Veuve Clicquot Gold Cup at Cowdray Park Polo Club.
The closest match of the day, going into extra time, was between Max Gottschalk’s Les Lions II and Oussama Aboughazale’s Sumaya. It was Les Lions II’s Sebastian Merlos who scored the golden goal in the seventh chukka to give his team their 13-12 victory.
Les Lions II’s win gave them a quarter-final spot from League Four along with Aflio Marchini’s Loro Piana, each with a 3-1 win record.
The Hanburys’ El Remanso came from behind in the fifth chukka to defeat Nigel Warr’s Combe 12-11 on penalties, with the sixth chukka scoreless. With a 3-1 record, El Remanso join Jean-François Decaux’s undefeated La Bamba de Areco, the reigning champions, at the head of League Two.
In the day’s third match, Piaget beat Loro Piana 10-8, but Loro Piana already had their quarter-final place secured.
Leagues One and Three remain to be sorted in Thursday’s games. Andrian Kirby’ Silver Springs 1870 and Lyndon Lea’s Zacara, each with 2-1, are vying for the second spot in One, headed by the Albwardys’ Dubai. Victor Vargas’ undefeated Lechuza Caracas are already through in Three, leaving Jerome Wirth’s Enigma and Edouard Carmignac’s Talandracas competing for second place.