Tang Polo Club’s 2013 Royal Salute China Open 12 Goal Polo Tournament
The 3rd Annual Royal Salute China Open Polo Tournament was a great success this year, with over a month of polo matches, three different divisions and teams from all over the world coming together to compete at the Tang Polo Club in Beijing. The much-awaited 12 goal matches took place on September 20th and 21st. Four teams took part: the Royal Salute China team, St. Regis USA team, Bombardier Thailand/Philippine team and the Land Rover Australia team. The first teams to compete in the semifinal were Thailand/Philippines against Australia. Thailand/Philippines dominated the first two chukkas winning the first 2 – 0 and the second 4 – 0. However Australia came back in the third chukka with the team’s five goaler Andrew Williams scoring four consecutive goals. The final chukka ended with Thailand/Philippines winning 6 – 5, bringing the team through to the finals the following day.
The second two teams in the semi-finals were China and America. There was a slow start in terms of goals, but not in terms of the level and standard of polo being played. The first chukka saw China winning 2 – 0 and the second 4 -2. Team USA made a come back in the third chukka scoring 3 goals and bringing the score to 6 -5. The Royal Salute China team proved to be the stronger side in the fourth chukka winning 9 – 6 and securing their place against Thailand/Philippines in the final.
After a beautiful Gala Dinner to end the semifinals, the teams were ready to compete for their places in the finals. The St. Regis USA team and the Land Rover Australian team were first on the field to play for 3rd and 4th place. It was a tough fight with even scores throughout each chukka. In the end team USA proved stronger and won the last chukka 8 – 6 putting them in 3rd place.
The most exciting match of the tournament was between the Royal Salute China team and the Thailand/Philippine team playing for 1st and 2nd place. The first chukka started off a bit slow, with both teams scoring 2 goals. The China team’s 6 goaler Raul Laplacette showing his polo skills with an amazing nearside backhand shot to even the score 2 -2. The second chukka was very similar with each team scoring 2 goals, but this time it was Tang Polo Club’s owner Mr. ShiLai Liu evening up the score with a beautiful run along the whole field ending with a goal. Top Srivaddhanaprabha, 0 goal player on the Thailand/Philippine team was definitely the player to watch, scoring at least 2 goals in each chukka. Argentinian 6 goaler Carlos Pando of the China team scored 3 goals in the third chukka, his teammate Raul Laplacette scored 1 and Top from the T/P team scored 2. The score at the end of the 3rd chukka stood at 8 – 6 to China. The first three chukkas were neck on neck, and the crowd was extremely anxious to watch the final chukka as everyone new both teams were going to play as hard as they could to secure the title.
At the beginning of the chukka Top Srivaddhanaprabha had an unfortunate fall but got straight back up on his horse, and scored 2 beautiful goals bringing the score to an 8 – 8 tie. China’s Carlos Pando scored immediately after, and then with 1 minute to go Top Srivaddhanaprabha scored again for Thailand/Philippines. The crowd was on the edge of their seats as the score stood at 9 – 9 with only 40 seconds to go. Royal Salute China’s Carlos Pando proved to be the winning link in the last 3 seconds of the chukka, hitting a beautiful neck shot straight through goal, and scoring the winning goal for the Royal Salute China team. It was an extremely dramatic and intense final but the Royal Salute China team once again came out on top as the winners of Tang Polo Club’s 2013 Royal Salute China Open Polo Tournament.
Top Srivaddhanaprabha from the Thailand/Philippine team was awarded most valuable player. Playing off a 0 goal handicap, Top Srivaddhanaprabha very much deserved this award as he scored more then 10 goals throughout the semi finals and finals.
It was an incredible month of polo, with the 2-4, 6-8 and 12 goal divisions. As the largest polo tournament held annually in China, all players and horses were on their top game, making the 2013 China Open a great success.