Fri 23rd Jan 2026The 41st Snow Polo World Cup St. Moritz Day 1 Opening wins for Flexjet, St. Moritz-Top of the World & Standing Rock
The 41st Snow Polo World Cup St. Moritz burst into life today on a pristine 55cm ice base, delivering the perfect playing surface for the six top teams to do battle. Three crucial matches launched the action, with the day’s top four teams advancing directly to the Semi Finals, there was everything to play for – on and off the frozen Lake St. Moritz.
In the first match Mackage made a strong start and, combined with their half-goal handicap advantage, held a 3½-1 lead at the end of the first chukka. Flexjet, celebrating their fifth year as sponsors in St. Moritz, responded through polo superstar Stirling, whose goals turned the game in their favour as they went into half-time leading 5-4½. As snowfall set in, the tempo dropped and scoring became harder to come by. Flexjet edged the final chukka, outscoring Mackage two goals to one to seal a 7-5½ victory and book their place in tomorrow’s Semi-Finals.
Azerbaijan-Land of Fire made early use of their half-goal handicap advantage to take a 2½-1 lead at the end of the opening chukka of the second match. The second chukka delivered end-to-end polo, with commentator Jan-Erik Franck energising the crowd as Team St. Moritz surged ahead to lead 4-3½ at half-time. As both sides got the measure of each other, tight marking was the name of the game meaning both the third and final fourth chukka were scoreless, so the final result was a narrow 4-3½ victory for team St. Moritz and with it, a place in tomorrow’s Semi-Finals.
Standing Rock were quick to assert their dominance in the third match, with Laplacette quickly finding the posts twice whilst in contrast Investec did not help their cause, missing three penalties. At half-time Standing Rock looked strong with a 4-1 lead, and whilst ‘The Boys from Brazil’ rallied in the final two chukkas, it was too little too late and as the final bell rang it was a never in doubt result which saw Standing Rock claim their deserved place in the Semi-Finals with a 6-4 win.
Action continues tomorrow at 11am for The President’s Cup: Mackage vs Investec. Followed at 12.15pm Semi-Final 1 for The Waldorf Astoria Maldives Ithaafushi Trophy: Flexjet vs St. Moritz-Top of the World. Whilst action concludes at 2.30pm for Semi-Final 2 for The U.S. Polo Assn. Cup: Azerbaijan-Land of Fire vs Standing Rock.
The 41st Snow Polo World Cup St. Moritz Teams:
Flexjet (15): Team Captain Joaquín Castellvi (0), Pelayo Berazadi (5), David ‘Pelón’ Stirling (8) & Tito Gaudenzi (2)
Standing Rock (16): Team Captain Philipp Müller (0), Max Charlton (6), Raul Laplacette (6) & Nacho Gonzalez (4)
Azerbaijan-Land of Fire (14): Tarlan Gurbanaliyev (0), Team Captain Elchin Jamalli (2), Adrian Laplacette (6) & Manuel Fernández Llorente (6)
Investec (16): Team Captain Carlos Alberto Mansur (4), Marcelo Camargo (2), Guilherme Lins (5) & Jose Meirelles (5)
St. Moritz-Top of the World (16): Aristide Faggionato (2), Team Captain Sebastien Aguettant (0), Robert Strom (5) & Nico Pieres (8)
Mackage (14): Team Captain Joevy Beh (3), Lovy/James Beh (0), Garvy Beh (4) & Alfredo Bigatti (7)
Photograph: The 41st Snow Polo World Cup St. Moritz began today. By ©www.imagesofpolo.com
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