5 magnificent moments from the 2024 Richard Mille AlUla Desert Polo
The third edition of the sporting event kicked off on January 17 as part of the Winter at Tantora festival…
After four days of elite competition featuring international patrons, royal dignitaries, and the world’s best players, celebrity audiences and sports fans enjoyed a grandstand finish at AlFursan Equestrian Village in AlUla.
If you missed out, catch up on the magnificent moments from the 2024 Richard Mille AlUla Desert Polo event right here.
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Meet the champs, Team Saudia
Team Saudia won the Desert Polo trophy as Sayuu Dantana, Melissa Ganzi, and polo GOAT Adolfo Cambiaso overcame opponents Richard Mille 9-5 in the thrilling main final. The fourth and final day of this year’s edition also featured the subsidiary final, where AlUla claimed third place with a 5-3 win against Tayma.
The post-final presentation ceremony saw awards given to each of Saudia’s trio – Dantana (Men’s Best Player), Ganzi (Women’s Best Player), and Cambiaso (Top Scorer). There were also awards for Pablo Mac Donough (Best Goal), HRH Prince Hamza bin Abbas (Most Promising Player), and Johanna Hanbury (Sportsmanship).
The biggest names in the polo world
Among the players was Argentina’s Adolfo Cambiaso, widely considered to be the greatest polo player of all time. He made his way to AlUla alongside Juan Martin Nero, David Stirling, and son Poroto – all teammates from La Dolfina, one of the world’s best and most iconic polo teams. Pablo Mac Donough was also part of the Argentinian contingent alongside female players Lia Salvo and Cambiaso’s daughter, Mia. Britain’s Nina Clarkin was the other female player completing the professional line-up.
The royal dignitaries included HRH Prince Sultan bin Khaled Al-Faisal and HRH Prince Salman bin Mansour bin Nassir Al Saud from Saudi Arabia. HRH Prince Abbas bin Ali and HRH Prince Hamza bin Abbas also competed, as were HSH Anna Dettingen Wallerstein, HSH Carl-Eugen Dettingen Wallerstein, and George Spencer Churchill. International patrons included Adriano Agosti, Alessandro Barnaba, Sayyu Dantara, Nacho Figueras, Melissa Ganzi, David Paradise, Lila Pearson, and Nicky Sen.
The prestigious tournament returned bigger and better
Improvements were made to the competition, arena, and entire set-up this time around. Commenting on the tournament’s upward trajectory and why it’s so special, Adolfo Cambiaso, who’s been in AlUla for the third consecutive year to witness the evolution of Richard Mille AlUla Desert Polo first-hand, said: “The horses are in excellent condition, and the field has never been better. The Royal Commission for AlUla has done a really great job. There’re even more improvements since last time.”
He added, “The field is so good right now that polo can be played harder and faster. There are also more teams – the number has doubled, and so has the standard. The best players are here, and we love the competition. It’s fantastic to be involved.”
A testament to the evolution of Richard Mille AlUla Desert Polo and its expanding profile and appeal, this year saw the tournament welcome eight teams (AlUla, Richard Mille, Saudia, SAB, Bentley, Dadan, Kaybar and Tayma) – double the number from 2022. Moreover, a record 24 players from 12 countries competed against the stunning backdrop of the AlUla Desert.
More women players took the field
The “sport of kings” has started to welcome queens. It’s indeed a huge step forward for polo. It began in 2022 when Melissa Ganzi made history by stepping out onto the field at Richard Mille AlUla Desert Polo and becoming the first and only international woman to play polo in Saudi Arabia. This year, there were seven professional female players for the first time, proving that Richard Mille AlUla Desert Polo is a game-changer for the sport.
A new partnership between AlUla and La Dolfina
During the Richard Mille Desert Polo tournament, the Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU) has signed a new partnership with the leading Argentine polo team, La Dolfina. Without a doubt, this will significantly expand AlUla’s developing status as the number one destination for desert polo, among other heritage and equestrian sports.
If you’re eager to learn the sport under the watchful eye of some of the best coaches and players in the world, soon you’ll be able to as a new Polo Academy in AlUla is in the pipeline, alongside tailored training programs for both residents and visitors. La Dolfina counts Adolfo Cambiaso among its star-studded line-up of players. Cambiaso and his La Dolfina teammates, along with technical staff, will lend their extensive knowledge and experience to ensure a high-quality learning experience. La Dolfina will also provide horses to participate in polo tournaments in AlUla.
Images: Supplied