The Ascona Polo Club has succeeded in its bet once again – the 2024 Polo Cup became an unforgettable experience for players and spectators alike. From September 6th to 8th, the field by Lake Maggiore transformed into a stage for dramatic competitions, captivating moments, and a winner determined only after a thrilling penalty shootout on Sunday. But one thing is certain: this year, magic was in the air and left no one indifferent.
Friday: A fiery kick-off
The kick-off took place on Friday with three thrilling matches that set the tone for the entire weekend. From the very first match at 4:00 PM between Styger and Seven, pure energy reigned on the field. With a score of 13:10, Styger secured the first victory of the tournament.
But the real highlight of the day came later. When the Ascona-Locarno team faced Wetag at 5:30 PM, the tension in the stands was palpable, so to speak. With a final score of 12:17 for Wetag, it became clear that we haven't heard the last of this team.
Matteo Beffa, one of the club's prominent figures, summed up the day aptly with these words: « Polo is not just a sport. It is a game of spirit and heart. Every shot, every gallop, every decision on the field is a reflection of the passion we all carry within us. »
Saturday: The evening of surprises
Saturday evening offered spectators what they love: dramatic turnarounds, glorious victories, and narrow defeats. At 7:00 PM, Styger faced Charly Zenger for another round. Despite a fierce battle, Styger lost 12:14. But that was only the beginning of a spectacular evening.
The Wetag team continued its winning streak at 20:30 by beating Lucid Motors with an impressive score of 19:13. In the last match of the day at 22:00, Ascona-Locarno finally managed to snatch a thrilling 9:8 victory against Seven. The crowd was ecstatic, the tension was rising, and the anticipation for Sunday's final was palpable.
Sunday: rain, suspense, and penalty shootouts
Sunday brought a surprising turn of events: due to persistent bad weather, regular matches on the field became impossible. It was therefore decided to determine the rankings through nail-biting penalty shootouts. The bad weather, however, did not dampen the suspense in the slightest – quite the contrary.
At 11:00 AM, the match for fifth place between Lucid Motors and Seven began, which Lucid Motors was able to win 8:7 after a thrilling penalty shootout. The match for third place, originally planned as a classic encounter, also ended in a penalty shootout between Styger and Ascona-Locarno. The result: a 2:2 draw.
The grand final at 2:00 PM was also decided in a penalty shootout. Wetag Christis and Charly Zenger engaged in a tight duel, but Wetag Christis ultimately prevailed and secured the coveted Ascona Polo Cup 2024.
A brief overview of the matches and winners
Friday, September 06, 2024
16:00 | 1st Game: Styger vs. Seven – 13:10
17:30 | 2nd Game: Ascona-Locarno vs. Wetag – 12:17
18:45 | 3rd Game: Charly Zenger vs. Lucid Motors – 13:11
Saturday, September 07, 2024
19:00 | 1st Game: Styger vs. Charly Zenger – 12:14
20:30 | 2nd Game: Wetag vs. Lucid Motors – 19:13
22:00 | 3rd Game: Ascona-Locarno vs. Seven – 9:8
Sunday, September 08, 2024
11:00 | Game for the 5th place: Lucid Motors vs. Seven – Penalty shootout 8:7
12:30 | Game for the 3rd place: Styger vs. Ascona-Locarno – 2:2 (Penalty shootout)
14:00 | Grande Finale: Wetag Christis vs. Charly Zenger – Penalty shootout
Winner of the Ascona Polo Cup 2024: Wetag Christis
A big thank you to everyone
The Ascona Polo Club warmly thanks all the teams, sponsors, participants, and partners who made this event possible. Without everyone's passion and commitment, the Ascona Polo Cup 2024 would not have been what it was: a highlight and an emotionally rich moment of the year.
And while the trophy was lifted this year by Wetag Christie's, we are already looking forward to next year with anticipation: because after APC24, comes APC25.
See you on the field in 2025!
Ascona Polo Cup 2024: Un weekend pieno di emozioni, suspense e trionfi
Il Polo Club di Ascona lo ha fatto di nuovo: la Coppa di Polo 2024 è stata un'esperienza indimenticabile per giocatori e spettatori. Dal 6 all'8 settembre, il campo da gioco sulle rive del Lago Maggiore si è trasformato in un palcoscenico per competizioni drammatiche, momenti emozionanti e un vincitore che è stato deciso solo dopo un emozionante spareggio ai rigori domenica. Una cosa è certa: quest'anno c'era magia nell'aria – e nessuno è rimasto indifferente.
Venerdì: Un inizio con il botto
Il primo colpo di frusta è stato dato venerdì, con tre partite emozionanti che hanno definito il tono per l'intero weekend. Già la prima partita delle 16:00 tra Styger e Seven ha acceso l'energia sul campo. Con un risultato di 13:10, Styger ha conquistato la prima vittoria del torneo.
Ma il vero momento clou della giornata è arrivato più tardi. Quando la squadra di Ascona-Locarno è scesa in campo contro Wetag alle 17:30, si poteva quasi toccare la tensione sugli spalti. Con un punteggio finale di 12:17 a favore di Wetag, era chiaro: questa squadra avrebbe fatto parlare di sé.
Matteo Beffa, uno dei personaggi di spicco del club, ha riassunto la giornata con queste parole:
"Il polo non è solo uno sport. È un gioco di mente e cuore. Ogni colpo, ogni galoppo, ogni decisione sul campo è lo specchio della passione che tutti portiamo dentro."
Saturday: The evening of surprises
Saturday evening offered spectators what they love: dramatic twists, resounding victories, and narrow defeats. At 7:00 PM, Styger faced Charly Zenger for the next round. Despite a fierce battle, Styger lost 12:14. But that was only the beginning of a spectacular evening.
The Wetag team continued its winning streak at 8:30 PM by beating Lucid Motors with an impressive score of 19:13. In the last match of the day at 10:00 PM, Ascona-Locarno finally secured a thrilling victory against Seven with a score of 9:8. The crowd was ecstatic, the tension was rising, and the anticipation for Sunday's final was palpable.
Sunday: Rain, emotions, and penalty shootouts
Domenica ha riservato una svolta inaspettata: a causa della pioggia incessante, le partite normali sul campo sono diventate impossibili. Si è quindi deciso di determinare le posizioni attraverso emozionanti spareggi ai rigori. Il maltempo non ha però ridotto la suspense – anzi, l'ha accresciuta.
All 11:00 è iniziata la lotta per il quinto posto tra Lucid Motors e Seven, che Lucid Motors ha vinto con un rigore decisivo, terminando 8:7. Anche la partita per il terzo posto, originariamente prevista come partita classica, è finita in uno spareggio tra Styger e Ascona-Locarno, con un risultato final di 2:2.
La Grande Finale delle 14:00 è stata anch'essa decisa ai rigori. Wetag Christis e Charly Zenger hanno combattuto fino all'ultimo secondo, ma alla fine Wetag Christis ha avuto la meglio, aggiudicandosi l'ambita Coppa di Polo di Ascona 2024.
A brief overview of the matches and winners
Friday, September 6, 2024
16:00 | 1st Game: Styger vs. Seven – 13:10
17:30 | 2nd Game: Ascona-Locarno vs. Wetag – 12:17
18:45 | 3rd Game: Charly Zenger vs. Lucid Motors – 13:11
Saturday, September 7, 2024
19:00 | 1st Game: Styger vs. Charly Zenger – 12:14
20:30 | 2nd Game: Wetag vs. Lucid Motors – 19:13
22:00 | 3rd Game: Ascona-Locarno vs. Seven – 9:8
Sunday, September 8, 2024
11:00 | Game for the 5th place: Lucid Motors vs. Seven – Rigori 8:7
12:30 | Game for the 3rd place: Styger vs. Ascona-Locarno – 2:2 (Rigori)
14:00 | Grande Finale: Wetag Christis vs. Charly Zenger – Rigori
Vincitore della Ascona Polo Cup 2024: Wetag Christis
Un ringraziamento a tutti
Il Polo Club di Ascona ringrazia tutte le squadre, gli sponsor, i partecipanti e i sostenitori che hanno reso possibile questo evento. Senza la passione e l'impegno di ciascuno, l'Ascona Polo Cup 2024 non sarebbe stata quella che è stata – uno dei momenti più emozionanti dell'anno.
E mentre quest'anno il trofeo è stato sollevato da Wetag Christis, guardiamo già con grande attesa al prossimo anno: perché dopo l'APC24, c'è l'APC25.
