Gstaad welcomes China!

For the first time in over 20 years of history, a Chinese team will take part in Switzerland’s only High-Level Goal polo summer tournament. The players led by their Captain Shilai Liu, owner of the Tang Polo Club in Beijing, will play for Team Hublot.

Hublot’s team, led by Shilai Liu, will be opposed by one Argentinian team, led by Juan Peppa, and two Swiss teams led by Piero Dillier and Cédric Schweri, a regular team captain in Gstaad.

Taking place on the Gstaad-Saanen airport field the Hublot Polo Gold Cup Gstaad has firmly established itself as one of the most important European summer tournaments welcoming, each year, some of the best players in the world. Pierre Genecand, President of the Polo Club Gstaad is very much looking forward to this year’s edition:

“This year is going to be very special! Following Hublot’s initiative, I am thrilled to welcome a Chinese Team. Mr Shilai Liu has a fantastic Polo Club in Beijing. I was very impressed by the quality of the polo club and by his fantastic hospitality! I am honoured that he has accepted to come to play in Gstaad for Team Hublot. We will make sure to show him and his players what the Swiss hospitality is! This year’s event will definitively have a Chinese feel!”

Hublot, Title Sponsor since 2008 will become again a Team sponsor in 2016. Banque Eric Sturdza SA and Gstaad Palace will also sponsor a team this year. The 4th team “Polo Friends” is being sponsored by private people or companies who wanted to support the event in an innovative way.
 

Pierre Genecand is proud to announce that the tournament’s reputation has attracted one of the world’s most prestigious brands, Garage Zénith SA an official dealership of Ferrari. Zénith will join forces on the event as one of the main sponsors. “Ferrari is such a powerful brand. The quality of their cars is very impressive and we are honoured that they have decided to support our event.”

Each year, over 6000 spectators attend the 3 days of competitions as well as the traditional Players’ parade through Gstaad on Friday afternoon. The famous Gala night on Saturday August 20th shall again be the weekend’s highlight.

In the VIP tent, the team of Gstaad Palace will make sure guests have a fantastic time. The party will once again last well into the small hours.

The Hublot Polo Gold Cup always displays great sport with fiercely contested matches, every team vying for the much coveted trophy. What shall this year's outcome be? All will become clear on August 21st 2016 in Gstaad.

11:00 Official Village opens;

13:30-16:30 qualifiers matches

Friday 19th August

16:00 Polo Players’ Parade through Gstaad

Saturday 20thAugust

11:00 Official village opens;

13:30-16:30 semi-final matches;
20:00 Gala Night

Sunday 21st August

11:00 Official Village opens;

13:30 – 16:30 final & prize giving ceremony
 

Hublot Polo Gold Cup Gstaad 2016

Team Hublot

Captain Shilai Liu (CHN),

Team Banque Eric Sturdza

Captain Cédric Schweri (SUI)

Team Gstaad Palace

Captain Juan Peppa (ARG)

Team Polo Friends

Captain Piero Dillier (SUI)


Notes to editors:

- The Polo Club Gstaad was founded in 1995 and the first polo tournament was held in 1996

- In 2006 Pierre Genecand became President of both the Polo Club Gstaad and Tournament.
- In polo, handicaps vary from -2 to +10 (+10 being the highest level). Only a dozen players, all Argentinians, have a +10 handicap

- The Polo Village will be opened on Thursday, Saturday and Sunday