The most eagerly awaited moment for all polo fans has arrived: La Natividad La Dolfina and Ellerstina Indios Chapaleufú will decide the 132nd Argentine Open Polo Championship. After winning their respective semifinal clashes earlier this week, the two sides will meet this Sunday on Palermo’s Field 1 in pursuit of the coveted trophy. Although recent history and current form favor the Cañuelas-based team, the Pieres–Heguy partnership is confident of pulling off an upset thanks to the strong level they have shown throughout this Triple Crown.
La Natividad La Dolfina has arrived to this final unbeaten, with 11 consecutive victories from as many matches in the 2025 Triple Crown, including titles at Hurlingham and Tortugas. They secured their place in Sunday’s final by defeating UAE Polo Team 16–14 in the League A decider, with a brilliant Camilo Castagnola scoring the two decisive goals aboard Mega Gatúbela when the match was tied at 14 and only two minutes remained in the eighth and final chukker. The attacking imbalance provided by La Natividad La Dolfina’s forward will undoubtedly be one of the key threats Ellerstina Indios Chapaleufú must neutralize if they hope to reach the top step of the podium.
While they have not relied on a fixed system, La Natividad La Dolfina boast the three best players in the game at present—Camilo and Barto Castagnola and Poroto Cambiaso—whose individual performances have been the driving force behind the team’s success. Even so, whenever the trio have managed to combine, it has proved virtually impossible for any opponent to stop them. Alongside them, the legendary Adolfo Cambiaso, now 50 years old, will be chasing his 19th title at Palermo—an astonishing figure that would leave him just one championship short of equaling the all-time record held by Juancarlitos Harriott.
If there is one team that has consistently risen to the challenge against La Natividad La Dolfina, it is Ellerstina Indios Chapaleufú. They were edged out in the Hurlingham Open semifinal in extra chukker and later lost the Tortugas final by a single goal. Confidence is running high, especially after their comeback victory over La Irenita La Hache Clinova in the Zone B decider, where they overturned a five-goal deficit to prevail 13–12.
Antonio Heguy appears to have no ceiling. At just 22 years of age, he is playing the Argentine Open for only the second time in his career, yet continues to show that the biggest matches bring out the best in him. It will be his first Palermo final, alongside his cousin Cruz Heguy, also 22, who will likewise be making his finals debut at the sport’s most iconic match. The experience of brothers Facundo Pieres—five-time Palermo champion—and Gonzalo Pieres—winner on three occasions—will be crucial to the team’s ambitions.
La Natividad and La Dolfina, now competing together, have monopolized recent Palermo finals. In 2021, 2023 and 2024, La Natividad claimed the title; in 2022, La Dolfina emerged victorious. For their opponents this Sunday, the picture is quite different. Ellerstina last reached the Palermo final in 2020, and their most recent title dates back to 2012. Indios Chapaleufú last contested this decisive match in 2004, when Eduardo and Alberto Heguy—fathers of Cruz and Antonio respectively—lifted the trophy.
It is hard to imagine a final margin greater than two goals this Sunday, with La Natividad La Dolfina starting as clear favorites. Even so, Ellerstina Indios Chapaleufú’s chances are very real. To make their dream a reality, they will need a top-class defensive performance and a high success rate from the penalty line. If they excel in those areas, they can dare to dream of the title. Otherwise, it will be difficult to deny the Cañuelas side not only the Palermo crown, but also the overall Triple Crown—an achievement not seen since 2015, when La Dolfina pulled off the remarkable feat of winning the Triple Crown three seasons in a row.
FINAL 132nd ARGENTINE OPEN POLO CHAMPIONSHIP: LA NATIVIDAD LA DOLFINA vs. ELLERSTINA INDIOS CHAPALEUFÚ
La Natividad La Dolfina: Camilo Castagnola 10, Adolfo Poroto Cambiaso 10, Adolfo Cambiaso 10, Bartolomé Castagnola Jr. 10. Total: 40.
Ellerstina Indios Chapaleufú Vista: Facundo Pieres 10, Antonio Heguy 8, Gonzalo Pieres Jr. 9, Cruz Heguy 9. Total: 36.
Umpires: Gastón Lucero & Guillermo Villanueva.
Third man: Matías Baibiene.
