The 86th Tortugas Country Club Open enters its most thrilling stage. This tournament, second leg of the Argentine polo Triple Crown, prepares for a weekend full of emotion, where the tournament finalists will be decided, with the grand final scheduled for Saturday, November 7. After intense weeks of competition, in which rain was a main character, the two zones of the tournament present different realities, but share the competitive tension.
In Zone A, the picture couldn't be more spectacular. The definition will be a true head-to-head between two of the most powerful line-ups in the tournament: La Natividad La Dolfina and Ellerstina Indios Chapaleufú. Both teams reached this stage after having won their three matches. There will be no room for speculation: whoever wins, regardless of the final score, will become the first finalist.
It should be noted that this is a very special matchup. It is the exact rematch of the 2025 Tortugas Open final, as well as the last definition of the Argentine Open. La Natividad La Dolfina, undefeated since its formation, will seek to impose the pace and collective functioning that the Cambiasos and Castagnolas have stamped on it, and thus repeat their presence in the decisive match. In fact, its protagonists have stated that this year they feel more comfortable with their functioning, compared to what they showed in 2025. On the other hand, Ellerstina Indios Chapaleufú, with the Pieres and Heguys, will try to get revenge for those finals and prove they have the necessary solidity to defeat the heavy favourite.
Conversely, Zone B offers a more complex scenario, where numbers and mathematical combinations play their own game. The main favourite to reach the final is La Hache, recent finalist of the Hurlingham Open. The Ulloa-Panelo tandem has shown tremendous maturity throughout the season, and in Tortugas they have won their three previous commitments with great authority. Now, they depend on themselves to crown their excellent performance in the group stage and secure their place in the Tortuguitas final.
To do so, they must defeat Las Monjitas, a team that has grown in its latest matches after falling in their debut against La Irenita Clinova. The addition of Nachi Du Plessis replacing the injured David Stirling meant that Juan Martín Nero, traditionally a number 4, had to move to number 3, and the result has been encouraging for the men in orange. The aforementioned defeat left Las Monjitas in a highly uncomfortable position. If La Irenita Clinova defeats La Aguada, just beating La Hache won't be enough for them; they will need to do so by at least 5 goals. But if La Aguada pulls an upset and defeats La Irenita Clinova, the duel between Las Monjitas and La Hache will be a direct head-to-head for a spot in the final.
La Irenita Clinova, a team that came through the qualifiers but features renowned players like Pablo Mac Donough and Polito Pieres, will seek a victory to keep adding points in the season's overall ranking, so they don't have to go through the qualifiers again in 2027. Something similar happens with La Zeta Kazak, the other team from the qualifiers, which on Saturday will seek its second success in this tournament against Don Ercole.
Thus, the die is cast at the Tortugas Country Club. With one zone that will be decided in an epic direct duel of undefeated teams and another where suspense and speculation will be the order of the day, the best polo in the world prepares to deliver a truly spectacular weekend. While the grand final will be on Saturday, November 7, this weekend the show will be guaranteed.
