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The U.S. Open Polo Championship once again crowned Pilot as one of the great dominators of the U.S. season. In a final played this Sunday at the National Polo Center, in Wellington, Curtis Pilot's organization claimed its third title in the history of North American polo's most prestigious tournament after defeating BTA 15-10, reaffirming a competitive structure that combines experience, young talent, and a remarkable ability to deliver in decisive moments.
The triumph not only solidifies Pilot among the elite but also confirms a trend already established in 2022: the team's ability to take ownership of the circuit's most important tournaments. That season, Pilot had achieved the same hugely significant double it has now repeated in 2026, claiming both the USPA Gold Cup and the U.S. Open. The recurrence of this success is no coincidence — it is the product of solid collective play and standout individual performances that make the difference at key moments.
One of the main storylines of this final was Camilo Castagnola, who captured his first major title in the United States. The young Argentine — considered by many to be the best player in the world — was decisive throughout the tournament and capped his performance with a final worthy of every expectation. His ability to break games open, his reading of play, and his accuracy in critical moments were fundamental in tipping the balance in Pilot's favour.

Alongside him, 18-year-old Lorenzo Chavanne — the tournament's leading scorer with 44 goals — also celebrated his first major titles on American soil, another name beginning to carry weight on the international circuit. His contribution was key within a line-up that showed balance across every line, with a firm defence and an attack capable of capitalizing on every opportunity. The breakthrough of both players is more than a personal milestone: it projects Pilot into the future with a renewed and ambitious foundation.
On the other side, BTA — playing in its first-ever U.S. Open final — put up resistance and managed to keep the match level for long stretches before ultimately yielding to Pilot's greater efficiency. The winners reached halftime with an 8-5 lead, and in the fourth chukker BTA narrowed the gap to just two goals. But Pilot took control down the stretch, all the way to the decisive 15-10 mark set by Curtis Pilot and his teammates. In that context, Pilot managed the high-pressure stretches better, leaning on the experience of its veterans and the freshness of its younger players. That combination was, ultimately, the hallmark of its campaign.
With this new title, Pilot not only adds another star to its history but also reaffirms its place as a central protagonist of the Wellington season. Winning the U.S. Open represents far more than a trophy: it is the confirmation of a sporting project that has sustained itself over time and continues to evolve. After a hugely successful era with Facundo Pieres — which included two U.S. Open titles and which still stands as the only complete Gauntlet of Polo sweep in history (2019) — the arrival of a new 10-goaler, Camilo Castagnola, has once again placed Pilot at the very top of American polo.
In this way, Lorenzo Chavanne and Camilo Castagnola close out their first U.S. season with silverware, while Curtis Pilot and Mackenzie Weisz celebrate again, just as they did in 2022, when they were also teammates. Curtis Pilot, meanwhile, adds his third U.S. Open star.

PILOT: Curtis Pilot 0, Mackenzie Weisz 6, Lorenzo Chavanne 7, Camilo Castagnola 10.
BTA: KC Krueger 1, Steve Krueger 5, Ignacio Viana 7, Tomás Panelo 10.
Score Pilot: 4-1, 6-2, 8-5, 10-8, 13-10, 15-10.
VENUE: U. S. Polo Assn. Field, National Polo Center.
MVP: Lorenzo Chavanne.
Best Playing Pony: Open Texas. Played by Lorenzo Chavanne.