On Sunday, April 26, Team BTA (KC Krueger, Steve Krueger, Tomas Panelo and Ignacio “Nachi” Viana) faced Team Pilot (Curtis Pilot, Mackenzie Weisz, Lorenzo Chavanne and Camilo “Jeta” Castagnola) for the most prestigious title in American polo, the U.S. Open Polo Championship, on U.S. Polo Assn. Field One at the National Polo Center in Wellington.
Determined and resilient, both teams overcame challenges on the path to Sunday’s final. Pilot, which captured the second leg of the Gauntlet of Polo, the USPA Gold Cup, dropped its first two U.S. Open bracket games before rebounding. While BTA, after a slow start in the early stages of the Gauntlet, steadily built its record and confidence to reach its first U.S. Open final.
Led by 18-year-old Chavanne, who entered Sunday’s showdown as the Gauntlet’s leading scorer after surpassing the 100-goal mark, Pilot paired its offensive firepower with dominant horsepower. Peaking at the perfect moment, the team in white and maroon took the lead and never trailed, galloping away with a 15-10 victory and $100,000 in prize money.
Pilot came out firing in the opening chukker, jumping to a 4-1 lead behind goals from Chavanne and Castagnola. The momentum carried into the second, as Weisz and Castagnola extended the advantage to 6-2. In the third, BTA outscored Pilot with a balanced attack from Steve Krueger, Panelo and Viana, cutting the deficit to three at the break.
Steve Krueger and Viana struck back-to-back to open the fourth, but Pilot answered, as Castagnola pushed their lead to 10-8. BTA kept it within reach, but two goals from Chavanne late in the fifth chukker preserved Pilot’s edge. Closing out the sixth chukker with authority, Castagnola and Chavanne delivered the final blow to secure Pilot’s 15-10 victory.
Topping the U.S. Open Polo Championship podium for the first time since 2022, team owner Curtis Pilot collected his third personal title (2019, 2022, 2026). Raising the trophy with Pilot in 2022, Weisz earned his second victory, as Chavanne and Castagnola each claimed their first.
Chavanne, who led Pilot with seven goals in the final, was named the Seymour H. Knox Most Valuable Player. His 9-year-old mare Open Texas, played in the first, fourth and sixth chukkers, earned the Willis Hartman Trophy Best Playing Pony honors. Chavanne also received Best Playing String and Horse of the Year for V8 Tyson at the National Polo Center’s End of Season Horse Excellence Awards seven days earlier.
Awarding a Best Playing Pony for each game of the U.S. Open, the two organizations combined to earn seven ribbons prior to the final. BTA’s selections, all played by Panelo, included Peña Green Day in Game 3, Dolfina Amar A Dios in Games 11 and 21, and Lovelocks Boo in Game 17. Pilot’s honors, played by Chavanne, went to V8 Tyson in Game 15 and Open Texas in the tournament’s second semifinal. V8 Gondola, played by Weisz, was honored in Game 22.
BTA’s husband-and-wife duo KC and Steve Krueger were both recognized, with KC receiving the Summerville “Skeeter” Johnston Sponsor of the Year Award for her dedication to promoting and growing the sport, and Steve earning the U.S. Polo Assn. Sportsmanship Award for his continued positive attitude, fairness and support of his peers throughout the tournament.
In partnership with USPA Global, both finalists selected a charity of their choice to receive a $2,500 donation, with BTA contributing to the Museum of Polo and Hall of Fame and Pilot to the Polo Training Foundation.
The U.S. Open final is available on-demand on the USPA Polo Network at watch.uspolo.org and across major streaming platforms. The final will also air Sunday, May 3 at 7 p.m. on ESPN2.
