GC Riyadh Playoffs: A Historic Debut for the Grand Finale of the 2024 Global Champions Season

The curtain has officially risen on the grand finale of the 2024 Global Champions season, as Riyadh, the vibrant capital of Saudi Arabia, gears up to host the eagerly awaited GC Playoffs for the very first time. This landmark event will unite the world’s elite show jumping athletes, the fifth edition of this thrilling event promises to deliver an unforgettable conclusion to the season.

At today’s launch press conference in Riyadh, the 2024 GC Playoffs were ceremoniously declared open, igniting a palpable sense of anticipation among riders, teams, and fans. With over €11 million in prize money on the line, the stakes couldn’t be higher. The excitement kicks off with the GCL Super Cup Quarter Final, setting the tone for an electrifying weekend of world-class equestrian sport.

Jan Tops, Founder and President of the Longines Global Champions Tour and the GCL Team Series, reflected on the global impact of the Playoffs, highlighting its magnetic appeal: “We have had an incredible season with 16 events around the world over four continents for the first time and the best is yet to come with this weekend in Riyadh. With record prize money in show jumping - it is the most important weekend in show jumping throughout the year for the top riders and horses that are here.”

Rayan Khuraishi, Riyadh Event Director greeted the media and explained: “I want to welcome everyone to the GC Riyadh Playoffs for the first time. We are very excited to host this unique competition and I look forward to making it a success.”

Member of the 2024 GCL Season Champions Cannes Stars powered by Iron Dames team and LGCT Super Grand Prix qualifier Janne Friederike Meyer-Zimmermann smiled: “We are hungry as a team and will keep our feet on the ground. We bought our very best horses and we have a strong team here. The Playoffs are just so exciting and unique, it is my first time in Riyadh and I am impressed by the city. The set-up here looks amazing and I can already feel the atmosphere here today in the warm-up class so I am so excited for the whole weekend. I am so thankful to have the opportunity to ride on the Longines Global Champions Tour and for the Cannes Stars and thankful.” 

Global Champions Sports Director, Marco Danese said: “The format of the GCL team competition this week makes a huge difference, with three riders, no drop score and the knockout rounds - it is anyone’s game. It is a special competition and one of the main goals for the riders is to win the 1.65m LGCT Super Grand Prix or GCL Super Cup - it is a very important competition.”

This afternoon, the world’s top riders and their horses stepped into the arena in Riyadh for the first time, using the opportunity to acclimatise to the venue and fine-tune their preparations for the prestigious competition ahead.

The highly anticipated GCL Super Cup Quarter Final is set to kick off tomorrow at 20:10 GMT+3, officially launching a thrilling weekend of equestrian excellence. For fans unable to witness the GC Riyadh Playoffs in person, GCTV offers the perfect front-row seat. Subscribe for just €4.99 a month and enjoy every moment of the action live, ensuring equestrian enthusiasts worldwide don’t miss a beat.