The atmosphere was electric as Valkenswaard United sealed their place in history, conquering the world’s best to claim their share of the €8.5 million Championship prize. It was a masterclass in teamwork, consistency, and composure - the mark of true champions.

With Gilles Thomas and Hans-Dieter Dreher producing ice-cool rounds aboard Ermitage Kalone and Vestmalle des Cotis, the blue-and-gold squad roared to victory, denying the surging Cannes Stars powered by Iron Dames a fairytale finish. The result ignited the Saudi skyline as Valkenswaard United sealed the crown with 326 championship points, just 11 clear of Cannes Stars powered by Iron Dames made up of Sophie Hinners and Katrin Eckermann today. Shanghai Swans’ Daniel Deusser and Max Kühner rounded out the top three after a season of relentless consistency on 272 points.

In a dramatic twist in Riyadh, the Prague Lions powered by Czech Equestrian Team suffered a shock elimination in Round 2 after an unexpected stop from Fernando Martinez Sommer, opening the door for Riesenbeck International powered by Horse Gym led by Christian Kukuk with Checker 47 and Chacergano PS, and Emanuele Camilli aboard Chacco’s Girlstar. With a strong third-place finish in today’s final stage, Riesenbeck clinched fourth place in the Championship Standings by a single point - and, crucially, the last fast-track ticket to the GCL Super Cup Semi-Final, leaving the Prague Lions to battle their way through the knockout Quarter Final. So the rest of the grid now looks toward Prague - where the ultimate test, the €10 million GCL Super Cup, awaits.

The victory under the Riyadh lights marked a defining moment in Valkenswaard United’s illustrious legacy - a season-long masterclass sealed in spectacular style. As the crowd rose in applause, the Championship trophies were presented in a ceremony befitting the magnitude of the occasion. His Highness Prince Abdullah Bin Fahad Bin Abdullah Al Saud, President of the Saudi Arabian Equestrian Federation, led the presentation for the winning team, alongside Jan Tops, President and Founder of the GCL, and H.E. Abdulilah S. Aldalak, Assistant Minister of Sport.

The celebration continued as the grooms behind top three teams were honoured for their dedication and precision throughout the season as Stefan Stan, Sanne Melsen, Kelsey Jandura, Valentine Hssein, Marine Renauder and Mariella Offner were awarded trophys. It was a moment of pure triumphed and the unmistakable feeling that history had just been made in Riyadh.

After the final results with some solid positions towards the later part of the season unfortunately the comeback was too late in the season for the Paris Panthers who finished 17th and didn't qualify for the GCL Super Cup in Prague.

Wearing a double winners sash, the ‘clear round machine’ Gilles Thomas commented on the consistency of Valkenswaard United. He said,  "We got quite early in the season the armbands from the leading team, it’s been tight all season with the ladies in the Cannes Stars, and today again it was quite tight, but we are so pleased that we can win today as well as the overall."

He went on to add, "you could really feel it was the Finals today, the courses were tough, we worked towards this final, bringing our horses in really good shape and going for the win!"

Summarised aptly by teammate Hans, who said, "We are fighting together, we are loosing together - and that is the most important part"

Second place the Cannes Stars powered by the Iron Dames couldn’t hide the smiles from their faces, following a season of consistency after their debut as the Cannes Stars powered by Iron Dames in 2024. Sophie said, "I think what sets us apart and makes the Cannes Stars so special is that our team supports each other so well, the team spirit is something really unique. So many people behind us, especially Deborah - before we came to Riyadh for the Final, we already had Deborah telling us how happy and proud she is. So it’s not that we came with a lot of pressure here - we already were really proud of what we had achieved."

Daniel Deusser reflected on the rollercoaster season of the Shanghai Swans, he said, "i think this is the result of a very strong season for the Shanghai Swans team this year - like you said we started very good this year with a strong first half of the season. We  had a couple of up and downs in the second part of the season but we came to the GCL Finals here in Riyadh with the goal to make it in the top four, to fast track us in the GC Playoffs to not need to ride the Quarter Finals… and we achieved that!"

Uliano Vezzani once again delivered a masterclass in course design for the 2025 GCL Championship Final. His intricate 1.60m track, featuring a demanding combination and a sharp line past the VIP hospitality, kept even the world’s best on their toes. Four teams managed to post clear rounds in Round 1, setting the stage for a nail-biting Round 2 where every stride counted in the final push for Championship points.

It was heartbreak for the Prague Lions, who entered Riyadh fighting to secure a top-four finish and a fast-track ticket to the Super Cup Semi-Finals. Despite a superb clear round from Pieter Devos, two costly refusals from Fernando Martinez Sommer meant the team was eliminated from contention. All they could do was watch and wait - if Riesenbeck International finished in the top three, their hopes would vanish. And that’s exactly how fate played out.

Determined and under pressure, Riesenbeck International delivered when it mattered most. A single rail from Emanuele Camilli early on cranked up the tension, but Christian Kukuk came out firing, storming to a flawless clear on Checker 47. The result launched Riesenbeck to the top of the leaderboard with three teams still to come - and when the dust settled, that performance proved enough to snatch fourth place in the Championship by just one point, securing the last fast-track Semi-Final ticket to Prague.

For Valkenswaard United, the mission was clear - hold their nerve and bring the title home. A rail from Hans-Dieter Dreher on Vestmalle des Cotis briefly opened the door for their rivals, but Gilles Thomas, cool under pressure, delivered a textbook clear on Ermitage Kalone. Their combined precision and consistency sealed not just the Riyadh win, but the 2025 GCL Championship crown, leaving their competitors chasing shadows.

The Cannes Stars threw everything they had into the fight. Sophie Hinners and Iron Dames Singclair delivered a clinical clear, but a single pole from Katrin Eckermann and Dialou Blue PS in the final round proved costly. The team missed the stage win - and the Championship - by an agonising 0.27 seconds on combined time, finishing their remarkable season as 2025 runners-up.

The final team to enter the ring, the Rome Gladiators, knew the stakes - a strong result could push them into the top four and displace Riesenbeck. But it wasn’t to be. Both Emanuele Gaudiano and Yuri Mansur struggled to find their rhythm, finishing on 17 faults and slipping out of contention. A tough end to their campaign, but a season full of grit and fight nonetheless.

It was a night of fine margins, flawless execution, and fierce determination - the kind of finish only Riyadh could deliver.

The top four teams in the 2025 GCL Championship standings have earned direct qualification to the Semi-Finals of the GCL Super Cup at the GC Prague Playoffs in just two short weeks time, securing a major advantage ahead of the €10 million showdown.

After a season packed with high drama and global stops from Doha to Shanghai, Mexico to Rome, the newly crowned 2025 GCL Champions, Valkenswaard United, have written their name into the history books. But for every team heading to Prague, the mission isn’t over - the stage is set for one final battle, where prestige, pride and unprecedented prize money are all on the line.