History Made Beneath the Pyramids as Devos Claims €1 Million Longines Global Champions Tour Grand Prix of Cairo Saïd is Crowned 2026 Champion
Mdmar – Cairo – LGCT
Against the breathtaking backdrop of the Pyramids of Giza, the inaugural Longines Global Champions Tour Grand Prix of Cairo presented by TATWEER delivered an unforgettable afternoon of world-class show jumping, championship glory and sporting history, as Belgium’s Pieter Devos claimed victory in the €1 million LGCT Grand Prix and compatriot Abdel Saïd was officially crowned the 2026 Longines Global Champions Tour Champion with one stage still remaining.
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For the first time in history, the world’s leading show jumping riders competed for one of the sport’s most prestigious titles in front of one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. With the magnificent Pyramids rising above the arena, an electric crowd and an extraordinary atmosphere, Cairo provided a spectacular stage for a landmark moment in the Tour’s 20th anniversary season.
Founded by Qatar’s Years of Culture initiative, the historic Cairo debut brought together elite international sport, cultural exchange and Egyptian heritage in a celebration unlike anything previously seen on the Longines Global Champions Tour.
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In a thrilling 12-horse jump-off, Belgium’s Pieter Devos delivered a sensational performance aboard Casuall DV Z to claim the inaugural Longines Global Champions Tour Grand Prix of Cairo title, stopping the clock in an unbeatable 45.85 seconds and taking home an impressive €330,000 in prize money.
Fellow Belgian Olivier Philippaerts came agonisingly close to victory aboard Hipster SV, producing a brilliant double clear in 46.31 seconds to secure second place. His outstanding performance also earned him the coveted golden ticket to the Longines Global Champions Tour Super Grand Prix at the GC Playoffs in Verona next month.
Great Britain’s Ben Maher completed the podium aboard Point Break, delivering another exceptional double clear in 46.57 seconds to finish third. With just 0.72 seconds separating the top three, the historic Grand Prix showcased the extraordinary level of competition that has defined the 2026 season.
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A visibly overwhelmed Pieter Devos spoke to GCTV after winning the Longines Global Champions Tour Grand Prix of Cairo founded by Qatar’s Years Of Culture, paying an emotional tribute to Casual and the consistency that had brought them to this moment: “I am a bit overwhelmed to be honest, I am really so happy with my horse! She really deserves this, she has had six 5* Grand Prix podiums this year, and now we can put the cherry on the cake with an amazing win. She really is an amazing horse, she really deserves it and she fights so hard for me… now we can finish it off it is just amazing… and in this fantastic place! Goosebumps!”
For Devos and his family, the victory marked a milestone in a journey that began long before Casual ever entered an international arena. Reflecting on the bond built with the mare they bred themselves, he said: “It is just a very special story with this horse, we bred her ourselves with our family, we did the whole journey with Casual from foal right through now to 5* Grand Prix winner, and fantastic that you can make that bond with the horse and bring her to the top level of the world – it really is special that you can make it happen and what she has given me back is just unbelievable.”
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The setting added another layer of emotion, as Devos drew a remarkable parallel with his first LGCT Grand Prix victory in Shanghai. Having pictured himself on the podium beneath the Pyramids earlier in the week, he could now savour that very moment: “I must say I just remembered for me it is good to have a new show… my first LGCT Grand Prix win was in Shanghai, and that was the first time the Global went to Shanghai, and now here in Cairo I was a bit overwhelmed by the setting with the pyramids here, it is just amazing to be here on the podium now. That podium stands there just in front of the pyramids and I was thinking on the first day ‘it will be nice to to be on that podium in the grand prix, and then have a nice picture with the Pyramids on the side… very very happy today!”
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The result also secured Philippaerts a coveted place in the LGCT Super Grand Prix, turning his attention towards the season’s grand finale in Verona: “Luckily, now we have the LGCT Super Grand Prix ticket, so we make our plan for Verona and aim to get it together there!”
Reflecting on the inaugural event in Egypt, Philippaerts paid tribute to the crowd’s warm welcome and voiced his enthusiasm for returning to compete beneath the Pyramids: “Amazing for the first time here in Egypt. The crowd were incredible, cheering on every rider. It gives us great comfort as riders — it can be not so easy to come to a new country and a new show like this, but hopefully we keep coming back in the future because really it is a great show on the calendar! It’s some show, and we have to do whatever it takes to keep it going!”
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For third-placed Ben Maher, a podium finish rounded off a memorable first visit to Cairo: “It’s been a great week, the first time here in Cairo. The organisation has been second to none, I have to say, for both the horses and the riders.”
With the advantage of jumping last, Maher had victory within reach, but was left reflecting on the fine margins of the jump-off: “It’s a big-money Grand Prix with a lot in the jump-off. I had pole position there in the end and just slightly misjudged it, unfortunately.”
There was nevertheless plenty to take from his horse’s return to competition: “He’s picked up momentum this week after some time off. Happy with the third, but disappointed that I couldn’t be the right side of the timers.” Taking in the atmosphere, he added: “Great event, huge crowd here, and the horse was amazing!”
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While the LGCT Grand Prix of Cairo delivered a historic first winner beneath the Pyramids, an even bigger championship story unfolded in Cairo as Belgium’s Abdel Saïd officially secured the 2026 Longines Global Champions Tour Championship title, with one stage of the season still to come.
After a remarkable campaign defined by consistency, determination and performances at the highest level, Saïd arrived in Cairo leading the championship standings and with the opportunity to seal the title before the season finale in Rabat.
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Aboard Wathnan Bonne Amie, Saïd finished the Grand Prix on four faults in 72.28 seconds, narrowly missing out on the jump-off. However, his 13th-place finish added another 24 valuable championship points to his tally, taking him to an unassailable 245 points.
With his closest rival Christian Ahlmann sitting on 224 points, Saïd’s championship advantage is now mathematically impossible to overturn at the final stage, securing his place in Longines Global Champions Tour history. It marks a defining achievement for the Belgian rider, whose exceptional consistency throughout the season has seen him rise to the very top of the sport, claiming the most prestigious individual championship title on the Tour.
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The championship battle behind him remains fiercely competitive, with Christian Ahlmann, Max Kühner, Olivier Philippaerts and Simon Delestre all fighting for their final positions ahead of Rabat. With the championship crown already decided, the focus now shifts to the remaining podium positions as the Tour prepares for its final chapter in Morocco.
Having arrived in Cairo prepared for the Championship battle to go down to the final stage in Rabat, Abdel Saïd admitted that securing the 2026 Longines Global Champions Tour Championship title with one Grand Prix still remaining had yet to sink in. “I still can’t believe it, to be honest. In my mind, I knew it would go to the last leg in Rabat next week, so I was ready for that. Then they told me I could potentially win it today, even having one down, and of course you get excited and you get nervous. I’m very, very proud of my horses and my team. It’s been a long season.”
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Reflecting on the significance of joining the sport’s most celebrated names as an LGCT Champion, Saïd spoke of a title he once considered almost impossible to achieve. “It’s a big moment. I used to look up to this and think it was nearly impossible to do. At the times when Scott was riding Sanctos and Rolf was riding Casall, I was just drooling from the sidelines. And now to stand here and do it, I’m very proud and really happy for my horses and my team.”
2026 Longines Global Champions Tour Championship Standings – Top Five After Cairo
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Abdel Saïd (BEL) – 245 points – 2026 Champion
Christian Ahlmann (GER) – 224 points
Max Kühner (AUT) – 208 points
Olivier Philippaerts (BEL) – 200 points
Simon Delestre (FRA) – 199.67 points
With €1 million in prize money on offer and the 2026 championship title hanging in the balance, the opening round of the Longines Global Champions Tour Grand Prix of Cairo delivered all the drama expected of such a historic occasion.
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Against the extraordinary backdrop of the Pyramids of Giza, the world’s best horse and rider combinations tackled a demanding 1.60m course, with every fence testing precision, power and composure under pressure. The opening round produced 12 faultless jumping performances, although only 12 combinations finished within the time allowed to progress to the jump-off.
For the home crowd, Egyptian rider Nayel Nassar produced a strong performance aboard Esi Ali, finishing on just four faults in 72.68 seconds. Although narrowly missing out on the jump-off, his appearance in the inaugural Cairo Grand Prix was a proud moment for Egyptian equestrian sport, with passionate support from spectators throughout the arena.
But while some riders celebrated, others saw their hopes disappear by the smallest of margins.
Championship leader Abdel Saïd entered the arena knowing the significance of the afternoon. Aboard Wathnan Bonne Amie, the Belgian rider finished with four faults, ruling him out of the jump-off but ultimately securing the championship points needed to seal the 2026 title.
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Ireland’s Denis Lynch, another rider who had enjoyed a strong championship campaign, saw his Grand Prix hopes end in retirement aboard Vistogrand. Great Britain’s Jack Whitaker finished on eight faults aboard Jack JL, while Germany’s Marcus Ehning and Coolio 42 collected four faults.
With the sun setting over the Pyramids and the atmosphere building around the arena, 12 of the world’s finest combinations returned to battle for the inaugural Longines Global Champions Tour Grand Prix of Cairo title. The shortened course demanded absolute precision and speed, with the pressure intensifying as riders fought to write their names into the history books.
Christian Kukuk was among those to launch an aggressive challenge aboard Checker 47. The German rider produced the fastest time of the entire jump-off, stopping the clock in a blistering 45.36 seconds, but eight faults proved costly, eventually leaving him in tenth place.
Simon Delestre, winner of the Longines Global Champions Tour Grand Prix of Madrid earlier this season, also pushed hard aboard Gatsby du Tillard. The French rider crossed the finish in 47.19 seconds but eight faults ended his hopes of another Grand Prix victory, placing him 11th.
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Emanuele Gaudiano and Chabrello PS similarly saw their chances disappear after eight faults in 51.40 seconds, finishing 12th overall. Max Kühner finished ninth with three time penalties in the jump off on a horse jumping its first ever LGCT Grand Prix he opted to play it safe.
The pressure continued to build as Italy’s Emanuele Camilli returned aboard Chacareno PS, producing another faultless jumping performance. However, one costly time penalty in 52.09 seconds denied him a completely clean score, leaving the pair in eighth place. Flying the flag for Qatar, Bassem Mohammed gave his supporters plenty to celebrate with a superb double clear aboard Wathnan Rocket Man. Stopping the clock in 50.37 seconds.
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The double clears kept coming as Portugal’s Duarte Seabra and Dourados 2 left every fence standing, crossing the finish line in 50.16 seconds to claim sixth place. Germany’s Marco Kutscher then raised the stakes aboard Pikeur Lemar NRW, shaving precious fractions off the time to finish in 49.83 seconds, ultimately securing fifth place.
Belgium’s challenge continued to gather momentum as Niels Bruynseels delivered a brilliant double clear aboard Oaky Flandria. Stopping the clock in 48.82 seconds, he set a new benchmark for those still to come, eventually finishing just outside the podium in fourth place.
But it was the final battle for the top three positions that truly ignited the Cairo crowd.
Ben Maher, one of the most decorated riders in international show jumping, delivered a spectacular performance aboard Point Break. The British star attacked the course with precision and determination, producing a faultless round in 46.57 seconds to put himself firmly in contention for the historic title. Olivier Philippaerts raised the stakes aboard Hipster SV, delivering a sensational double clear in 46.31 seconds. The Belgian rider’s lightning-fast performance was enough to move ahead of Maher and secure second place, along with the all-important qualification for the Longines Global Champions Tour Super Grand Prix.
However, the afternoon belonged to Pieter Devos.
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Aboard Casuall DV Z, the Belgian rider produced a breathtaking display of speed, accuracy and control, stopping the clock in an incredible 45.85 seconds. With every fence left standing, Devos claimed the inaugural Longines Global Champions Tour Grand Prix of Cairo title by just 0.46 seconds. As the result was confirmed, celebrations erupted beneath the Pyramids, marking an extraordinary moment in the history of the Longines Global Champions Tour.
For Devos, the victory delivered the honour of becoming the first rider to win a Longines Global Champions Tour Grand Prix at one of the world’s most iconic landmarks.
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After three unforgettable days of world-class sport and historic moments at the Pyramids of Giza, the Longines Global Champions Tour now turns its attention to Rabat, Morocco, for the final stage of the 2026 season from 30 October to 1 November.
Founded by Qatar’s Years of Culture initiative, the Longines Global Champions Tour of Rabat will bring the curtain down on the Tour’s landmark 20th anniversary championship season, promising another spectacular celebration of elite equestrian sport. From the ancient Pyramids of Giza to the vibrant Moroccan capital, the 2026 Longines Global Champions Tour continues to make history, with one final chapter still to be written.
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The “Mdmar” website which was Founded by Khaled Makhlouf in 2007 for horse and equestrian races is keen to cover and follow all competitions related to horses, from show jumping, Horseracing, speed and endurance races, and purebred Arabian horse beauty shows, which belong to the Arab Gulf countries at home and abroad in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and the State of Qatar, the State of Kuwait, the Sultanate of Oman, and the Kingdom of Bahrain.
