The 2019 Longines Global Champions Tour and Global Champions League will begin at the Al Shaqab, member of Qatar Foundation, in Doha, this Thursday. The official rider list was revealed yesterday.
The first event of the new individual and team championships promises to be an electrifying launch pad for the season as athletes eye up the competition and flex their muscles for a strong start in the 2019 Championship race.
Local heroes Sheikh Ali bin Khalid al-Thani and Bassem Hassan Mohamed – who won the LGCT Grand Prix of Doha in 2017 – will both be back on home turf and looking to kick start their season with a win in front of home crowds. Spectators will be treated to three days of spectacular show jumping, with plenty for all the family to enjoy including a Kids’ Village, cafes and refreshments plus plenty of entertainment throughout the event. 
Reigning LGCT Champion and 2018 LGCT Grand Prix of Doha winner Ben Maher of Great Britain will be back for round one of the 2019 season. The British Olympic athlete secured a record breaking four LGCT Grand Prix wins at Al Shaqab last November and will be keen to make a strong start to his title retention campaign. Maher faces stiff competition from a cavalcade of stars all keen to make 2019 their year to shine.
Two time LGCT Champion and LGCT Super Grand Prix winner Edwina Tops-Alexander (Australia) will return to a venue she has previously performed well at, as will Olympic Gold Medallist Scott Brash (Great Britain). Fans will also be able to watch German stars Daniel Deusser, Christian Ahlmann and Hans-Dieter Dreher in action, fighting off stiff competition from international leaders such as Nicola Philippaerts (Beligum), Simon Delestre (France), Alberto Zorzi (Italy), Bertram Allen (Ireland), Maikel van der Vleuten (the Netherlands), Gregory Wathelet (Belgium), Pieter Devos (Belgium), Marlon Zanotelli (Brazil), Henrik von Eckermann (Sweden) and Roger-Yves Bost (France).
The prestigious CHI Al Shaqab, a signature event of Al Shaqab and the only competition of its kind in the Middle East and Asia, will also be a three-day event taking place the weekend after, from March 7-9.
In addition to the usual attractions at the events, Al Shaqab is offering exclusive tickets to its purpose-built VIP area, in a setting that is suitable for royalty and distinguished guests. Regular grandstand and VIP tickets to both events are available for purchase on the Al Shaqab website.