Kevin Staut won the feature event on the opening day of the Longines Global Champions Tour after the Frenchman topped the CSI5* 1.55m speed class with his 11-year-old bay Visconti du Telman yesterday. 
In a thriller at the Longines Arena at Al Shaqab, Staut and Visconti du Telman managed to beat Scott Brash and his 11-year-old gelding Hello Shelby by a mere 0.11 seconds. Staut took victory with his massive striding Visconti du Telman as the pair cruised home in 63.55secs. 
Brash and Hello Shelby just fell short after timing 63.66secs and settled for the second spot. Veteran Roger Yves Bost finished third with the Frenchman leading 13-year-old mare Castleforbes Talitha home in 64.18secs. 
Yesterday’s 1.55m class was also the first round for the Global Champions League team competition, with St Tropez Pirates taking the lead going into tomorrow’s showdown — the second round. 
Eight out of the 16 teams jumped double clears with Pieter Devos and Daniel Deusser combining to put St Tropez Pirates in front with a total time of 136.29secs. The pair were just a second faster than Scandinavian Vikings, who had Evelina Tovek and Henrik von Eckermann in the saddle. In third place was London Knights, with Philippaerts twins Nicoal and Olivier tallying a total time of 141.88secs. 
Earlier, the championship kicked-off with Johan-Sebastian Gulliksen of Norway bagging his first LGCT win with his experienced gelding Chaloubet. The pair timed 38.80secs to top the 1.45m class. 
Gulliksen and Chaloubet were the last to go in the 45-combination field, and the pair set the course ablaze by setting some serious pace as they flew over the finish line. A delighted Johan said: “I was last to go so I had to try. My horse jumped fantastic and hopefully, I can bring this good feeling with me tomorrow and Saturday.” 
Belgium riders took the second and third position. Jos Verlooy and Varoune finished just behind Gulliksen and Chaloubet with a time of 39.91secs, while Wilm Vermeir and King Kong d’Avifauna came home in 40.50secs. 
Frenchman Roger Yves Bost and Castleforbes Talitha had taken the early lead in a time of 40.94 seconds. Last week’s CHI Al Shaqab Grand Prix winner Daniel Deusser looked good to beat that time but couldn’t quite match the pace, and finished in sixth. 
Young gun Verlooy stormed into the lead on his massive striding bay gelding Varoune. The pair cruised home in 39.91 seconds shaving over a second off Bost. 
Vermeir then took the challenge set by his countryman with King Kong d’Avifauna, but the duo was over half a second slower than Verlooy. In the end, Gulliksen spoiled the Belgian party as he produced a stunning round with Chaloubet. Meanwhile, Qatar’s Rashid Towaim Ali al-Marri also jumped clear on Flaire, but the pair couldn’t quite match the pace set by the leaders and finished 15th. 
Two top-level competition will be held, before the second round of the GCL competition and LGCT Grand Prix of Doha scheduled for tomorrow. 
 
Results 
CSI5* 1.45m Two Phases: A + A, 2nd Phase Against the Clock. Total prize money: €25,400 
1. Johan-Sebastian Gulliksen (Norway); Horse: Chaloubet; Time: 38.80secs; Prize money: €6,350 
2. Jos Verlooy (Belgium); Varoune; 39.91 secs; €5,080 
3. Wilm Vermeir (Belgium); King Kong d’Avifauna; 40.50secs; €3,810 
 
CSI5* 1.50/1.55m — GCL Team Competition Round 1; Table A: Against the Clock. Total prize money: €55,000 
1. Kevin Staut (France); Horse: Visconti du Telman; Time: 63.55secs; Prize money: €13,750 
2. Scott Brash (Britain); Hello Shelby; 63.66secs; €11,000 
3. Roger-Yves Bost (France); Castleforbes Talitha; 64.18secs; €8,250 
 
Global Champions League team results – first round 
1. St Tropez Pirates: Pieter Devos (Espoir) 68.50secs, Daniel Deusser (Killer Queen VDM) 67.79secs; Team total: 136.29secs. 
2. Scandinavia Vikings: Evelina Tovek (Dalila de la Pomme) 70.56secs; Henrik von Eckermann (Best Boy) 65.95secs; Team total: 136.51secs 
3. London Knights: Olivier Philippaerts (Zayado) 74.43secs; Nicola Philippaerts (Katanga v.h Dingeshof) 67.45secs; Team total: 141.88secs 
 
Today’s schedule 
9am: Hathab National Series 1.00/1.15m (QR10,000) 
1pm: Hathab National Series Against-the-clock 1.20/1.30m (QR20,000 individual & QR20,000 teams) 
3:45pm: CSI 5* Against-the-clock 1.50m (€51,100) 
7:30pm: CSI 5* Against-the-clock with jump-off 1.50/1.55m (€148,500)