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LGCT & GCL Rome: Harrie Smoulders reigns
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Global Champions Tour 19 videos
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US American Laura Kraut on Cedric clears an obstacle during the North Rhine Westphalia jumping prize at the CHIO World Equestrian Festival in Aachen on July 6, 2012. Kraut took third place. The CHIO, the last major equestrian event before the London Olympics, takes place from 03 to 08 July AFP PHOTO / JOHN MACDOUGALL (Photo credit should read JOHN MACDOUGALL/AFP/GettyImages)
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Story highlights

Global Champions League to end with playoffs

Only top 16 teams to reach season finale

CNN  — 

The world’s premier show jumping competition will introduce a $10 million end-of-season playoff next year.

Ther Global Champions League, which pits teams of four riders against each other across seven months of competition, will conclude with a playoff in the Czech capital of Prague in December 2018.

The top 16 teams after November’s final regular-season event will qualify for the showdown, with the top four teams automatically fast tracked to the semifinals.

The winning team will take home $3 million, part of a record purse for a show jumping event of $10 million.

Rolf-Göran Bengtsson on Casall ASK
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Horse of a lifetime: Casall ASK
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READ: The ultimate partnership between horse and rider

‘Exciting format’

“Our mission is to continue innovating and growing show jumping towards an ever more healthy and sustainable future like other sports in the modern era,” said Jan Tops, co-founder of Global Champions League and President of Longines Global Champions Tour (LGCT).

“That is what we have been about from the beginning to make sure the sport keeps moving ahead in the interests of riders, fans, owners, sponsors and media.

“Along with the strengths of the LGCT and the regular GCL team circuit, the new League play offs will be unique in show jumping and the exciting format will attract more fans and new audiences.”

Australian Edwina Alexander, riding Cevo Itot Du Chateau, competes during the International Jumping Competition on April 4, 2010, at The Grand Palais in Paris. Edwina Alexander finished 6th and German Marcus Ehning won the event. AFP PHOTO / FRANCK FIFE (Photo credit should read FRANCK FIFE/AFP/Getty Images)
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Horse of a lifetime: Cevo Itot du Château
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READ: Smolders crowned Longines Global Champions Tour winner

This year’s Global Champions League, which is staged ahead of each Longines Global Champions Tour event, features 15 rounds of competition.

Visit CNN.com/equestrian for more news, features and videos

The Hamburg Diamonds – of Harrie Smolders (NED), John Whitaker (GBR), Eric Lamaze (CAN), Piergiorgio Bucci (ITA) and U25 rider Jos Verlooy (BEL) – lead Valkenswaard United going into the final round at Al Shaqab, Doha in November.