Pickleball saw a series of game-changing announcements in Dubai on Wednesday with the launch of the Pickleball World Rankings (PWR), PWR World Series and PWR World Tour.
The PWR World Series will be hosted in the GCC region (Middle East), with its inaugural event kicking off in March 2025.
PWR will bring together regional bodies under one unified structure to enhance sports governance and future longevity. The announcement was made by PWR, The Times Group, colleagues from international pickleball bodies and some of the world’s top players, including women’s world number 1 on APP Tour, Megan Fudge DeHeart. The venture is backed by Pickleball League Asia Private Limited in partnership with The Times Group.
Pranav Kohli, CEO and Founder of PWR said: “Pickleball originated from relatively humble beginnings in the backyards of America in the sixties, and has now become one of the most exciting sports enjoyed by millions around the world.
“It is with great honour to be part of the creation of Pickleball World Rankings, PWR World Series and PWR World Tour and we are delighted to be the team taking Pickleball to the next level both on and off the court.”
He continued: “We will be offering USD $15million in prize money for the PWR World Tour and USD $1.5m for the GCC stop in PWR World Series. This is the highest prize money ever offered in the sport! It is my hope that existing stars and the champions of the future from the United States and all around the world can rise through the rankings and reach their full potential, all in front of millions of followers globally.”
He concluded: “It is no coincidence that we selected the GCC as the location for this announcement and we are thrilled to confirm that our first PWR World Series – in a grand style will be hosted in the region. The ambition and visionary leadership within the region and the positive pace of societal change is in step with the growth of the sport and we are confident that the sport will enjoy a bright future here.”
Vineet Jain, Managing Director of The Times Group said: “The Times Group is proud to be an anchor investor in PWR, a path breaking initiative that unifies the global pickleball community.
“We are happy that PWR is bringing the PWR Rankings, PWR tour and PWR World Series, and we really hope that this further accelerates growth of Pickleball globally. I personally believe that pickleball will overtake tennis in terms of participation in near future. PWR is a platform that will empower players from every corner of the globe to compete, excel, and showcase their talents on an international stage.”
The new ecosystem comprises a few elements:
Pickleball World Rankings: PWR is a unified global ranking system that allows a defined path for pickleball players to earn points and improve their rankings. It will enable players to accumulate points and qualify for the PWR World Series through the PWR World Tour in different regions. Different tiers of PWR events – PWR100, PWR 200, PWR 400, PWR700, PWR1000 and PWR2000 – are similar to ATP and WTA tournaments in tennis.
PWR World Series: Similar to the Grand Slam events in tennis, these marquee events will begin in March 2025, with six major tournaments, including one in the GCC region. In the first year, the PWR World Series will comprise 64 players in the individual format and six teams of four players
each, from the US and the rest of the world.
PWR World Tour: This consists of various tours worldwide where players compete to earn PWR points and qualify for the PWR World Series. Examples include the PWR CPA Pro Tour and the PWR China Collegiate Pickleball Tour.
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