IPBL Playoff Chaos, Hangzhou Upsets, Tfue Debuts

Welcome to your weekend, pickleballers.

Kick it off with two things - one, download this month's magazine which came out yesterday.

Two, check out the latest pickleball news from all around the world.

Playoff Pandemonium: Mumbai Smashers Survives Grand Rally Chaos to Clinch Final IPBL Spot

New Delhi, India – The inaugural Indian Pickleball League (IPBL) descended into electrifying chaos at the KD Jadhav Indoor Stadium this week, as the race for the playoffs culminated in high-stakes drama. In a league defined by its unique "Grand Rally" format—a 21-point sprint with rapid rotations—Day 5 and the subsequent tie-breakers reshaped the leaderboard and crowned the final four contenders.

The Mumbai Smashers emerged as the ultimate survivors. Initially tied on points with Capital Warriors Gurgaon and Bengaluru Blasters, Mumbai navigated a nerve-wracking three-way "Grand Rally" shootout to secure the fourth and final playoff spot. Led by the undefeated singles phenom Quang Duong, Mumbai first edged out Gurgaon 25–24 in a golden-point thriller, before defeating Bengaluru 25–22 in a heart-stopping finale. Duong, who has been a revelation for the league, displayed immense poise alongside teammates Allison Harris and Ammol Ramchandani to steer his team through the pressure-cooker atmosphere.

Earlier on Day 5, the league witnessed its biggest upset when the Lucknow Leopards stunned the previously unbeaten table-toppers, Chennai Super Warriors, with a 4-2 victory. Lucknow’s Ryler DeHeart and Aditya Ruhela were instrumental, handing Chennai’s top doubles pair their first loss and securing the third playoff seed for the Leopards. Meanwhile, the Hyderabad Royals booked their ticket to the post-season following a dramatic 3-3 draw against Bengaluru, fueled by the heroics of American star Ben "Benny Bomb" Newell, whose behind-the-back shot became the talk of the tournament.

The atmosphere in New Delhi was vibrant, with schoolchildren packing the stands, their cheers amplifying the intensity of a league that has quickly captivated the capital. With the playoff bracket now set, Chennai will face Hyderabad in Qualifier 1, while Mumbai takes on Lucknow in the Eliminator.

Asian Ambitions: Underdog Ly Stuns Top Seed Staksrud at Hangzhou Open

Hangzhou, China – The PPA Tour Asia’s Hangzhou Open delivered a series of stunning upsets and improbable comebacks this week, setting the stage for a thrilling Championship Saturday. The biggest shock of the tournament arrived in the men’s singles draw, where Hoang Nam Ly toppled top seed Federico Staksrud.

Ly played the match of his career to defeat Staksrud 11-7, 12-10, advancing to face No. 2 seed Hong Kit "Jack" Wong in the final. Despite the singles setback, Staksrud showcased his resilience in the doubles categories. He teamed up with Armaan Bhatia to reach the men's doubles final and partnered with Alix Truong to secure a spot in the mixed doubles championship match.

The tournament also featured one of the most dramatic comebacks in recent memory. In the mixed doubles quarterfinals, the pairing of Ting Chieh "Jamie" Wei and Connor Garnett found themselves trailing 1-7 in the deciding third game against Jamie Haas and Tama Shimabukuro. In a display of grit, the No. 3 seeds stormed back with a 9-2 run to steal the victory 11-9, eventually reaching the semifinals.

On the women’s side, Chao Yi "Zoey" Wang proved to be a dominant force, advancing to two gold medal matches. She will compete for the singles title against Sahra Dennehy and pair with Alix Truong in the women’s doubles final. As the PPA Tour expands its global footprint, the high level of competition in Hangzhou underscores the rapidly growing talent pool in the Asian pickleball circuit.

Gaming Legend Tfue Swaps Controller for Paddle in Celebrity Showdown

Dallas, USA – Turner "Tfue" Tenney, one of the world's most recognizable gamers and streamers, traded his keyboard for a paddle this week, appearing at the Jenius Bank Pickleball World Championships. Best known for his dominance in Fortnite, Tenney revealed that he has become a "pickleball addict" over the last two years, honing his skills in an unlikely environment.

"I live in a beach town in Florida, so the pickleball courts were all older people," Tenney joked during an interview at the event. "I had my fair share of getting whooped by the elderly". Despite his humility, Tenney carries a respectable DUPR rating of 4.4 in singles and felt comfortable competing in the Celebrity Pickleball Showdown alongside pros like Ben Johns and Anna Leigh Waters.

Tenney sees a distinct parallel between high-level gaming and pickleball, particularly in the speed of decision-making required. "When you’re playing games, it’s a lot of decision making... I think pickleball is similar in that sense because you have to consider whether to hit a drive, dink, or speed up," he explained.

The streamer also commented on the intersection of his two passions, noting Fortnite's addition of a pickleball court to its map. While he hopes for a future in-game skin featuring a paddle, he is currently content building his "dream squad" of pros, including Hayden Patriquin and Hunter Johnson.

CDO Stars Lead Team Philippines to Dominant Start in Shenzhen

Shenzhen, China – Three standout athletes from Cagayan de Oro are making waves on the international stage, representing Team Philippines at the Pickleball Champions League (PCL) Asia Tournament. Juan Paulo Fermin, Ian Malacaman, and Honey Gilles are competing as part of the "Pickle Yard" team in what is billed as the region's largest pickleball league.

The tournament, which features 256 clubs from across Asia, has seen a strong start from the Philippine delegation. In their opening salvo, Pickle Yard demonstrated clinical efficiency, sweeping the Bintang Pro Picklers of Malaysia with a decisive 4-0 scoreline. They maintained their momentum on Day 2, routing a host team from China in another straight-set 4-0 victory.

The strong performance in Shenzhen highlights the growing prowess of Filipino players in the sport. Alongside Pickle Yard, another Philippine team, "SO CHILL," is also vying for honors at the event. This international campaign follows recent successes by players from Cagayan de Oro and Bukidnon at the World Championship in Bali, signaling a rising tide for pickleball in Northern Mindanao.