North Texas welcomes back the Lapiplasty World Pickleball Championships for a second year. This week-long event showcases top-tier players from around the world, battling it out in deep tournament brackets from Monday, Nov. 4 to Sunday, Nov. 10.
This monumental event is expected to draw a record-breaking number of participants.
“We will have the largest event in pickleball history,” said Connor Pardoe, CEO and Founder of the Pro Pickleball Association (PPA) Tour. “We are expecting participation to exceed 3,500 players. This event is going to be wild.”
One key draw for many pros is the tournament's Slam status, offering the highest ranking points and prize money, making it the most prestigious competition of the year.
Anna Leigh Waters and Ben Johns, the best pickleball players in the world, aim to defend their doubles titles.
Waters and Catherine Parenteau are the dominant force in women's doubles, but Anna Bright and Rachel Rohrabacher, a formidable duo, could pose a challenge. While often outmatched by the top-ranked team, Bright and Rohrabacher have proven capable of upsets, including a victory at the Atlanta Slam in September. Their most recent match, just a month ago, was a nail-biter that went down to the wire.
The competition in men's doubles is also intensifying, with Ben and Collin Johns facing strong opposition. While J.W. Johnson and Dylan Frazier are the second-ranked contenders, Hayden Patriquin and Riley Newman could be the surprise package. Patriquin and Newman have recently defeated the Johns brothers with different partners, so their ability to combine their skills as a team will determine their success.
The mixed doubles competition is a foregone conclusion, with Ben and Anna Leigh as the likely winners. They have a near-perfect record in mixed doubles, so bet on them to continue their winning streak.
“We’re just experienced in playing together and we’ve been in most situations together in any given matchup or situation in tournaments, so even if we’re down, I feel like we have a shot at anything,” Johns told Pickleball.com after winning the Las Vegas Pickleball Cup with Waters in September.
In addition to the main event, a packed schedule of activities awaits:
- The Major League Pickleball Premier and Challenger Level Quarterfinals will be held from Friday, Nov. 1 to Sunday, Nov. 3.
- There will be live music throughout the week, including performances by Justin Moore and Jon Langston on Sunday, Nov. 3.
- XGLOsive hosts a glow-in-the-dark pickleball party on Tuesday, Nov. 5 and Wednesday, Nov. 6
- The Deep Eddy Vodka Celebrity Pickleball Showdown on Thursday, Nov. 7 is headlined by Dirk Nowitzki, Jason Kidd and John Isner.
Tournament Information
The championships will be held at Brookhaven Country Club in Farmers Branch.
Tickets for the event are now available at Tixr. Prices start at $25, with options for premium seating and group packages.
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