The Dink MiLP Championship: 2 Key Routes to Qualify

The Dink MiLP Championship: With the excitement building for The Dink Minor League Pickleball (MiLP) Championship in December, aspiring players have two distinct routes to secure their spot: accumulating points through local tournaments or clinching a gold medal at a regional showdown. Each path offers a unique journey to the ultimate goal. Here’s a detailed look at both pathways.

National Pathway No. 1: Climbing the Local Tournament Ladder

Local MiLP tournaments are a constant fixture in the pickleball scene, and they are the first rung on the ladder to the Championship. To find these tournaments, players can consult monthly articles or visit The Dink MiLP website and check the Upcoming Events section.

To qualify for the Championship, players must accumulate points on the National Leaderboard. Points are earned based on individual performance in team settings. For instance, in a division with eight teams, the top team earns eight points, the second place seven points, and so forth. The minimum for first place is four points.

An important detail to remember is that points are awarded based on the DUPR division in which a player competes. Each division has its leaderboard, meaning points earned in one division do not transfer to another. Players must remain in the same division throughout the season to ensure their points are counted towards the right leaderboard.

The Road to the Championship: Points and Placement

There is no fixed number of points required to advance to the Championship, as it depends on the performance of other players within the division. For example, if the top 16 players in each division receive an invitation, players must aim to secure a spot within that top tier.

To maximize point accumulation, players need to participate in as many tournaments as possible. With tournaments held across the country, traveling to different cities can provide additional opportunities to score valuable points for the leaderboard.

National Pathway No. 2: Securing a Dream Ticket Through Regional Showdowns

The second route to the Championship involves competing in one of seven Regional Showdowns hosted by The Dink MiLP. Each showdown will feature 12 to 16 teams per division. The top team from each division at these events will earn a coveted Dream Ticket to the National Championship.

While the Dream Ticket guarantees entry, the team must compete in the same division they qualified in, provided the original four members remain unchanged. Should any team need to substitute players, they must enter the Championship in the appropriate division based on their new lineup.

if a team blessed with a Dream Ticket to the National Championship finds itself in a bind and can’t bring all four of its original players, there’s a silver lining. They have the option to swap out up to two of their teammates with individuals who have made a mark in The Dink MiLP events throughout the 2024 qualifying season. It’s a move that can ensure they still make a strong showing, even if the roster isn’t quite what it started as.

Should the team that clinched 1st place face the unfortunate reality of not being able to bring at least two of its original Regionals’ players to Nationals, the stakes shift dramatically. The 2nd place team, standing by in the wings, will be handed the coveted Dream Ticket. It’s a scenario that keeps the competition fierce and the outcomes ever so uncertain, proving that in the realm of championships, opportunity and adaptability often go hand in hand.

With these pathways laid out, the race to qualify for The Dink Minor League Pickleball Championship is heating up. Whether through local tournament points or a victorious regional showing, players have multiple avenues to reach the ultimate goal in Missouri this December. The journey promises to be as thrilling as the destination itself.

News in Brief: The Dink MiLP Championship