The New England PPA Challenger will take place from May 9 to May 11, 2025, at The Picklr, located at 17 Main Street, Westbrook, Maine. This pickleball tournament will feature amateur and rising professional pickleball players competing for cash prizes and ranking points. Matches for amateur players will be held near Championship Court, where top up-and-coming pros will play.
Tournament Format and Match Setup
For amateur players, the tournament will follow several formats depending on the skill level and number of teams. Players in the 5.0 and 4.5 skill levels will follow a double-elimination format with no chance to come back for gold if they lose a match. Main draw matches will be best 2 out of 3 games to 11, win by 2. Consolation matches and bronze medal matches will include single games to 15 or 2 out of 3 games, depending on the stage.
If fewer than six teams or players are in a division, a round-robin format will be used with no playoffs. Events with fewer than four players or teams may be combined. The organizers have the right to adjust match formats if weather delays the event.
For players in the 4.0, 3.5, and 3.0 levels, formats vary based on the number of participants:
- With up to 7 teams, a single round-robin will be played, sometimes followed by playoffs.
- Events with 8 or more teams will be split into pools and use a round-robin format with playoff rounds.
- Matches in pool play and playoffs are mostly 1 game to 15, win by 2, except for gold medal matches which are 2/3 games to 11, win by 2.
Brackets will be seeded using DUPR ratings.
Pro Division and Points
Professional players will compete in five different events for a total prize pool of $10,000. The format for the pro matches will also be double elimination with no opportunity to come back for gold after a loss. The main draw will be 2 out of 3 games to 11, while the consolation round is 1 game to 15.
Players will earn PPA ranking points depending on how far they go:
- 1st place: 125 points
- 2nd place: 100 points
- 3rd place: 75 points
- 4th place: 50 points
- 5th place: 40 points
- Quarterfinalists: 25 points
- Round of 16: 12 points
- Round of 32: 6 points
- Round of 64: 3 points
The official tournament ball will be the Vulcan VPro Flight Outdoor.
Player Guidelines and Registration Rules
All players are asked to follow the Player’s Code of Conduct. Volunteers and referees can sign up to help support the event, and there is also a policy in place regarding transgender participation and competition.
For doubles teams, both partners must register and pay within seven days of the first person signing up. If not, that player will be moved to the waitlist and may lose their spot if the event fills. Once both players have registered and paid, they may be returned to the main draw, if space remains.
If a registered partner drops out after the registration deadline, they must be replaced by another registered player in the same skill and age group. This must be confirmed by 6:00 p.m. the day before the match.
Refund and Insurance Policy
April 9, 2025, is the last day players can cancel and receive a refund, minus a $25 fee. After this date, refunds will only be given if players purchased the Registration and Weather Insurance Policy. This insurance also covers event fees if matches are canceled due to weather.
Event Location and Parking
The tournament will be held at The Picklr in Westbrook, Maine. Parking will be available, but fees may apply and will be confirmed closer to the date.
News in Brief: New England PPA Challenger
The New England PPA Challenger runs May 9–11, 2025, at The Picklr in Westbrook, Maine, with top amateurs and rising pros competing. Event formats vary by skill and size. The total pro prize pool is $10,000. Registration rules, match formats, and insurance details have been clearly outlined for all players.
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