Singapore will host the inaugural EPIC World Championship (https://epicworldchampionship.com/singapore-to-host-first-international-amateur-pickleball-championship-in-april-2026/), a four-day all-amateur pickleball tournament set for April 30–May 3, 2026 at the Kallang Tennis Hub, a short walk from the National Stadium. The Singapore Sports Hub is the official venue partner, while the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) has committed to a three-year partnership—its first official support for an international pickleball event.
Prize Purse & Format
The championship guarantees at least fifty thousand dollars (US$50,000) in prize money, with a mechanism that increases the purse as registrations climb.
Participation Vision
Organizers expect well over 1,000 players from around the world. Cui—known in Singapore’s sports scene as a co-founder and former CEO of ONE Championship, with prior leadership roles at ESPN Star Sports and the PGA Tour—frames EPIC as a mass-participation festival rather than a pro-only showcase. His comparison points are marathons, Hyrox, and Spartan events: open-entry competitions where everyday athletes share the same stage as top amateurs.
Competition will unfold across the Kallang Tennis Hub within the wider Sports Hub precinct, primed for easy access by traveling teams and local clubs. While players will pay a registration fee, no tickets will be sold to spectators, keeping the event open-door and community-first.
This announcement plants another flag for Southeast Asia’s fast-rising pickleball scene. By pairing a scaling prize purse with open entry and free viewing, Singapore is betting on inclusivity to accelerate the sport’s growth—from weekend club players to age-group warriors and traveling squads across the region. If EPIC delivers the thousand-plus turnout it targets, the championship won’t just crown winners; it will cement Singapore as a regional hub where grassroots energy and sports tourism rally on the same court. This milestone signals the rapid rise of pickleball in Asia (https://pickle.asia)—and showcases how pickleball Asia communities are uniting around inclusive, open-entry events.
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