The Tribune

Three thousand dollars in prize money will be up for grabs when the Bahamas Pickleball Federation hosts the country’s first ever ranking tournament sanctioned by DUPR at Baha Mar on the weekend of October 3/4.

In addition, there will be a second DUPR sanctioned ranking tournament held at the Abaco beach resort from November 13-15.

The DUPR sanctioned ranking tournament helps the Bahamas Pickleball Federation select players for international competitions. The BPF won the silver cup in the over 50 division at the inaugural Caribbean championships held in Cayman along with 14 medals in the open division.

The next Caribbean championships will be held in Jamaica on February 22-27,2027.

For the Baha Mar tournament, players can compete in mixed doubles, women’s doubles and men’s doubles competitions in a round robin format of two out of three games to 11. All players are guaranteed at least three games. Dozens of players of all skill levels are expected to compete. The finals will be rally scoring to 15 to determine final winners.

BPF Tournament sponsors are Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices, RBC and KFC.

Kelly Ann Meade, Founder and President of the BPF, says: “Pickleball is more than a sport, it is a growing community built on passion, competition and connection. This tournament marks an exciting milestone, raising the standard of play and opening a new chapter for pickleball in our community. We are proud of how far we have come and even more excited about where we are going.

“We are so grateful to have the support and partnership of EV motors, Baha Mar, Berkshire Hathaway, RBC ‘Royal Bank Bahamas ltd’ and KFC.”

James Bernard, President, Broker and Senior Appraiser at Berkshire Hathaway said: “Sponsoring a pickleball tournament at Baha Mar feels right at home for us. Good people, great energy, and an incredible backdrop.

“We are especially excited to cheer on our very own Iliana Gerasimenko, a luxury real estate agent with our company and a member of the Bahamas Pickleball Federation, as she competes in the tournament. She's a great example of the kind of people we are lucky enough to have on our team.KFC’s Commercial Manager Mark Anthony Myers said: “We’re proud to support the growth of pickleball in The Bahamas and to be part of an event that brings people together through the sport. As one of the fastest-growing racket sports in the world, pickleball stands out because of how accessible it is – it’s easy to get started, affordable to play, and welcoming to people of different ages and skill levels.

“That spirit of accessibility aligns closely with what KFC has always stood for; bringing people together and providing great-tasting meals at a value that families and individuals across our community can enjoy. We’re excited to support the tournament and to play a part in the continued growth of pickleball in The Bahamas.”

All players will be provided lunch and have access to physio, massage treatment and pilates classes on the padel courts during both days of the tournament.

A pre-tournament player/sponsor mixer will be held at Baha Mar’s newest nightlife venue, Horse to Water, a refined speakeasy-inspired cocktail lounge, on Friday, October 2, from 7-10pm.

There will be a juniors’ clinic, at a cost of $20, with giveaway and prizes.

Raffle prizes will include the new Tesla paddle, Harbor Island canvas toiletry bags and more.

Registration for the tournament closes on October 1 at noon.

For more information email: Www.bahamaspickleballfederation.com