Kuantan & Pekan District Qualifier - Pahang Pickleball Championship 2026

Event Overview

Welcome Message
Welcome to the Pahang Pickleball Championship - Kuantan 188! This grand tournament welcomes all pickleballers, especially Pahang residents. This premier tournament brings together the best talent from across the region, starting from our intensive district qualifiers and culminating in an elite grand showcase at the iconic Kuantan 188. This handbook ensures fair play and an enjoyable experience for all participants.

Key Details

Event Name: Kuantan & Pekan Qualifiers - Pahang Pickleball Championship - Kuantan 188

• Tournament Host: Pahang Pickleball Association (PPA), A-4462, 1st Floor, Jalan Kubang Buaya, 25200 Kuantan, Pahang
• Total Categories: 5 Categories
• Official Tournament Ball: O'bon USA Pickleball Association approved tournament level ball (used throughout the entire event)

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Tournament Fees & Registration

Dynamic Tiered Pricing
Registration fees are structured dynamically. Please note that all registration fees listed below are charged per pair (per team). For doubles events, a team qualifies for the resident rate if at least one player meets the criteria.

• All-Inclusive Value Policy: Registration fees are charged only once. By registering, players secure their entry and may enjoy a dual grand international tournament experience spanning both the qualifiers and the main bracket.
• Player Perks: All registered participants will receive a fine tournament goodie bag upon checking in.

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No-Show & Withdrawal Policy

• Forfeiture: Players who register and fail to attend forfeit all registration fees (NO REFUND).
• Withdrawal 7 Days Before Tournament: Full fee rollover to a future tournament.
• Withdrawal 1–6 Days Before Tournament: 50% fee forfeiture.
• Day-of Withdrawal / No-Show: 100% fee forfeiture + automatic blacklist for the next district qualifier.
• Refund Obligation: The Organizer has no obligation to refund any registration fees under any circumstances except in the event of total tournament cancellation.

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Tournament Plan & Schedule

Phase 1: District Qualifier Tournaments
The road to the finals begins across our 2 District Qualifiers. Players must compete at their respective district venues to secure a spot in the grand event.

• Stage Milestone Purpose: The district-level stage serves strictly for the selection and election of tournament qualifiers. Cash vouchers will be given for the podium winners for this qualifier stage. Champion - RM300 1st runner - RM200 2nd runner - RM100.

● 25 July 2026 (Saturday): Mentakab & Raub District Qualifier

○ 8am - 8pm
○ Venue: The Pickle Zone

● 26 July 2026 (Sunday): Kuantan & Pekan District Qualifier
○ 8am - 8pm
○ Venue: Pickle Sky IM

Phase 2: Grand Tournament for All Qualifiers
The main event takes place at Kuantan 188, Pahang, bringing together all successful qualifiers from across the districts for a final showdown spanning three action-packed days:

● Dates: 31 July – 2 August 2026

Grand Tournament Daily Timetable
- Day 1 (31 July 2026): All category group stages
- Day 2 (1 August 2026): All category group stages (continuation)
- Day 3 (2 August 2026): Quarter Finals (QF), Semi-Finals, & Finals for all 5 categories

Media Note: Elite coverage and professional Livestreaming will be fully active from the Quarter Finals onwards on Day 3.

Media Disclaimer: The official live streaming broadcast is provided strictly as an extra promotional bonus for viewers and players. Under no circumstances will the stream footage be used or reviewed for officiating, nor shall the organizers be held responsible or liable for any technical failures, video angles, or broadcast disruptions.

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PLAYER ELIGIBILITY & RATING CRITERIA

DUPR Rating Controls
- Rating Integrity: All players with a DUPR rating lower than or equal to 3.5 must maintain a stable profile. Ratings cannot be dropped dramatically within the 4 weeks prior to the start of the match.

● Player Self-Check Responsibility: It is each player’s sole responsibility to ensure their DUPR rating is accurate before registration. The tournament will not entertain rating disputes on match day. Any player found intentionally lowering their rating for a bracket advantage will receive an immediate lifetime event ban.
● DUPR Link Requirements: Providing an official DUPR profile link is NONE required for the Novice and Under 19 (U19) categories.
Novice & Under 19 (U19) Strict Restrictions
● Strictly Closed: Novice & U19 categories are strictly closed brackets. Open/Intermediate players cannot downgrade under any circumstances.
● U19 Age Policy: No age exceptions are permitted for the U19 category. Age is strictly counted as of the tournament date (31 July 2026).
● Novice Definition: To qualify for the Novice category, players MUST have been playing pickleball for less than 4 months in total.
● No "Buaya" Allowance: Sandbagging or hidden expert profiles ("Buaya") will not be tolerated.
● Novice Violation & Penalty Policy: If a podium winner is confirmed—either by a formal complaint or direct witness testimony—to have more than 4 months of playing experience, the organizing committee reserves the absolute right to strip them of their standing, reclaim all medals and prize payouts, and pursue necessary legal actions.
● Final Vetting: All Novice and U19 players are strictly subject to final approval and decisions made by the respective District Association.

Tournament Philosophy: This is a graceful and honourable tournament. In the spirit of sportsmanship and self-improvement, players are highly encouraged to challenge themselves by joining the Intermediate division games instead of playing down.

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MATCH FORMATS & GAMEPLAY

The tournament utilizes a progressive scoring system designed to test endurance in the early stages and elite strategy during the medal rounds

Format Specifications

• Sudden Death: No win-by-two requirement; the first player/team to hit the target score wins the match.
• Serve to Win: Standard tournament structure where points can only be won by the serving team up to the target points (11 or 15).
• Switching Sides: To offset outdoor environment factors, teams must switch ends of the court dynamically mid-game as soon as the leading team reaches the designated milestone score: ○ In a 9-point game, teams switch sides when a team reaches 5 points. ○ In an 11-point game, teams switch sides when a team reaches 6 points. ○ In a 15-point game, teams switch sides when a team reaches 8 points.

Official USA Pickleball On-Court Rules
- Service Rules: The serve must be underhand only. Volley serves are strictly prohibited. The serve must land in the diagonally opposite service court. Service foot fault rules will be fully enforced by line judges/match monitors.
- Double Bounce Rule: The strict double-bounce rule applies to all matches across both qualifiers and the grand finals. Failure to follow this sequence results in an immediate loss of the point.
- Volley Zone (Kitchen) Rule: No volleying is permitted while standing inside or touching the 7-foot non-volley zone. Players may only step into the kitchen after the ball has bounced inside it.

Round Robin Tie-Breaker Rules
In the event that two or more teams accumulate an identical win-loss record at the end of the group round-robin stage, bracket advancement positions will be determined strictly according to the following sequential escalation order:

1. Head-to-Head Record: The direct match result between the tied teams determines placement.
2. Point Differential (Matches Between Tied Teams): If a multi-team tie remains, ranking is determined by subtracting total points conceded from total points scored across the matches played only between the tied teams.
3. Point Differential (Overall Bracket): Highest net point differential calculated across all matches completed within the group stage.
4. Points Against: The team that conceded the fewest total points across all group matches receives the higher seed.
5. Tie-Breaker Match: If teams remain fully identical across all metrics, they will play a 7-minute match to do the final determination of the winning team.

Stray Ball Interference ("Ball In" Definition)
- Definition of "Ball In": A "Ball In" disruption refers to any condition where a stray ball from an outside area or adjacent court enters the active competing court territory.
- Call for Reserve: Under this condition, any active player on the court has the right to immediately call for a reserve (replay the point). This call can be made whether or not the invading ball directly affects active play or physical movement.

Match Timeouts
- Technical Timeout: Each player (per pax) is permitted 1 minute per session.
- Medical Timeout: Limited to a maximum of 5 minutes per incident.

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Venue Environment & Weather Contingency

Unpredictable Outdoor Conditions
Based on the newly built venue located at Kuantan 188, players have to get ready for unpredictable weather and environmental conditions. Competitors must adapt to and prepare for outdoor elements such as:

● High winds / windy conditions
● Intense sun glares
● Passing shower rain
● Intense sun, bring sun protection

Weather Stoppage & Resume Rules
If rain, wind, or severe weather stops a match mid-game:
● The game score and server position will be fully retained.
● Upon resumption, players must restart exactly from their recorded stoppage state. Points will not be replayed.

Alternative Plan Protocols
In the unlikely event that matches cannot be held at the main venue on the scheduled day due to severe weather or unforeseen disruptions, a contingency plan will be put into action:
● The Tournament Director will broadcast alternative plans exactly 6 hours before the affected match.
● This emergency notification will include detailed updates regarding the alternative Venue, adjusted timing, and modified game formats.
● Agreement Clause: By signing up for this tournament, all players explicitly agree to these weather, venue, and format alteration terms.

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Prizes & Rewards

Grand Main Event Payout Policy
All official rewards, medals, cash payouts, and training development scholarships are distributed strictly at the grand main event hosted at the Kuantan 188 tournament. No prize items or matching funds are distributed at the regional district qualifiers.

● Monetary Payout Policy:
All cash prizes (MD, WD, XD, and Novice) will be transferred to winners within 21 working days after the conclusion of the event.

● Under 19 (U19) Prize Structure:
Prizes for the Under 19 category are distributed in non-monetary terms. Instead, winners receive a scholarship equivalent to RM 1,000 value to cover the training fee for an upcoming pickleball training course conducted by the district association. For exact curriculum and redemption details, please refer directly to your respective district association.

● Registration Condition Contingency:
Please note that the final prize money allocations and the team group stage structures may vary based on registration conditions.

● Prize Forfeiture Condition:
Any player or team disqualified for unsportsmanlike conduct, sandbagging, or rule violations automatically forfeits all associated prizes, medals, and rankings.

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Tournament Handbook

For full tournament rules, detailed regulations, eligibility guidelines, and official procedures, please refer to the official Tournament Handbook.

🔗 View the Handbook

👉 Click Here to View

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Main Desk Contact
For general registration adjustments, tier verification inquiries, or tournament details, please reach out to the main event registry desk.

District Association Contact Information
For venue logistics, verification, and category approvals local to your district, please reach out to the respective coordinators below:
• Kuantan: +6012-5326688 — Mr. Rudhi
• Pekan: +6013-5070701 — Mr. Faiz
• Mentakab: +6010-5020115 — Mr. Kent
• Raub: +6019-2867777 — Dr. Cavin

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📩 Player Inquiries (Baseline Platform or further event info)

📱 WhatsApp Baseline Platform Hotline

👉 https://wa.me/60179037300 or https://wa.me/60173717843