Frequently Asked Questions
ABOUT EPIC WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
Q: What is EPIC World Championship?
A: EPIC World Championship is the pinnacle of amateur pickleball and built exclusively for amateur players (DUPR 3.0 to 5.0) from around the world. The World Championship is supported by the Singapore Tourism Board and powered by DUPR boasting a guaranteed prize purse of USD $50,000 that increases with each newly registered player.
The event is more than a Championship. It is a celebration of the global amateur pickleball community and aims to bring people from around the world together to enjoy music, food, drinks, entertainment, an incredible festival experience and pickleball competition!
Q: When and where will the inaugural EPIC World Championship take place?
A: EPIC World Championship will take place April 30-May 3 in Singapore at the Singapore Sports Hub’s beautiful Kallang Tennis Centre.
Q: How many players will be participating?
A: An estimated 1,500 players are expected to gather for this amazing World Championship!
Q: What is at stake for winners of EPIC World Championship?
A: We have a unique approach to the EPIC prize purse. It starts with a USD $50,000 minimum prize pool, and then continues to grow with every new player registration. It is estimated to be around USD $75,000 by tournament day!
Q: Who can watch the matches?
A: Matches will be open to the public and covered by local and regional media partners.
ENTRY FEES
Q. What are the Entry Fees?
(a) Qualifying Tournament Winners:
• $175 (before January 31)
(b) DUPR Top Ranked
• $175 (before January 31)
(c) Sponsor Exemption / Direct Entry
• $888 (full fee)
There are currently several sponsor exemptions available
2. Pickleball.com: By invite only. $175 (before January 31)
(d) Generations (Charity competition, no prize purse)
• S$222/team (before March 30) maximum 60 teams
To see if you qualify for a sponsor exemption, please email Registration@EPICWorldChampionship.com
REGISTRATION AND ELIGABILITY FOR THE EPIC WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
THERE ARE 3 PATHS TO ENTER THE EPIC WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
4. Be in the DUPR top-ranked 500 of your country: there are 170 countries on the DUPR platform, making the total pool of qualifying players approximately 85,000 globally! If you match this criteria, you will receive an official invite directly from DUPR which also offers you a further exclusive registration discount.
If you believe you qualify under this criteria but did not receive a DUPR invite, please email us at registration@epicworldchampionship.com.
5. Be a local tournament winner: EPIC partners with local tournaments worldwide, allowing their champions to earn a coveted spot at EPIC when those events become official qualifying tournaments.
There is no-charge to local tournaments to be a part of the EPIC Network and becoming a qualifying tournament. Have your local tournament organizer reach out to us directly to become a qualifying tournament at Yuki@EPICWorldChampionship.com
6. Sponsor Exemption and Direct entry buy-in: limited spots available to purchase at a premium fee!
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
All players must have a singles and doubles DUPR 4.99 or lower as of Jan 31st, 2026 to be allowed to register.
HOW EVENT ORGANIZERS CAN ORGANIZE
Event Organizers and Tournament Directors: in partnership with Pickleball.com, winners from your event earn guaranteed spots at the EPIC World Championship when your local tournament becomes a part of the EPIC Network.
EPIC partners with local tournaments worldwide, allowing their champions to earn a coveted spot at EPIC when those events become official qualifying tournaments.
There is no-charge to local tournaments to be a part of the EPIC Network and becoming a qualifying tournament. Have your local tournament organizer reach out to us directly to become a qualifying tournament at Yuki@EPICWorldChampionship.com
Founding 50: a limited global invitation to be a key part of the pathway to the EPIC World Championship as a representative of a whole region or territory, offering exclusive benefits and the opportunity to shape the future of amateur pickleball as a pioneering leader in the EPIC movement.
WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP TOURNAMENT FORMATS
Q: What are the events being offered at EPIC World Championship?
A: The events offered at EPIC World Championship are:
• Men’s Doubles
• Women’s Doubles
• Mixed Doubles
• Team format of 4 vs 4 (MiLP format)
• Generations (Multi-generational teams in partnership with the charity Center For Fathering/Dads For Life/Mums For Life. NOTE: This is not part of the prize purse competition)
Q: What are the divisions available at EPIC World Championship?
A: This will be a skill tournament played in divisions of:
DUPR 3.0 – 3.7
DUPR 3.7 – 4.3
DUPR 4.3 – 5.0
Team format: DUPR 14 & DUPR 18 (sum of 4 players’ DUPR per team must be below the DUPR division number)
Q: What is the prize pool breakdown for EPIC World Championship?
A: ESCALATING PRIZE PURSE
The prize purse starts at a guaranteed $50,000 (USD) and escalates from there to an estimated $75,000 – $100,000 total purse.
Prize purse distribution (assuming $75,000):
Women’s doubles, Men’s doubles, Mixed doubles (3.0 – 3.7)
First place: $1600
Second place:$800
Third place: $400
Fourth place: $200
Fifth – Eighth place: $100
Women’s doubles, Men’s doubles, Mixed doubles (3.7 – 4.3)
First place: $2000 + THREE DAYS CRUISE
Second place:$ 1500
Third place: $800
Fourth place: $400
Fifth – Eighth place: $200
Women’s doubles, Men’s doubles, Mixed doubles (4.3 – 5.0)
First place: $3000 + THREE DAYS CRUISE
Second place:$ 2000
Third place: $1000
Fourth place: $500
Fifth – Eighth place: $300
Advanced team (DUPR 18):
First place: $8000
Second place: $4000
Third place: $2000
Fourth place: $1000
1 MVP WILL WIN THREE DAYS CRUISE
Intermediate team (DUPR 14):
First place: $4000
Second place: $2000
Third place: $1000
Fourth place: $500
1 MVP WILL WIN THREE DAYS CRUISE
Q: What are formats for the EPIC World Championship events?
All divisions will compete in a round robin format, guaranteeing plenty of play for every team and player, the top teams in each pool will advance to a playoff round to determine medal Winners.
Please note that the tournament organizers reserve the right to move players into different divisions if necessary and to merge divisions in order to create a fair and competitive experience for all participants.
Gendered & Mixed Doubles:
Scoring: RALLY
Pool Play Format: 1 game to 21, win by 2
Playoffs: 1 game to 21, win by 2
Bronze Medal Match: 2/3 games to 15, win by 2
Gold Medal Match: 2/3 games to 15, win by 2
Team Format:
Scoring: RALLY
WD/MD/MX1/MX2 games to 21
• Teams compete against each other in Matches.
• A Match consists of four Games.
• The first two games are one women’s doubles game and one men’s doubles game, and then two mixed doubles games.
• If two teams are tied after these four games, the singles tiebreaker is played, with a rotational system involving all four players.
• Teams first play each other in group or round-robin play, and then the top 4 teams square off in a playoff bracket format.
• There will be a match to determine the 3rd place team.
• Regardless of outcome, all four games will be played in a match during round robin/group play.
• During bracket play, teams can opt out of playing the 4th game if one team has won the match with 3 consecutive game wins.
After the round robin/group play is completed, top teams will play a bracket playoff. Due to multiple round robin scenarios and bracket playoff scenarios, the Tournament Director for each event will announce the format for bracket playoffs.
Seeding order for playoffs:
• #1 Matches Won,
• #2 Head to Head (if only 2 teams tied and they played against each other),
• #3 Point Differential. Point differential is the difference between points earned (scored) vs points against (scored against). PE − PA = PD. PA is the points scored by the other team.
TOURNAMENT GUIDELINES
Match Scheduling
Match times will be shared in advance. It is each player’s responsibility to arrive at their assigned court before their match begins.
If the match ahead of yours finishes early, your team should be ready to step on immediately so play can continue without delay.
Defaults & Forfeits
Players have a 2-minute window to report to their court once called. The referee will start and announce the countdown.
If a team fails to show within the grace period, the present player/pair is awarded a maximum score win.
If a player is injured mid-match and cannot continue — and the team does not have a same-gender substitute available — the match is considered forfeited.
If the team that is ahead must stop, the current score stands. If the trailing side must stop, points will be added to the opponents so that they win by at least one point.
Starting the Match
Before the first serve, the referee will conduct a coin toss or similar method. The winner may choose serve/receive or side of the court.
Timeout Rules
Each team is allowed one 60-second timeout per game.
Players may quickly grab water or a towel without using a timeout, as long as it doesn’t interrupt the match. If these breaks slow down play, the referee may convert it into a timeout. If a team has no timeouts left, it may result in a technical warning.
Line Calls
Players are expected to make their own line calls.
Referees will handle service foot faults, NVZ violations, short serves, and any other non-volley zone infractions.
If a team disagrees with an opponent’s line call, they may ask the referee for a ruling, but only if the referee had a clear view of the play.
Players who dispute a referee’s decision may escalate the call to the head referee or tournament director.
● If the original call is upheld, the appealing team loses a timeout and receives a technical warning.
● If they have no timeouts left, a technical foul will be issued instead.
● If the ruling is overturned, the point will be replayed with no penalties assigned.
Scoring Procedures
After each match, the winning team must sign the score sheet. Any scoring issues will be decided by the Tournament Director.
All match results will be uploaded to DUPR and reflected on player profiles and ratings.
Medical Situations
If a medical issue occurs during play, the referee will call a medical timeout. The clock begins once the medical staff arrives and lasts up to 15 minutes.
If the affected player cannot continue:
● A same-gender substitute may replace them if one is available.
● If no substitute exists, the opposing team will receive a winning score of 11 points, or a two-point margin, whichever applies at that stage of the event.
VOLUNTEERS
Q. Can I volunteer?
A. If you are interested in joining an amazing festival and pickleball party as a volunteer then we want you – but only if you are prepared to have fun. Email us at career@EPICWorldChampionship.com