GBA Prize Money Pickleball Series launches in SZ

Video by Lin Songtao

The inaugural “Greater Bay Area Prize Money Series” pickleball tournament officially commenced on Saturday at Ramsports Pickleball Stadium in Longhua District.

Hosted by Ramsports,a leading international pickleball organization based in Shenzhen, the competition featured mixed doubles, women’s doubles, and men’s doubles categories, with a total prize pool of 8,000 yuan.

Drawing over a hundred players from the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA), the event also attracted a large number of enthusiastic spectators, creating a lively and energetic atmosphere. Ramsports, in partnership with GBA clubs, aims to establish the tournament as a flagship event to boost mass participation in sports and stimulate growth in the GBA’s burgeoning sports economy.

Alex Yuan, president of Ramsports, during an interview with Shenzhen Daily. Photos by Shao Jingfeng

Alex Yuan, president of Ramsports, spoke about the broader vision behind the tournament: “Pickleball is not just a sport; it represents a new lifestyle. Through this tournament, we hope to introduce more people to pickleball’s unique appeal and use competition to connect communities and inspire passion, fueling the sport’s rapid development across the GBA.”

When asked about the motivation for organizing the tournament, Yuan explained the growing pickleball scene in the region and the role prize money plays in attracting players:

“In the Greater Bay Area, there are a lot of clubs and players playing pickleball. We want to create more competitive events where amateur and professional players can come, practice, and have fun. That’s why we organize this GBA series. Also, we know offering prize money encourages more people to join. That’s why our prize pool for this first tournament is quite attractive. In future tournaments, we plan to organize more events and possibly increase the prize money.”

Inside the stadium, the competition displayed intense action as players demonstrated agility, teamwork, and thrilling rallies that kept the audience captivated. The sport’s accessibility, social aspect, and entertainment value were evident, appealing to veterans and newcomers alike.

Players during the opening ceremony.

Beyond the competition, the tournament acts as a sports festival, promoting pickleball through experience zones and interactive sessions designed to introduce the sport’s fundamentals and reduce barriers for first-time players.

On the expansion of Ramsports facilities to support pickleball's growth, Yuan shared: “Our first facility was here at Mission Hills Mall, and we are about to open another large facility also in Shenzhen. We plan to organize international tournaments there. We expect to open it in October, during the peak season for tournaments and finals. Beyond Shenzhen, we are working on facilities in other cities, starting with Hainan Island. We are also in talks with partners and government officials to establish more facilities across China.”

Players in action during the tournament.

Regarding international tournament efforts, Yuan highlighted the ongoing PCL Asia tournament: “We have started the PCL Asia tournament, which is an Asian club-based competition. Teams from Singapore, the Philippines, Malaysia, and Vietnam are participating. Also, teams from China's Hong Kong, Macao, and other GBA cities are involved. China is so big, so we cannot cover every city simultaneously, but we have invited a team from Beijing. Our grand final will be held on the first weekend of August at our Shenzhen facility.”

On promoting pickleball among young people, Yuan emphasized educational outreach:

“Pickleball is still new in China, and we want to create more opportunities to introduce it. We are going into schools and universities with programs where our coaches teach students how to play and understand pickleball. This will help cultivate interest from a young age and expand the sport’s reach.”