The Jenius Bank Pickleball World Championships 2025 is the crown jewel event of the Carvana PPA Tour, showcasing the absolute best professional pickleball players in the world. Held in Dallas, Texas, this tournament is distinct from the team-based World Cup, serving instead as the ultimate culmination of the professional season, where individual players and partnerships compete for the coveted “World Champion” title and crucial PPA ranking points.
As the tournament unfolds from November 3rd to November 9th, 2025, the initial days have already delivered stunning upsets and high-stakes drama, setting the stage for an explosive Championship Sunday.
Jenius Bank Pickleball World Championships Tournament Details
The World Championships represents the highest-point event on the PPA Tour calendar, drawing the deepest field of professional and elite amateur players.
| Aspect | Detail |
| Official Title | Jenius Bank Pickleball World Championships |
| Venue | Brookhaven Country Club, Farmers Branch, Dallas, TX |
| Dates | November 3 – November 9, 2025 |
| Significance | The largest single-elimination professional event on the PPA Tour, featuring 3,000 ranking points. |
| Format | Progressive Draw (Single Elimination in Pro Qualifiers/Main Draw), also featuring Amateur, Junior, and Senior PPA divisions. |
This event is also a massive spectacle, incorporating the Edward Jones MLP Cup (Major League Pickleball) and a star-studded Celebrity Pickleball Showdown headlined by Dirk Nowitzki, adding significant mainstream appeal.
Major Upsets & Developing Storylines (As of Mid-Tournament)
While the event is a full week long, the early rounds are often defined by massive upsets that clear the path for dark horses. The 2025 Championships have certainly delivered drama, especially in Men’s Singles.
The Crum-Johns Shockwave
The biggest headline from the first few days was the stunning defeat of the pickleball G.O.A.T., Ben Johns, in the Men’s Singles Round of 32.
- The Upset: No. 28 seed Alex Crum outdueled the No. 7 seed Ben Johns in a thrilling three-game match: 3-11, 11-4, 11-1.
- Significance: Crum, who has beaten top-ranked players like Federico Staksrud earlier this year, solidified his reputation as a formidable singles player. Johns’ early exit dramatically opens up the Men’s Singles bracket, which was already highly competitive with contenders like Hunter Johnson and Federico Staksrud.
Dominance Continues in Doubles
In the doubles categories, the top seeds remain heavily favored, though early rounds saw some close calls.
- Men’s Doubles: The top-seeded duo of Gabe Tardio and Ben Johns entered the tournament on an incredible hot streak, aiming for their seventh straight PPA title as a partnership. They are expected to face strong resistance from No. 2 seeds Christian Alshon and Andrei Daescu, who pushed them to five games in a recent final.
- Mixed Doubles: The team to beat remains Anna Leigh Waters and Ben Johns, the No. 1 seeds and defending champions. Their path includes challenging quarterfinal matchups, as several teams have been gaining momentum throughout the year.
Women’s Singles: The Reign of Waters
Anna Leigh Waters entered the World Championships with an astonishing undefeated streak in singles for the entire 2025 season. All eyes are on whether No. 1 seed Waters can maintain her flawless record against challengers like Kate Fahey (No. 2 seed) and Kaitlyn Christian (No. 3 seed). The Women’s Singles title is often regarded as the most difficult to attain due to Waters’ near-perfect record.
Pro Division Favorites and Contenders
Based on the official PPA seeding and pre-tournament predictions, the final weekend is expected to feature these top players:
| Division | Top Seeds (Favorites) | Key Challengers/Dark Horses |
| Men’s Singles (MS) | Hunter Johnson, Federico Staksrud, Christian Alshon | Alex Crum, Ben Johns (pre-upset), Jack Sock, Roscoe Bellamy |
| Women’s Singles (WS) | Anna Leigh Waters, Kate Fahey, Kaitlyn Christian | Lea Jansen, Salome Devidze (defending Bronze medalist), Genie Bouchard |
| Men’s Doubles (MD) | Gabe Tardio/Ben Johns, Christian Alshon/Andrei Daescu | Federico Staksrud/Hayden Patriquin, JW Johnson/CJ Klinger |
| Women’s Doubles (WD) | Anna Bright/Anna Leigh Waters, C. Parenteau/P. Todd | Jorja Johnson/Hurricane Tyra Black, Jade Kawamoto/R. Rohrabacher |
| Mixed Doubles (MXD) | Anna Leigh Waters/Ben Johns, Jorja & JW Johnson | Anna Bright/Hayden Patriquin, Hurricane Tyra Black/Christian Alshon |
The Celebrity Showdown and Junior Impact
Beyond the pro brackets, the Jenius Bank World Championships is a celebration of the sport’s culture and future.
Celebrity Pro-Am: The event featured the Celebrity Pickleball Showdown on Wednesday, November 5th, with NBA Hall of Famer Dirk Nowitzki returning alongside NFL legend Terrell Owens and others. The exhibition highlighted the game’s broad appeal, with fun but competitive matches.
Junior PPA: The Junior PPA World Championships and the inaugural Collegiate World Cup are being held simultaneously, showcasing the next generation of top talent and introducing the first-ever international college competition for the sport.
Amateur Play: With over 3,500 players registered, the vast majority of the tournament is dedicated to competitive amateur play across various age and skill brackets, from 3.0 to 5.0 levels, giving players a chance to compete on the biggest stage.
Jenius Bank Pickleball World Championships FAQs
What is the difference between the World Cup and the World Championships?
The Pickleball World Cup (held in Florida) is a team-based international competition where players represent their nation across various age and skill divisions. The Jenius Bank Pickleball World Championships (held in Dallas) is the PPA Tour’s individual major event where professional players compete for individual and doubles titles and PPA ranking points.
What is the most significant upset so far in the 2025 Championships?
The most significant upset was the defeat of Ben Johns in Men’s Singles by the unseeded Alex Crum (No. 28 seed) in the Round of 32. This was a major surprise given Johns’ status as a favorite in any singles event.
Where can I watch the Championship matches?
The professional main draw action is broadcast live on PickleballTV and the Pickleballtv App, with specific championship matches often airing on major sports networks on the final weekend (Sunday).
Are the final results for all divisions available yet?
As the tournament runs until November 9, 2025, the Championship Finals for the major Pro divisions (Singles and Doubles) have not yet been played. However, the draws, live scores, and amateur bracket results are updated daily on the PPA Tour and associated websites.
You can learn more about the early professional action in this video: Jack Sock v Tom Protzek at the Jenius Bank Pickleball World Championships. This video gives an example of the kind of intense professional singles match play happening at the Jenius Bank Pickleball World Championships.
