CityPickle and Paddletek Bring High-Stakes One Point Slam to New York City, Awarding $5,000 Grand Prize
The fast-paced tournament brought together 80 players at CityPickle Times Square, with every match decided by a single
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NEW YORK, Oct. 26, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — One point. One chance. $5,000 on the line. On Saturday, CityPickle, New York City’s home for pickleball, debuted the Paddletek One Point Slam, a new high-stakes pickleball tournament held at CityPickle Times Square. Open to the public, the single-elimination doubles tournament brought together 80 players and scores of spectators, with every match decided by just one point. After 6 rounds of competition, one team emerged victorious, taking home the $5,000 grand prize.
Inspired by the one-point exhibition format that has generated excitement on one of tennis’ biggest stages at the Australian Open, CityPickle has put its own spin on the concept and brought it to the heart of New York City through pickleball. Instead of playing full games or matches, teams had just one point to keep their tournament hopes alive, with winners advancing and losing teams eliminated on the spot.
The tournament brought together players across seven courts, moving through six rounds of single-elimination play in just two hours. With the field cut in half after every point, the competition culminated in a championship match, where the winning team secured the final point and took home the $5,000 grand prize.
“What I love about the Paddletek One Point Slam is how unpredictable it is,” said Mary Cannon, Co-Founder and Co-CEO of CityPickle. “You have one point and one chance to make it count, so truly anyone can step onto the court and have a shot at winning $5,000. We loved the excitement of the format and knew it would translate perfectly to pickleball and the energy of New York City.”
As title sponsor, Paddletek, a leading pickleball paddle brand, was integrated throughout the tournament experience, including an automatic coin toss win for each team using more Paddletek paddles than their opponent each round. Beyond Immerse also joined the event as an activating sponsor, sampling its sparkling protein beverage for players throughout the tournament.
“One of the things that drew me to pickleball is the excitement of those critical points when everything is on the line,” said Ron Saslow, Founder and Managing Partner at Thirty-5 Capital, which manages the Paddletek Group. “Partnering with CityPickle on the Paddletek One Point Slam gives everyday players the chance to experience that same adrenaline and thrill of competition. That’s what makes pickleball unlike any other sport.”
“We’re always looking for new ways to make pickleball about more than just the sport itself,” said Erica Desai, Co-Founder and Co-CEO of CityPickle. “The Paddletek One Point Slam takes something people already love about the sport and turns up the stakes in a really fun way, while fueling a greater sense of social connection. Whether you were playing for the $5,000 or watching every point unfold, it’s the kind of experience we want people to come to CityPickle for.”
The Paddletek One Point Slam is one of several major moments ahead for CityPickle as the brand continues to grow in New York City and beyond. This fall, CityPickle will expand into South Florida with Boca Paddle by CityPickle in Boca Raton, a climate-controlled racquet sports club featuring 19 pickleball courts, six padel courts and luxury amenities. Back in New York, CityPickle will team up with the Wuerffel Foundation on December 12 for the 2026 PickleBowl: Heisman Edition at CityPickle Times Square, bringing together celebrities, professional athletes and past Heisman Trophy winners for an afternoon of pickleball benefiting the nonprofit.
Looking ahead to early spring, CityPickle Brooklyn Bridge, DUMBO will debut as a 60,000-square-foot destination beneath the Brooklyn Bridge featuring 11 pickleball courts, food and beverage offerings, public gathering spaces and year-round community programming.
About CityPickle
CityPickle, New York City’s home for pickleball, is redefining pickleball as a social and lifestyle experience centered around community, hospitality, and play. Co-founded by Mary Cannon and Erica Desai, the lifestyle brand debuted in New York City with the city’s first indoor pickleball club in Long Island City and recently launched its 37,000 square foot flagship in the heart of Times Square in the Paramount Building. Both locations feature climate-controlled courts and a full bar and restaurant, making it the ideal destination to connect in person, spend quality time, and host events. CityPickle operates 14 outdoor courts in Central Park’s iconic Wollman Rink seasonally, and is currently constructing a 60,000 square foot, 11-court pickleball hub in Dumbo underneath the Brooklyn Bridge. Through seasonal activations at various locations including Hudson Yards, Atlantic Terminal, and Philadelphia’s City Hall, CityPickle continues to draw new communities to experience the growing sport. Looking ahead, CityPickle is partnering with industry leaders to open CityPickle Boca, a 100,000 square foot 25 court racquet sports facility with both indoor and outdoor pickleball and padel courts set to open in Boca Raton, Florida in November 2026.
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