EPIC World Championship, DUPR Coach Team Up to Build Pickleball’s First True Amateur Performance Pipeline
EPIC World Championship and DUPR Coach have announced a global partnership aimed at shaping international amateur competition. This collaboration seeks to create the infrastructure for the future of competitive pickleball at the amateur level, just as the sport continues to thrive and expand worldwide.
The EPIC World Championship, in case you haven’t heard, is an international pickleball festival and elite amateur competition designed to bring together players, spectators, and global partners in one of Asia’s most vibrant destinations: Singapore. It combines world-class hospitality, cultural experiences, entertainment, and high-level tournament play to deliver an unmatched championship atmosphere. Offering multiple competitive divisions and a growing prize purse, it is designed to showcase the sport’s top talent and celebrate pickleball on a global stage.
DUPR to Serve as Universal Rating System and Player Connector Globally
This partnership will see DUPR serving as the universal rating system, connecting players across levels and regions, and helping to build a shared competitive language. EPIC, on the other hand, will provide the destination stage, while DUPR Coach and Coach-Assigned DUPRs will guide players along the journey. Together, they will shape one of the first true global amateur performance pipelines in pickleball.
“DUPR and EPIC World Championship already share an incredible partnership, ensuring every match at EPIC is verified and meaningful,” said Victor Cui, Founding Partner of EPIC World Championship. “Now, with DUPR Coaches spread across our partner clubs, we’re creating greater accessibility and scale within the DUPR ecosystem. Coach-Assigned DUPRs will enable more players to enter the competitive pathway, grow participation at EPIC, and continue advancing pickleball worldwide.”
Through this partnership, DUPR Coaches at select EPIC World Championship partner clubs in Singapore, Malaysia, and beyond will activate non-rated players, turning grassroots participation into Coach-Assigned DUPR ratings and opening the door to competitive play at every level. These ratings will serve as an anchor, giving players an accurate starting point from which to join leagues and tournaments at a level that matches their skill.
From there, players can log matches, compete in tournament qualifications, and earn their placement through performance. This ensures every player begins their EPIC qualifications at the correct level and can progress through a structured competitive pathway. The EPIC World Championship then becomes the aspirational pinnacle, bringing these players together on a global stage.
“This partnership strengthens the competitive foundation of amateur pickleball,” said Yui See Lau, Co-Founder and Chief Competition Officer at EPIC. “By integrating DUPR Coaches into our partner clubs, we can ensure players are rated accurately, compete at the right level, and experience fair, meaningful matches at every stage. It raises the standard of competition, fosters international credibility, and ensures that the EPIC World Championship remains the pinnacle of amateur play worldwide.”
Moreover, the partnership enables clubs and coaches to expand the DUPR ecosystem, grow their communities, generate revenue through rating and improvement sessions, and provide a clear pathway into competitive play.
Enhancing Skills and Talent Development
Players of all levels gain access to credentialed DUPR Coaches and Coach-Assigned DUPRs, which place them at the appropriate competitive level from the outset. This allows partner clubs to support their entire pickleball community, from social and recreational players to emerging competitors, ensuring everyone can join the right open plays, enjoy fair and meaningful competition, and progress towards their goals. It is a programme that meets players where they are while providing a structured pathway to achieve their highest potential.
Katie Nimitz, President of DUPR Coach, added: “Millions of pickleball players worldwide still don’t have DUPRs, which limits their access to fair competition and meaningful progression. This partnership with EPIC World Championship changes that. It creates a global pathway that connects everyone, from beginners and recreational players in open plays to elite competitors aiming for the EPIC World Championship, into the DUPR ecosystem. Through DUPR Coaches, clubs can guide players, run rating sessions, support skill development, track match progress, and provide a clear route to compete at the appropriate level. This is more than a partnership; it is a scalable system that empowers players, strengthens clubs, and grows the sport at every level.”
The collaboration will offer exclusive credentialing opportunities and discounted DUPR Coach certifications for EPIC participants, alongside in-person activations at the EPIC World Championship, seamlessly integrating player rating and coach credentialing into the event experience.
As pickleball continues its rapid global expansion, this alliance creates the missing link between mass participation and elite amateur competition. EPIC is not just a destination event; it is both a driver and the pinnacle of a year-round global development ecosystem that connects and grows pickleball communities and players at every level worldwide. DUPR Coach is not simply a credentialing programme; it is the official gateway that strengthens clubs and communities, guides players to the right local open plays, and provides a clear pathway to compete on the world stage.
Together, EPIC World Championship and DUPR Coach are not merely supporting the growth of pickleball; they are building the system that will sustain it.
