Over 1,000 Players Turn Out as OCBC-Great Eastern Pickleball Open Makes Memorable Debut
What does a successful first tournament look like? In Singapore’s case, more than 1,000 players, nearly 1,000 spectators, and a field that stretched from teenagers to septuagenarians. The inaugural OCBC-Great Eastern Pickleball Open wrapped up on 25 October 2026 at OCBC Arena in The Kallang, and, according to Baseline, it was quite the debut.
The three-day event, which began on 23 October, featured more than 600 matches across four categories, with over S$100,000 worth of prizes at stake. It also drew players from Australia, India and Thailand, aged 13 to 75, further evidence of the sport’s growing pull across the region.
Not that the interest was ever in doubt. Both the Novice and Open categories were full within the first two weeks of registration.
Four Champions Crowned
In the Open category, Christopher Encarnacion, 28, and Ralph Kevin Barte, 37, playing as Kosing Pikoleros, beat Charles Yong and Ng Ka Wei of Chicky Lil Chicks 15-10, 15-14 in the final. The two tennis coaches, who had previously played tournaments in Vietnam and Hong Kong, were on only their third tournament together as a pair, and it was their first podium finish.
“This is our third tournament together and our first time finishing on the podium, so it feels very special,” said Barte.
In the Novice category, Jimmy Setiawan Simon, 49, and Raymond Leong, 51, took the title with a 15-8, 15-12 win over Bryan Choong and Elton Ong. The pair met through pickleball a year ago, only to discover they were alumni of the same university course. Small world, indeed.
Cousins Basil Yeo, 18, and Ng Ka Wei, 21, won the Bank of Singapore Corporate Challenge for Zenith Interns, and the story doesn’t end there. Ng also finished as runner-up in the Open category, which gave the 21-year-old a double podium finish. Team Genesis rounded out the champions by winning the Bank of Singapore Invitational Championship, beating Minions 15-14, 15-14.
A Sport for Every Generation
Then again, the trophies were only part of the picture. At 75, Sam Ho Soo Hock was the oldest participant, making his tournament debut just months after picking up the sport. He was one of 10 beneficiaries from Care Corner Seniors Services who competed in the Novice category after joining the #OCBCCares Seniors Pickleball Programme, which aims to provide free training to 100 seniors over two years.
“Just a few months ago, I had never played pickleball. Today, I competed in my first tournament,” said Ho. “Through pickleball, I have become more active and made new friends.”
Father-and-son duo Anuj and Armaan Girotra, aged 52 and 16, also took part, as did 56-year-old Thai retiree Punnee Amornviputpanich, who travelled to Singapore for her competitive debut after playing socially across the region.
A Strong Start for OCBC-Great Eastern Pickleball
The Open is part of the OCBC-Great Eastern Pickleball Series, which also included introductory workshops earlier this year. As OCBC’s Koh Ching Ching put it, the turnout “perfectly captures what we were aiming for: Community, inclusivity and fun for everyone.”
Notably, the tournament just fell short of the roughly 1,600 players organisers had projected back in April. But that probably doesn’t manner now. For a first edition, topping 1,000 players is hardly something to sneeze at—and no doubt something to build on for next year… and beyond.
