CityPickle Hosts One Point Slam in Times Square

The single-elimination pickleball tournament saw 80 players compete for a $5,000 grand prize in New York City.

Updated on Oct. 26, 2026 in Tennis

Expressive sports illustration of a pickleball player swinging a paddle to strike a ball, using bold brush strokes and vibrant motion. — CityPickle hosted the Paddletek One Point Slam in New York City, a single-elimination tournament featuring 80 players vying for a $5,000 prize. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Do you prefer recreational sporting events that feature high-stakes, competitive tournament formats?

CityPickle held the Paddletek One Point Slam at its Times Square facility, where 80 competitors participated in a fast-paced, single-elimination event. The tournament required participants to win their match on a single point to advance through six rounds.

Why it matters

The high-stakes, one-point format was designed to test precision and nerves under pressure, drawing inspiration from professional tennis exhibition play. It highlights an innovative approach to competition in the rapidly growing sport of pickleball.

The competition involved 80 players across six rounds of play, concluding within a two-hour window. The winning team secured a $5,000 grand prize for their performance in the event.

The players

CityPickle

CityPickle is a specialized pickleball organization that operates multiple facilities and hosts competitive events in New York City.

Paddletek

Paddletek is a manufacturer of pickleball equipment that sponsored the single-elimination tournament held in Times Square.

The details

Every match throughout the two-hour event was decided by a single point, pushing players to execute perfectly under extreme time constraints. Teams that utilized more Paddletek paddles than their opponents were granted an automatic coin toss win.

The Paddletek One Point Slam took place on October 26, 2026.
CityPickle will open its Boca Raton facility in November 2026.
The 2026 PickleBowl: Heisman Edition is scheduled for December 12, 2026.
CityPickle Brooklyn Bridge is set to open in early spring 2027.

Season Trajectory

This tournament signals a shift toward experimental, high-intensity formats that prioritize rapid engagement for spectators and participants. It underscores the broader trend of diversifying pickleball events beyond standard league play as organizations like CityPickle expand their physical footprint.

The use of Paddletek equipment provided a strategic advantage during coin toss tie-breakers within the tournament structure. Participants in future CityPickle events should monitor equipment requirements to leverage potential format-specific benefits.

The takeaway

Focusing on singular, high-pressure points can transform the pace of traditional recreational sports. Readers looking to improve their own game should practice maintaining intense focus for single-rally scenarios to simulate these tournament conditions.