The largest and most prestigious event in pickleball since 2016 is back, with an expected record number of world class players and the largest prize purse in US OPEN history. An unprecedented 3,043 pickleball players of all ages and levels will head to Naples, Fla., April 15-22, to compete in the 2023 Minto US OPEN Pickleball Championships powered by Margaritaville.

Known as the “Biggest Pickleball Party in the World,” the tournament will be held in East Naples Community Park, one of the largest permanent pickleball facilities in the world with 64 courts, including the Zing Zang Championship Court. The event is expected to attract 35,000-plus spectators, and players from all 50 states as well as 29 different countries, ranging in age from 8 to 88.

The record number of amateurs players plus the 200 top professionals will play more than 5,000 matches for a US OPEN record prize purse of $125,000.

Pickleball players and fans who can’t make it to Naples for the week-long celebration, can watch the men’s and women’s pro doubles finals live on CBS Sports Network on April 22 from 5-7 p.m. ET. The mixed doubles finals will be live streamed on Pickleball Channel at 7 p.m. ET. The tournament will also be streamed daily on Pickleball Channel from April 15-22.

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“The US OPEN isn’t just another pickleball tournament. It’s an immersive pickleball experience as the energy, spirit of community, pure joy and fun are unlike any other pickleball event,” says Terri Graham, the event’s co-founder. “The party atmosphere begins on Saturday, April 15th, with the JOOLA Party in the Park and continues through Saturday April 22nd with special events daily including our one-of-a-kind International Flag ceremony with participants from 29 countries from around the world. Every year we aim to deliver players and fans the time of their life.”

Nearly 1,000 total gold, silver and bronze medals are up for grabs this year across more than 150 age and skill groups. The 200 top professionals competing are headlined by Simone Jardim, Parris Todd, Megan Fudge, Alix Truong, Kyle Yates, Hunter Johnson, Eden Lica and Rob Nunnery. Additionally, many former professional athletes from other sports and celebrities who have been bitten by the pickleball bug will also compete including; former MLB pitcher Kent Mercker, NBA Hall of Famer Rick Barry, former professional tennis players Sam Querrey, Noah Rubin, Gigi Fernandez and JoAnne Russell as well as actor Hunter Sansone (DC’s Stargirl) and singer Anthony Nunziata.

The event is an economic boom for Collier County, Fla, resulting in an economic impact of $10.6 million in 2022. The US OPEN will once again benefit two charities: Kiwanis, which services children by fighting hunger, improving literacy and offering guidance as well as St. Matthews House, “the main food concessionaire for the US OPEN” – a social enterprise of St. Matthews House, which works to fight homelessness, hunger, substance abuse and poverty in Southwest Florida.

The Minto US OPEN Pickleball Championships is organized by Spirit Promotions, LLC, a company formed by Terri Graham and Chris Evon in 2015. Information on the Minto US OPEN Pickleball Championships is available on the event’s website as well as social media platforms at www.usopenpickleball.com and on Twitter | Facebook | Instagram