Six for Six: Stars Stack Up at Kai Tak

Clear your calendars, the heavy hitters are heading to Hong Kong. Ben Johns, Anna Leigh Waters, and every other player in the top six of the World Pickleball Rankings. All of them are confirmed for the Hang Seng Bank Hong Kong Slam, bringing the sport’s biggest names to Kai Tak Arena, 19–25 October, with the final PPA Tour Asia titles of 2026 on the line.

GOATs on patrol

World No.1s Ben Johns and Anna Leigh Waters are back in Asia for the first time since April. Both left the MB Hanoi Cup with two gold medals. Waters won Women’s Doubles with Anna Bright, Johns won Men’s Doubles with World No.2 Gabriel Tardio, and the pair won Mixed Doubles together. All three partnerships are back for Hong Kong. The blockbuster is getting its sequel.

Streak on the line

Tardio lands in Hong Kong with gold at his last two Asia stops. He won Men’s Doubles with Johns in Hanoi, then took a double crown at the Leapmotor Kuala Lumpur Cup earlier this month. Now he faces the biggest field of the year. Can he keep the streak alive?

Asia debuts incoming

Four of the sport’s top-ranked stars are making their Asia debut in Hong Kong.

Siblings JW and Jorja Johnson are coming for the title. The pair recently knocked out Johns and Waters in the Mixed Doubles semifinals of the Veolia Pickleball National Championships. Rematch at Kai Tak, anyone?

>>> GET TICKETS NOW FOR THE HANG SENG BANK HONG KONG SLAM 2026

JW brings a new Men’s Doubles partnership with Tama Shimabukuro. The pair is making early waves in the US, and Hong Kong will show whether it can travel.

Jorja links up with No.4 Tyra Hurricane Black in Women’s Doubles. The last time Johnson and Black met Waters and Bright, the Annas swept them at the Mesa Cup. Kai Tak could deliver the rematch.

No.5 Parris Todd and No.6 Rachel Rohrabacher also make their debuts, teaming up in Women’s Doubles. Todd plays Mixed Doubles with Christian Alshon, and Rohrabacher partners Tardio.

Fireworks: Alshon and Funemizu

Alshon already owns a PPA Tour Asia title after winning singles at the Panas Malaysia Cup 2025. He is back looking for more gold. Strong showing is expected across all events but its the Men’s Doubles that could be a highlight for fans. Alshon is teaming with Yuta Funemizu, an upset-making machine who runs on passion and energy. Expect noise.

The rest of the top six

No.4 Federico Staksrud and No.5 Hayden Patriquin join forces in Men’s Doubles. In Mixed Doubles, Staksrud partners Danni-Elle Townsend and Patriquin teams with Bright. Black plays Mixed Doubles with Eric Oncins.

What’s on the line

The Hang Seng Bank Hong Kong Slam is the first-ever PPA Asia 1500 event and the finale of PPA Tour Asia in 2026. Players are competing for up to US$1.1 million in prize money, 1,500 World Pickleball Ranking points and the dragon head medal.

Get your tickets

Blockbuster lineup guaranteed. The best Asia has seen, on every court.

Seated tickets put you courtside for the biggest matches of the week, with access to both Championship Court and Grandstand Court. That’s where the headline acts play and where the titles will be decided on Championship Sunday, 25 October.

Standing Tickets get you in to watch the action on all other courts. Walk the venue, pick your match and catch the world’s best up close. Championship Court and Grandstand Court aren’t included with Standing Tickets.

Then there’s Pickletown, the fan hub where the stars come to you. Plenty of fan meet and greets are planned with the players all week. Get your photo, get your paddle signed and meet the names you’ve been watching on screen.

Seven days, the world’s top six and the season finale. Hong Kong, or Asia, hasn’t seen pickleball like this.

Tickets are on sale now. Check out the daily schedule here.