More information has been announced for the forthcoming Welsh Masters – set to take place in Newport in November.
Pickleball 52 caught up with Sophie Burton, who is leading on the event, and she said: “Over the past few years, I noticed that while there were plenty of competitive opportunities for players aged 18+ and 50+, there was very little available for those in the older age categories. With the average age of pickleball players in both England and Wales now sitting in the mid-50s, a growing number of players were having to compete against significantly younger opponents simply because there were no age-appropriate tournament options available.”
She added: “The timing felt right because the sport has grown so rapidly, and the player base is maturing alongside it. Through conversations with players across the UK, it became clear there was a strong appetite for a dedicated Masters event that recognised both age and skill level.
“To test the concept, I organised a 60+ Masters event with Torfaen Pickleball Club in November 2025. The response exceeded expectations, attracting almost 200 entries and generating overwhelmingly positive feedback. That success confirmed there was a genuine demand for this type of competition and gave us the confidence to expand the concept.
“With the support of Richard Welsford, Pickleball Wales and Torfaen Pickleball Club, the Welsh Open Masters 2026 was born. The event will provide players aged 60+ with a high-quality competitive experience, while also helping to showcase and celebrate one of the fastest-growing and most engaged demographics within the sport.”
It is the latest in a series of successful Wales-wide events, following in the footsteps of the Nationals, the Open, and the Festival.
Registration for the Welsh Open Masters 2026 will open on July 10th, 2026, via the Pickleball Wales Website and social media platforms, in conjunction with Picklebook. Pickleball 52 will share the link when it is available.
