Inaugural ONE British Pickleball GP 2025
ONE British Pickleball GP report
On Saturday 26 July 2025, the inaugural ONE British Pickleball GP Grand Finals unfolded at Surrey Sports Park, Guildford. The full‑day event showcased elite pickleball players from the UK and Europe, incorporating a dedicated Under 21 Junior Championship alongside Open divisions for Men's, Women's, Doubles and Mixed competition.
Spectators were treated to live commentary by Sam Basford and Nick Hobbis, guided through matches by MC Chris Beaumont, and accompanied by a DJ and festival‑style atmosphere. Those at home could watch finals matches live streamed on YouTube.
With a prize pool of £10,000 the tournament attracted top‑level competitors aiming to claim the GP title.
Under‑21 Junior Championship
A highlight of the day was the Under 21 Junior Championship, open to players aged under 21—even under 16 participants were allowed accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. This junior division brought together rising stars across singles and doubles draws, offering a focused platform for youth competition. MyPickleball.shop's own 14-year old Vera was honoured to be invited to compete alongside some of the top UK junior players.
Players benefited from full exposure to high‑level infrastructure: professional roll‑out courts by PickleCourt at Surrey Sports Park, DUPR‑rated competition structure, and the adrenaline of performing in front of a capacity crowd. All finales matches received featured commentary and attention in the live broadcast on a dedicated YouTube channel.
Competition Results
The Under‑21 division format mirrored other divisions: initial round‑robin pool play followed by knockout rounds, with matches played to 11 points (win by two). The top performers progressed to quarterfinals, semifinals, and finals — all under the same structure used for Open categories.
Our own junior player won one of her 3 singles games against older higher ranked players (19 years old with 4+ and 4.5+ DUPR). Vera gained an invaluable experience of competing at professional event, held her own and even gave her first ever interview!
This event set a new benchmark for competitive pickleball in Britain. By integrating the Under 21 Junior Championship into the main GP weekend, organisers signalled a commitment to cultivating the next generation. The structure allowed juniors to interact directly with elite players, boosting both skill development and interest in progression pathways. The promise of advancing into pro‑level competition and possibly sharing in future prize funds reinforces the importance of junior inclusion in national‑level events.
ONE British Pickleball GP 2025 - main results
Men's Singles - Josh Bright, UK
Women's Singles - Karolina Owczarek, Poland
Men's Doubles - Josh Bright, UK & Mauro Garcia Sanchez, Spain
Women's Doubles - Caroline Nathaniel, Belgium & Karolina Owczarek, Poland
Mixed Doubles - Maria Fernandez Costantino, Spain & Mauro Garcia Sanchez, Spain
U21 Winner - Ewan Skillicorn (17), UK