The 2nd PJL Burger King Cup / PCL National Team Selection Tournament

PJF to Send National Team to PCL Tournament in Shenzhen, China (December 2025)

The Pickleball Japan Federation (PJF) has received an official request from the Pickleball Champions League Asia (PCL) to send a national team to compete in an international tournament scheduled to take place in Shenzhen, China, in December 2025.

The PCL was founded by Steve Kuhn, the original founder of both Major League Pickleball (MLP) and DUPR. While he is no longer affiliated with MLP or DUPR, PCL now represents his latest passion project.

This upcoming tournament will be the second official event hosted by the PCL. In response, PJF will be conducting a national team selection in accordance with PCL’s guidelines.

Following the success of the Burger King Cup held in August, we are proud to announce that Burger King has agreed to serve as the title sponsor for this event. As such, the tournament will be officially titled the “PJL Burger King Cup: PCL National Team Selection Tournament.”

Tournament Format and Sponsorship Support

Under the original PCL model, it was expected that pickleball clubs across Japan would independently form teams, secure sponsors, and pay a $1,000 registration fee.

However, due to the short preparation time, PJF, in collaboration with Burger King, will take the lead in organizing sponsorships and covering the registration fees for eight teams.

Thanks to this sponsorship support, a full-scale tournament involving eight teams will be held. The champion team will be awarded $5,000 (approx. ¥720,000) to support travel expenses for the Shenzhen competition.

Draft Format & Compliance with the “No Super Club” Rule

To comply with PCL’s “No Super Club” rule, the player selection will once again follow a draft-style format, similar to the previous PJL Burger King Cup.

The eight participating teams will be led by team captains, who will be selected based on their past performance in the PJL Pro League.

Draft Registration & Tournament Schedule

Please refer to the Japanese summary document below, which is based on the official materials provided by PCL.If you wish to register for the draft, be sure to complete your registration by October 20 via the following link:

[Registration Form]

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd8GsN4qDztyLqK7QaluWzsxfRkckUkZo703kgCuP0n8ClxVQ/viewform?usp=header

Draft Meeting Date

Late October (Final selection of team members by captains)

National Team Selection Tournament Date

November 22, 2025(In case of rain, the event will be postponed to November 29)

Venue

KPI PARK Totsuka Ward, Yokohama City, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan

Important Notice

Please note that this tournament and the national team selection are being independently organized by the Pickleball Japan Federation (PJF), based on our belief that it presents a significant challenge and opportunity for Japanese players.

PJF is not receiving any compensation or financial benefit from PCL in relation to this initiative.

The 2nd PJL Burger King Cup

PCL National Team Selection Tournament

Schedule

October 8: Draft Pool Registration Opens / Press Release

October 20: Draft Registration Deadline

Late October: Draft Meeting

November 22: The 2nd PJL Burger King Cup – PCL National Team Selection Tournament

December 3–7: PCL Asia Tournament in Shenzhen

Venues

National Team Selection Tournament: KPI PARK (Totsuka-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan)

PCL Asia Tournament: Ramsports (Shenzhen, China)

Organizer

Pickleball Japan Federation (PJF) – General Incorporated Foundation

Sponsors

BK Holdings

Additional team sponsors to be announced

Team Leaders (in alphabetical order)

Tomohito Fujiwara, Taichi Makino, Koya Nakaema, Koki Sugimoto, Yuki Sugiyama, Takuma Tsukimura, Yuta Yoshida, Zen Yoshida

Draft Pool Registration Form

Click Here

Contact Us customer@pickleball-japan.org

PCL Asia – Season 2

Player Guide

PCL Asia is more than just a tournament. It’s a celebration of sport, pride, and community.

By winning your Sectional Championship, your team earns a Golden Ticket to the PCL Asia Finals, held in Longgang District, Shenzhen, China, from December 3–7, 2025.

What Finalists Will Experience

• Compete on the largest pickleball stage in Asia

• Represent your club, city, region, and country

• Embrace a team-first format full of pride and passion

• Forge bonds with athletes from 10 nations

• Learn from Asia’s top professionals through coaching & mentorship

1. Club Structure & Eligibility

Team size: 4–6 players

・Male players: 2–3

・Female players: 2–3

Eligibility:

・Citizen or permanent resident of the represented country

・Residing in the country for at least one continuous year

・At least 18 years old by the start of the Finals

2. Sectional Championships

• Format: 8 clubs per section (48 players total)

• Prize: Winning club receives USD $5,000 (winner-takes-all)

• Purpose: Prize is intended to support travel & participation at the Finals in Shenzhen

• Advancement: Only the winning club earns the Golden Ticket

• Entry Fee: USD $1,000 per team

  
  

3. Shenzhen Finals

Dates: December 3–7, 2025

Venue: Ramsports Facility, Longgang District, Shenzhen, China

Number of Participating Clubs: 32 champion teams from Sectional Tournaments across Asia

Total Prize Pool: USD $256,000 (including Sectional and Finals distributions)

Finals Prize Breakdown (Total USD $96,000):

• Champion: $30,000

• Runner-up: $20,000

• 3rd–4th Place: $11,000 each

• 5th–8th Place: $6,000 each

Finals Experience Includes:

• Competition at Asia’s largest pickleball tournament

• Dedicated training sessions

• Coaching & mentoring from top pros

• Cultural exchange & team-building activities

• A world-class, professional event environment

  
  

4. Code of Conduct & Sportsmanship

As national and club representatives, all players are expected to:

• Show respect to opponents, referees, and spectators

• Avoid offensive, harassing, or unsportsmanlike behavior

• Follow anti-doping and fair play policies

• Uphold the honor of PCL Asia both on and off the court

5. Player Benefits

Finalists in the PCL Asia Finals will receive:

• The honor of representing their country and club

• Access to training facilities and sessions

• Official team uniforms for all finalists

• Ramsports equipment package (paddles & balls) for each team

• Coaching & mentoring from Asia’s elite professionals

• Media exposure via live streams, social media & press

• Lifelong memories of friendship, pride, and competition

  
  

6. Participating Countries & Regions (10 total)

• 🇵🇭 Philippines

• 🇹🇭 Thailand

• 🇲🇾 Malaysia

• 🇻🇳 Vietnam

• 🇨🇳 China

• 🇯🇵 Japan

• 🇮🇳 India

• 🇮🇩 Indonesia

• 🇸🇬 Singapore

• 🇭🇰 Hong Kong

  
  

A total of 256 clubs from these 10 countries will compete in Sectionals.Only 32 clubs will advance to the Shenzhen Finals.