Massive MLP pickleball tournament with vendors, top-ranked teams and more coming to Columbus

Pickleball fans, get excited. Because Major League Pickleball (MLP) is returning to Columbus for the second regular season event of the year. 

The tournament, held Thursday, May 28 through Sunday, May 31, will be hosted indoors at Pickle & Chill, located at 880 W. Henderson Rd. This family-friendly event will feature food trucks, vendors, and merchandise, as well as high-octane plays from some of the world’s top coed pickleball teams, including our very own Columbus Sliders, who have a rep to protect after winning the 2025 MLP Championship at the league’s New York City Finals.

“They went on a ‘Cinderella Run’ because they just were underdogs in the playoffs, and they weren’t expected to win. But they pulled off a really incredible few weeks at the end of last season to win the championship,” said Caitlin Tamony, MLP senior director of marketing. “We were at the same venue last year during the regular season, and there was such a good turnout for all the Sliders’ matches. We’re hoping for the same at this year’s event since the Sliders’ matches are going to be really fun and intense for the home crowd.”

Local Sliders’ star CJ Klinger is particularly excited to defend his home court, as Klinger, only 20 years old, became sick during the Columbus event last year and had to be subbed out.

“He’s so fun to watch. He’s just an absolute machine,” Tamony said. “He’s a big reason why they won last year. He can lock in and become unstoppable on the court.”

And amateur pickleballers can get in on the action as well, playing alongside the pros in the Minor League Pickleball (MiLP) tournament. This tournament is open to teams of three and four, and players can register here.

You can purchase tickets and view the match schedule here. 

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