DONN Dunlop, Bert Kronix and Elisha Chelsea Herzon ruled the Pickleball “King’s Court” Tournament Saturday at American Memorial Park.
“The turnout is fantastic! We had 48 players — last time we only had 16,” said Nelson Krum, founder of the Pickleball Federation of the NMI. The federation itself now has over 100 members.
A total of 12 courts were utilized on Saturday to accommodate the participants who played a total of 16 games each. It was a fun event highlighted by fast games and switching partners.
It was also a round-robin tournament. The winners moved clockwise to the queen’s and king’s court while the losers moved counterclockwise toward the jester’s court.
At the end of the competition, Donn Dunlop, Bert Kronix and Elisha Herzon reigned supreme after notching consecutive wins.
Herzon said she started playing pickleball less than a month ago. “My dad was really fond of tennis back in the day. And one day, when we passed by we saw a pickleball match. It was ‘new’ and we wanted to try it,” she added.
Six players from Guam also showed their support and participated in the tournament on Saturday.
Up next for the Pickleball Federation of the NMI is the first inter-island competition, the Marianas Cup, which will pit Saipan against Guam on Nov. 5. This tournament will feature four players on each team, and they will play men’s doubles, women’s doubles and mixed doubles to determine the overall winner.
Players participating in the Pickleball “King’s Court” Tournament pose for a photo on Saturday at American Memorial Park.
Elisha Chelsea Herzon extends for the forehand return during a pickleball match Saturday at American Memorial Park.
The Pickleball Federation of the NMI now has over 100 members.
