What’s the Score?
Selangor, Malaysia – The Cakenis Cup Pickleball Malaysia 2025 concluded with Team Cakenis, led by Asia’s top player Quang Duong, taking the prestigious Team Event title and a RM20,000 prize. The tournament, held at the Tomaz Pickleball Club, saw Team Cakenis go undefeated through the group stage before defeating 002 in a thrilling final that came down to a decisive dream breaker point. The event highlighted the rising talent in the region and offered a substantial total prize pool of RM100,000 across multiple categories.
Hit it deeper!
Team Cakenis was a powerhouse from the start, headlined by Quang Duong, who holds the World No. 3 ranking and is recognised as Asia’s top player. The team also showcased emerging regional talent, featuring Jimmy Liong, Malaysia’s No. 1 men’s player, and Ken Tam of Vietnam. Liong and Tam were notable members of the pioneer batch of the UPA Asia Trailblazers Programme, signifying the focus of the event on nurturing regional stars. Another member of the winning squad was Bao Duong, Quang’s younger brother.
Team Cakenis’s path to the title saw them successfully navigate the knockout stages. They first fended off Bintang Pro Picklers in the semifinals, a team bannered by India’s Vanshik Kapadia and Taiwan’s Hsieh Yu-Chieh. In the final gold-medal match, they faced Team 002, which gave an “inspired effort”. Team 002 featured high-calibre players, including Jack Wong Hong-kit, the PPA Tour Asia Men’s Singles No. 1, and Eunggwon Kim, Hong-kit’s partner who is the PPA Tour Asia Men’s Doubles No. 1. Before reaching the final, Team 002 had defeated a strong Tomaz team that included other Asian top players like Marco Leung, Colin Wong, and Mihae Kwon.
The Championship Final delivered maximum tension, culminating in the score tied at 29-29, necessitating a dream breaker—a single point played for all the marbles. Under this intense pressure, it was Syed Uzair Sufi who stepped up to deliver the decisive game-winner for Team Cakenis, securing the title and the RM20,000 prize for his teammates.
Beyond the Team Event, the Cakenis Cup awarded significant prize money in individual categories: gold medal winners in the Open category received RM7,000, while Advanced and Intermediate winners received RM5,000, and Novice winners received RM3,000. The overall prize pool confirms the tournament’s position as a major fixture in the regional pickleball calendar.
The World Pickleball Verdict
The Cakenis Cup Pickleball Malaysia 2025 showcased the high-level competitive depth and financial growth of pickleball in Southeast Asia. The thrilling final, decided by a single point, demonstrates the growing parity and excitement at the top of the regional game. Furthermore, the success of Team Cakenis, which purposefully paired a World No. 3 star (Quang Duong) with emerging players (Liong and Tam) from the UPA Asia Trailblazers Programme, highlights the crucial role that these regional tournaments play in mentoring and accelerating the development of Asia’s next generation of professional pickleballers. The event cements the strategic importance of Malaysia as a key hub for Asian pickleball excellence.
Chris Beaumont
Founder and Editor-in-ChiefChris Beaumont is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of World Pickleball Magazine. Chris follows the global game closely, reporting on the latest news, developments, stories and tournaments from all five continents. He also hosts the World Pickleball Podcast, interviewing people at…
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