The countdown to the CIBC PPA Tour Finals is officially on, with only four tour stops left before the grand showdown in San Clemente, California, this December. Competition is fiercer than ever, and every point matters as players race to qualify.
Here are the final four stops:
- 9/30 - 10/6 - Stratusphere Gin Virginia Beach Cup (1,500 points)
- 10/9 - 10/13 - Rate Championships, Las Vegas (1,000 points)
- 11/4 - 11/10 - LAPIPLASTY UPA World Championships (2,000 points)
- 11/14 - 11/17 - Veolia Milwaukee Open (1,000 points)
With 5,500 points up for grabs across these remaining events, the competition is tighter than ever. Every game, every shot counts.
Who Makes the Cut?
As a reminder, the top eight teams make the CIBC PPA Tour Finals in December in San San Clemente.
- Top 8 in Women’s Singles
- Top 8 in Men’s Singles
- Top 16 in Women’s Doubles
- Top 16 in Men’s Doubles
- Top 8 in Mixed Doubles (Women)
- Top 8 in Mixed Doubles (Men)
For a refresher on how the PPA Tour Points system works, check out the article we published earlier in the year explaining the points system.
Here are the points available, depending on the level of the tournament:
TOP 5 PLAYERS
Before we get into each event and the current standings, I want to shout out the following players. I predict each of these players will play in the CIBC PPA Tour Finals in all three events—truly elite company.
- Anna Leigh Waters
- Catherine Parenteau
- Ben Johns
- Federico Staksrud
- Christian Alshon
Women’s Singles
Locks: Anna Leigh Waters, Lea Jansen, Brooke Buckner, Catherine Parenteau
Near-Locks: Kaitlyn Christian, Salome Devidze
Best Outside Shot: Kate Fahey
Analysis: Six spots are essentially spoken for, leaving two spots in contention. Parris Todd, Mary Brascia, Judit Castillo, and Kate Fahey are all fighting to secure a place, but Zoey Wang’s deficit in points may prove too steep. Neither Fahey nor Wang were in the top 20 during the last update in June, but Fahey’s momentum could push her closer.
Predicted Last Two Spots: The point difference will prove to be too much, and Judit and Mary will maintain those last two spots.
Men’s Singles
Locks: Federico Staksrud, Ben Johns, Connor Garnett
Near-Locks: Dylan Frazier, Tyson McGuffin
Best Outside Shot: Chris Haworth
Analysis: Five spots are locked, leaving three for the taking. Alshon, Duong, and Jaume are strong contenders, but this category is the most wide-open right now. With just a 75-point difference between 8th and 9th place, every match is crucial.
Alshon and Duong have been nursing injuries but have two weeks off between the CIBC PPA Tour Atlanta Slam and the PPA Tour Virginia Beach Cup.
I expect them to maintain their leads and squeak out the top eight results. While Haworth could get into the mix, making up nearly 800 points in four events will be tough.
Predicted Last Three Spots: Quang Duong, Christian Alshon, Jaume Martinez Vich
Women’s Doubles
Locks: The Top 12 are secure with over 6,000 points
Near-Locks: Parris Todd, Lea Jansen
Best Outside Shot: Mari Humberg
Analysis: Only two spots are realistically up for grabs.
Viv David hasn’t played as much on the PPA Tour while her friend and normal mixed doubles partner, Thomas Wilson, has been sidelined. Jackie has a VERY slim lead over Allyce for the last spot. Here are the women’s doubles pairings in Virginia Beach next week, as they relate to the top 16 and who will/won’t make the finals:
- Allyce Jones and Hurricane Tyra Black
- Mari Humberg and Jorja Johnson
- Tina Pisnik and Vivienne David
- Jade Kawamoto and Parris Todd
- Lacy Schneemann and Jackie Kawamoto
Predicted Last Two Spots: Vivienne David and Jackie Kawamoto sneak in.
Men’s Doubles
Locks: The Top 12 players are a lock
Near-Locks: Hayden Patriquin, Jaume Martinez Vich
Best Outside Shot: James Ignatowich
Analysis: Two spots remain, with Wilson, Newman, Garnett, Ignatowich, Loong, and Navratil all in the mix.
In my opinion, Loong and Navratil are too far away to catch up in four events. The question is: Will Thomas Wilson return sometime soon, and is he healthy? If the answer to both those questions is yes, I believe he will make it into the finals.
Partnership mix-ups could play a huge role in the standings. For example, in Virginia Beach, Riley is playing with Rafa, and Christian is playing with James.
Predicted Last Two Spots: Riley Newman and James Ignatowich
Mixed Doubles (Women)
Locks: Anna Leigh Waters, Anna Bright, Jorja Johnson, Vivienne David, Catherine Parenteau
Near-Locks: Tina Pisnik
Best Outside Shot: Lea Jansen
Analysis: There are really only two spots up for grabs, in my opinion.
Jessie recently won the PPA Tour Utah Open with Gabe Tardio, and Rohrabacher has been pretty consistent with Federico Staksrud this year. Rohrbacher is only 50 points ahead of Etta Wright and 500 points ahead of Lea Jansen.
Because Etta mixes up partners so much in mixed doubles, I don’t think she can surpass Rachel for that last spot. In this case, I believe consistency helps.
Predicted Last Two Spots: Jessie Irvine and Rachel Rohrabacher
Mixed Doubles (Men)
Locks: Ben Johns, JW Johnson, Thomas Wilson, James Ignatowich, Christian Alshon
Near-Locks: Federico Staksrud, Dekel Bar
Best Outside Shot: Andrei Daescu
Analysis: Tyson and Hayden Patriquin are TIED for the last spot in the finals. I think this comes down to the partnerships everyone has in these last four events.
Tyson is playing Virginia Beach with Jade Kawamoto, Hayden with Lea, Andrei with Anna Bright, and Riley with Jackie Kawamoto. If Andrei can secure Anna Bright for three of the last four tournaments before the finals, I think he sneaks into that last spot - he has to make up 1,100 points, though, so he’s got to make the finals at least twice.
Predicted last spot: I think Big H and Lea do well enough to fend off Tyson and Andrei, securing Hayden the last finals spot.
