Padelboard By MATCHi introduces new competition type: "MATCHi Playlist"

Earlier this year, Padelboard - one of the leading tournament platforms for padel - became part of MATCHi.
Together, they are now launching a new competition type: the “MATCHi Playlist.”

— The launch of MATCHi Playlist means that we are taking a step from being a platform for different types of Americano/Mexicano to a complete tournament platform. Later this fall, we will also release group play functionality along with playoff trees, says Robin Lundgren, one of the founders of Padelboard by MATCHi.

The idea is that you will be able to use Padelboard Arena for both larger weekend tournaments and classic quick tournaments of 1-3 hours, he continues. The app Padelboard was founded in April 2020 by Robin Lundgren and many padel enthusiasts. The goal was to create a technically simple solution for quick tournaments, which at the time were handled using decks of cards and excel sheets, tells Robin Lundgren.

“Making tournaments perfect.” 

Padelboard quickly became popular, and they received questions from many venues if they could develop a platform based on their wishes and needs.

— In October 2021, we launched Padelboard Arena, developed in close collaboration with several venues. To this day, we are close to the venues and develop the platform based on their needs. Our goal from the start has always been to make tournaments to perfection. 

MATCHi Playlist has been active in Denmark for a couple of years now. Eventually, it became so popular that the excel sheet couldn’t cope with the crowd, Robin Lundgren comments:

— A couple of venues contacted us, and we listened curiously and realized that this competition type would be very popular if only there were a stable platform to offer the market.

How does it benefit players? 
Initially, MATCHi Playlist will be based on a new game type - Beat the box. It basically solves three essential things for the players and users. the Product owner, Niklas Engström, explains.

— You are assigned to a court with three other players that our algorithms feel you are even with. If you play well, you’ll climb the leaderboard and face even tougher opposition the next time you play. In other words, we solve matchmaking, where you will most likely play with players at your level who you may never have played with before.

Another advantage of MATCHi Playlist is that it reduces the stress that many players may experience with other types of setups, explains Niklas Engström:

— Because each match is 30 minutes (3x30), you avoid the stress that I know many players experience with Americano or Winner’s Court. If you get off to a bad start, you have plenty of time to recover, you can hone your tactics, and you have time to notice and hopefully exploit your opponent's weaknesses.

He continues:

— You don’t have to run between courts either. You stay on the same court throughout the event. Once 30 minutes have passed, and you’ve recorded your score and had a drink, you spin the ball, and a new match is underway. Everyone should play with everyone in your ball.

Competition spirit in focus 

— The last thing, and perhaps the players love the most, is the competition. You want to be on top, to go past your friends, and the best part is that the table lives for about six months, and you have plenty of time to climb the top list.

 A feature in Padelboard Arena allows the organizer to easily share the table on social media, on their website, or on the screens inside the venue.

How has the reception of MATCHi Playlist been among players? 
— We’ve done a sneak release with about ten venues who have been able to test the platform and provide feedback, a great way to work out teething problems too. At the venue we’ve launched, the feedback from players has been above expectations, as has the number of players per event and that it fills up even when it runs three times a week.

One of the players who has had the opportunity to try out the concept already is Paula Lundin, from Helsingborg, who has been playing padel for about three years.

– I think it’s an enjoyable way to participate in a tournament for an extended period of time, and that you can do it according to your schedule, she tells Padel Alto.

“A great way to find new padel friends.” 

Paula Lundin has been testing MATCHi Playlist for about three weeks, she says, and in addition to the ranking system itself, she also appreciates the social aspect that the concept enables :

— I have found it to be a great way to find new padel friends, as you find, at least initially, players of a similar level to yourself. 

Another positive aspect of MATCHi Playlist, according to Paula Lundin, is that you can follow your performance from each round and that it thus becomes an individual ranking system. Furthermore, she says it is straightforward to use the function and the app as a whole Anyone can do it.

Will you continue to use MATCHi Playlist? 
— Yes, absolutely. If you don’t have the time to be in the fixed series system when it clashes with other things, you can run an individual system, and it’s great fun to follow your performance, says Paula Lundin. 
 

”Creates an engagement in the club.”

The MATCHi Playlist also benefits the venue - as Oliver Trulsson, venue manager at Padel Crew in Helsingborg - the world’s largest padel venue, who has been involved in testing the new feature - can attest.

— It has worked very well. I think the interest for a new game form has been requested among many players, and the reception has been fantastic, he says to Padel Alto.

A big advantage of MATCHi Playlist and a reason why it has been so well received among players on Padel Crew, Oliver Trulsson believes, is because it makes it easier for players to find equal opposition:

— MATCHi Playlist is a perfect tool to have for us as it creates more even matches. If you look at Americanos or Vinnarbana, those games often become quite uneven when searching for your opponents. With MATCHi Playlist, it becomes clear that you are the ranking you are, and there is not the same room to underestimate or overestimate your abilities.

All existing Padelboard Arena customers will access MATCHi Playlist from Monday, 19 September.
More information about the new concept can be found here: https://playmore.matchi.com/sv/competition