The International Padel Federation (FIP) has announced the creation of FIP Beyond, a new global tour designed to provide amateur padel players of all ages with a structured, professional competitive framework. Approved during FIP’s General Assembly in Acapulco, the initiative marks a significant expansion of organized amateur competition in the sport.
The tour is organized around three tournament levels – B1, B2 and B3 – with varying prize money structures and competitive formats. Unlike purely recreational events, FIP Beyond will maintain an international ranking system and provide qualifying pathways to major amateur championships.
Three-tier structure targets different organizational realities
The tournament classification system reflects different venue capabilities and regional market conditions. B1 tournaments offer total prize money between €6,000 and €18,000, targeting established padel markets with strong participation. B2 events feature prize pools from €3,600 to €10,800, designed for developing markets and smaller venues. B3 tournaments provide competitive experience without prize money, serving as entry points for newer padel communities.
Senior categories receive dedicated prize money
In B1 and B2 tournaments, FIP will award prize money to senior category winners (ages 40–60), with prizes distributed to champions, runners-up and semifinalists. This represents a departure from most amateur circuits, which typically offer prizes only to open categories or rely on participation fees alone.
The emphasis on senior categories aligns with demographic trends in padel participation, where players over 40 represent a significant and growing segment of the active player base, particularly in mature European markets.
Ranking system creates pathway to major events
Players will earn ranking points based on tournament results, with each athlete’s position determined by their best 11 performances across the tour. The FIP Beyond Ranking will grant access to three major international events: the FIP Beyond Finals, the FIP Beyond Continental Cup by Pairs and the FIP Beyond World Cup by Pairs.
This structure mirrors professional tour architecture, creating clear competitive pathways and giving amateur players defined goals beyond individual tournament victories. The ranking system could also provide data infrastructure for sponsors and broadcast partners evaluating amateur padel’s commercial potential.
Beyond competition: the “player experience” approach
FIP positions the tour as offering more than tournament brackets, promising special activities and engagement programs within what it calls the “official FIP framework.” The federation describes this as creating “a unique tour in the international amateur Padel landscape,” though specific details about these experience elements were not disclosed in the announcement.
Looking beyond: why this, why now
The timing of the announcement coincides with broader efforts to professionalize padel’s ecosystem as the sport seeks Olympic inclusion and attracts increased investment from private equity and sporting goods brands. A well-organized amateur circuit provides valuable data on participation trends, geographic growth patterns and demographic engagement – intelligence that benefits both commercial partners and the sport’s governing body.
Go deeper: FIP official announcement
