Bengaluru, Aug 21: The stage is set for an exhilarating showcasing of talent and fierce competition as Grand Prix Badminton League (GPBL) Season 2 kicks off from August 27 to September 8 with players from nine countries taking part. Building upon the resounding success of its inaugural season, GPBL Season 2 promises to be a captivating extravaganza, embracing a team format comprising 8 teams engaging in 23 exciting ties in all.
The league stage will witness each team battling it out in five matches per tie – Men’s Singles, Men’s Doubles, Women’s Singles, Mixed Doubles, and the electrifying Super Match. The teams will be competing under the unique scoring system of 3 sets of 11 points each, with each set carrying one point. Unlike conventional formats, all three sets must be played, regardless of the outcome of the previous sets, adding a twist to the league stage encounters.
One of the standout features of GPBL Season 2 is the introduction of the intriguing Super Match, where players transition from singles to doubles and ultimately to triples as they chase the coveted 33-point mark. This innovation promises to deliver nail-biting suspense and strategic gameplay that is bound to leave fans on the edge of their seats.
GPBL Season 2 will also have the concept of the Trump Match, where teams can designate one match as their trump card. Winning the Trump Match awards the team an additional point, while losing it deducts a point from their tally. The teams can exercise this option once during the league stage, fostering a captivating tactical dimension to the league.
Adding to the excitement, the league has also integrated the concept of the Golden Point, allowing players to seize a two-point advantage by winning a designated point during each set. The element of strategy comes to the forefront with the provision of Strategic Timeouts: each team is granted two timeouts of 60 seconds each per match, to be strategically employed in any set.
Prashanth Reddy, League Commissioner, GPBL expressed his enthusiasm saying: “We are thrilled to unveil the dynamic and innovative features of Grand Prix Badminton League Season 2. The combination of intense gameplay, unique scoring mechanisms, and strategic elements promises a truly unparalleled sporting spectacle for fans worldwide.”
The league matches are scheduled to take place daily from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. for the first tie, followed by 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. for the second tie, with the exception of the final, which will be held from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Tickets are available on www.ticketgenie.com.
