NAGALAND MASTERS

Nagaland Pickleball Masters is a multi-category event. The full format table per category is published in the Rules PDF and reproduced here for quick reference.

| Category | Stage 1 | Stage 2 | |-- |-- |-- | | Men's Doubles | Round Robin | Knockout | | Women's Doubles | Round Robin | Knockout | | Mixed Doubles | Round Robin | Knockout |

Each match uses the format dictated by its stage:

| Stage | Format | |-- |-- | | Round Robin (group) | Single game to 15 points, win by 2 | | Quarterfinal | Best of 3 games to 11, win by 2 | | Semifinal / Final | Best of 3 games to 11, win by 2 |

All matches use SERVICE-POINT (side-out) scoring — only the team currently serving can score a point on a rally it wins. If the serving team loses the rally, NO point is awarded and the serve passes to the opponent (a side-out). Sides change at the start of each game and every odd point thereafter. Games are played to the assigned points (15 in round-robin; 11 in knockout games) and must be won by 2; play continues past deuce until one side leads by 2.

At 6 in game 3 of a best-of-3 match, the first team to reach 6 starts the next game on the opposite side (standard side change).

Ranking points per the rules doc:

| Result | Ranking Points | |-- |-- | | Win | 2 | | Loss | 0 |

1. Ranking points. 2. Head-to-head among the tied entrants (two-team ties only — multi-team ties with no clean separation are not resolved by H2H). 3. Cumulative point difference (PF - PA) across the whole pool. 4. Total points scored (PF). 5. Fewer points conceded (PA). 6. If still tied, the committee decides — rows are left adjacent in the published table.

Qualifiers advance to the knockout in rank blocks: all group winners first (in group order A, B, C…), then all runners-up, and so on. Cross-seeding (Q1 vs R2 / R1 vs Q2 for 2 groups; Q1A vs R2B for 4 groups) keeps rematches at bay.

| Groups | Pools | Qualifiers per group | |-- |-- |-- | | 2 | 1/2 | 2 | | 4 | 1/2/3/4 | 2 |

Walkovers in a group/league match are recorded 11-0 in favour of the advancing entrant. Both ranking points and point difference reflect the result. Knockout walkovers advance the entrant without a recorded score (advancement only).

A standard medical time-out (2 minutes) is allowed per game per entrant. If a player cannot continue, the uninjured entrant wins by retirement — the match ends, current points stand, and the injured player / pair is replaced only with the tournament director's approval.

All entrants must wear non-marking court shoes and the official Nagaland Pickleball Masters T-shirt (issued at check-in). Colour-coordinated arm-bands indicate the entrant's group in round-robin play. Mis-matching attire may result in a warning or ineligibility for awards at the director's discretion.

Verbal abuse, racquet abuse, or ball abuse is penalised per the official code. A code violation warning is issued for a first offence; a second in the same match results in a game forfeiture; a third results in match forfeiture. Flagrant violations (racquet contact, threat) result in immediate match and event ejection.

Photo ID must be presented at check-in for every entrant. Accepted documents: Aadhaar card, Passport, Driving Licence, Voter ID, PAN card (with photo), or any government-issued photo ID. Minors must additionally carry a school-issued photo ID and a parent / guardian's signed consent form (template issued at registration).

All disputes must be reported to the on-court tournament director within 30 minutes of the disputed point. Video review is available on the centre court and on Courts 1-4 from the second set onward. The director's decision is final on the day; appeals must be lodged in writing to the organizing committee within 24 hours of the result announcement.

Match scores are recorded live on the operator's console and are publicly visible on the tournament page. Once a match is completed, the score locks; corrections require the tournament director's intervention. Walkover scores (11-0) are recorded automatically when the operator records a walkover.

All matches use the official Franklin X-40 outdoor ball. The tournament provides 6 new balls per match (3 per side, rotated every 7 points). Players are not required to bring their own paddles — a small rental inventory is available at the desk at no charge. Any questions during the day are directed to the on-court tournament director or the desk staff.