ENTERACTIVE PADEL CUP

Words by Hira Ahmed Photography by Jools Moore

Sun shining, players stretching, the smell of barbecue in the air, the blur of rackets swinging on the courts… it can only mean one thing: the One Day Enteractive Padel Cup! On the last Friday of May there was electricity in the air of the Padel Malta courts in Pembroke as teams from across the iGaming sector came together to battle it out in good-natured competition for the coveted trophy, and for yearlong industry bragging rights.

Padel, a unique racket sport that shares similarities to tennis and squash, has carved out a niche in Europe and is rapidly growing in popularity in Malta, particularly with the expat iGaming community. With an already established presence in Spain, Latin America and even the Middle East, the sport has received more attention in Malta in the last couple of years. New courts are being built across the island, with our Mediterranean weather perfect for playing conditions all year round, give or take the odd rainy day!

iGaming retention specialists Enteractive have been a proponent of the sport since 2020, playing a significant role in spreading the game across the island thanks to their numerous Padel-related events and long-running iGaming Padel League.

This year’s one day tournament saw 32 talented players from across the gaming industry go head to head in an exciting standalone tournament all the way from group stages to a nail-biting finale. Competition was fierce and as the day progressed and teams slowly began to be eliminated, we were treated to some fantastic gameplay. With the cream of iGaming’s Padel community standing poised between serves, rackets at the ready, wiping sweat from their brows, there was all to play for as the day continued.

Meanwhile, as the teams gave it their all on the courts, spectators and guests mingled and enjoyed cold beers and drinks to stay refreshed in the heat. Amongst attendees reclining on shaded deck chairs and socialising in lively cheerful groups, the ambience was almost festival-like in nature. In attendance were representatives and fans from Kindred, Acroud, Betway, William Hill, SiGMA, Playson, and many more.

“It’s such an enjoyable way to network for the island’s iGaming community, and it’s great to see so many familiar faces returning each time we put on one of these events,” commented Andrew Foster, CBO at Enteractive. “Over the last two years, we’ve seen a significant increase in the quality of the players taking part, but it’s always great to see new teams joining in and falling in love with the game!”

Taking advantage of perfect barbecue weather, the grill was fired up to keep everyone fueled with a delicious spread of juicy burgers and classic hot dogs, with Janika from Padel Malta at the helm. One of the most popular offerings of the day came in the form of frozen sweet treats - Enteractive’s very own branded ice cream bicycle made its debut, much to the delight of the players and the spectators, adults and children alike! Generous scoops of luxuriously creamy goodness and deliciously crisp cones from Yummy Gelato fueled the players and kept everyone in good spirits in the heat of the competition.

As the afternoon matches concluded, the atmosphere on the courts became more charged and all eyes turned to the two finalists - Gamon Solutions and William Hill. And the spectating crowd were not left unsatisfied with an intensely fought final full of twists and turns. William Hill looked to be outmatched in the second set, but adrenaline kicked in and they fought back in the third set (a long tie break) to a heroic win!

All in all, the day was a resounding success, and despite William Hill rising to the top to be crowned Enteractive’s One Day Padel Cup champions, everyone who attended scored a day of excitement, entertainment, and meeting with industry friends - both old and new. A new staple in the Maltese sporting events calendar has been established.