Columbus Sliders Bag MLP Title with Scintillating Cinderella Run

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Columbus Sliders Bag MLP Title with Scintillating Cinderella Run

August 28, 2025 amier 0 Comments 0 tags

The Columbus Sliders entered the final week of Major League Pickleball (MLP) presented by DoorDash as the fifth-seeded team. They exited as the champions to finish off what was arguably the most successful MLP season to date. In a fitting ending to this great season, the league’s best travelled to New York City to conclude the season at the City Pickle Wollman Courts in Central Park South.

Columbus Sliders Turn Tables on Top-Seeded St. Louis Shock in Semis

In the semifinals, the top-seeded St. Louis Shock chose to play the fifth-seeded Columbus Sliders, ostensibly to avoid the Ben Johns-led LA Mad Drops. The Shock, however, were in for a shock, as the Sliders once again rose to the occasion, sweeping the highly favoured Shock, 2-0, thanks to a rousing start. Columbus, led by impressive outings from Parris Todd in the Women’s Doubles, and CJ Klinger in the Men’s Doubles, swept the first match 3-0, before hanging on for a 2-1 victory in the second match to send St. Louis packing.

Columbus Sliders Top Anna Leigh Waters-Led New Jersey 5s in Finals

The Finals proved to be a fitting culmination of the 2025 MLP season, as New Jersey and Columbus went toe-to-toe and needed all three matches to decide the champion. The 5s drew first blood with Anna Leigh Waters leading the way. Columbus fired back in match two, with Andrei Daescu and Todd keeping the Sliders alive with their second win against the pair of Waters and Will Howells. Fittingly, the duo of Todd and Daescu won the title for the Sliders, holding steady in the fourth game of match two, 11-6, to finish off an epic playoffs.

Andrei Daescu Comes Up Big for Columbus Sliders

Daescu was particularly spectacular in the semis and finals, going undefeated in Men’s Doubles with CJ Klinger, and 6-2 in Mixed Doubles with Todd. The Daescu-Klinger pairing, in particular, dominated their counterparts in St. Louis, who were nearly unbeatable all season. Daescu and Todd, meanwhile, had three straight wins against a Waters-led pair in Mixed Doubles to help complete Columbus’ Cinderella run.

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