Northern Ireland marked an important new chapter in its padel journey as Padel54 in Moira hosted the FIP Silver R3 Bullpadel Cup – NI Open from 2–5 July.
The tournament was the first professional padel event of its calibre to be held in Northern Ireland and represented the highest level of competition yet staged on the island of Ireland. Sanctioned by the International Padel Federation as part of the official CUPRA FIP Tour, the event offered world-ranking points and a total prize fund of €18,000.
A high-quality international field brought some of the sport’s leading players to Moira, giving Northern Irish supporters a rare opportunity to watch professional padel at close quarters. Nearly 1,000 spectators attended across the tournament, creating an excellent atmosphere and demonstrating the growing appetite for the sport in Northern Ireland.
Bothwell brothers record landmark FIP victory
There was also a memorable result for Northern Ireland’s Peter and Sam Bothwell, who competed together in the men’s main draw.
The brothers earned their first victory at FIP level with an impressive 6–3, 6–2 win over Daniel Borbely and Alasdair Knox in the opening round. The result took them into the last 16, where their run was eventually ended by second seeds and eventual finalists Sten Richters and Albin Olsson.
Competing successfully against international opposition on home soil was a significant achievement for the brothers and an encouraging sign of the progress being made by Northern Ireland’s leading players.
Champions crowned in Moira
Daniel Windahl and Simon Vasquez produced an outstanding week to claim the men’s title. The Swedish pairing went through the entire tournament without dropping a set before defeating Richters and Olsson 6–4, 6–3 in the final.
In the women’s competition, Noemi Aguilar Carrillo and Letizia Manquillo Alarza were crowned champions following a 6–3, 6–2 victory over Marina Lobo and Claudia Escacena Montero.
The combination of elite competition, strong local support and a professionally delivered event made the inaugural NI Open a major success. Padel54 provided an impressive stage for Northern Ireland’s first FIP Silver tournament, while the players, organisers, officials, volunteers and spectators all contributed to a landmark weekend.
The NI Open offered a glimpse of what is possible as padel continues to grow across the region—and has firmly established Northern Ireland as a capable and enthusiastic host for future international competition.