A Look at the Race to the PPA CIBC Finals with One Event Remaining

The CIBC Finals is set to take place December 4th-8th. Only the best of the best make it to the tournament. 

This weekend is the last opportunity to earn PPA Points at the Veolia Milwaukee Open. As a reminder, this is an Open level event, which is worth 1,000 points for the winners of each event.

The top eight teams make the CIBC Finals in December in San Clemente.

• Top 8 women’s singles players
• Top 8 men’s singles players
• Top 16 women’s doubles players
• Top 16 men’s doubles players
• Top 8 women in mixed doubles
• Top 8 men in mixed doubles

For a refresher on how the PPA Points system works, check out our article we published earlier in the year explaining the points system.

Here are the number of points available, depending on the level of the tournament:

Top Players

Before we get into each event, and the current standings, I want to shout out the following four players. They are going to be playing all three events in the CIBC Finals, a true testament to their 2024 year on the PPA Tour.

• Anna Leigh Waters
• Catherine Parenteau
• Ben Johns
• Federico Staksrud

Women’s Singles

Locks: Anna Leigh Waters, Brooke Buckner, Lea Jansen, Catherine Parenteau, Salome Devidze, and Kaitlyn Christian

Near locks: Kate Fahey

Analysis of last spot(s): Kate Fahey moved ahead of Parris Todd and Mary Brascia with her silver medal at Worlds. Mary needs to make up 325 points to tie Parris for that last spot. Mary is going to need to beat Parris by 400 points in order to jump her. I just don’t see that happening, especially considering the way the draw is set up.

Predicted last two spots: Kate Fahey and Parris Todd maintain their top 8 standing and make the finals.

Men’s Singles

Locks: The top eight players

Near locks: None

Player outside the top eight with the best chance: None

Analysis: Men’s singles is all wrapped up. Alshon isn’t playing singles, due to a knee issue. Jack Sock and Chris Haworth are both not playing in the Milwaukee event.

Predicted last spots: The top 8 is already set.

Women’s Doubles

Locks: The Top 15 - Allyce has 1,000 points more than Jackie in the 17th spot.

Near locks: Vivienne David

Analysis: There is a very slim chance that Jackie can catch Viv David. Viv isn’t playing in Milwaukee, so Jackie and Jade would need to finish in second to know Vivienne David out of the top 16.

Predicted last two spot: Vivienne David

Men’s Doubles

Locks: The Top 15 players on the list.

Near locks: James Ignatowich

Analysis: Thomas Wilson will qualify, but since he hasn’t played in the last six months, everyone is assuming he will not participate in the CIBC Finals. This leaves the cut line at 17 and James Ignatowich.

Connor Garnett is not playing in Milwaukee. James is playing with CJ Klinger, Zane is playing with John Cincola, and Loong is playing with Noe Khlif. I don’t see either Navratil or Loong overtaking Ignatowich for that last spot.

Predicted last two spot: James Ignatowich

Mixed Doubles - Women

Locks: Anna Leigh, Anna Bright, Jorja Johnson, Viv David, Catherine Parenteau, Etta Wright, and Tina Pisnik

Near locks: Rachel Rohrabacher

Analysis: There is only one spot left up for grabs. Rachel earning bronze at Worlds really helped her case. She is now 750 points past Jessie. Rachel is playing mixed with James Ignatowich and Jessie is playing with Gabe Tardio. 

If James and Rachel can make the quarterfinals or better, she will lock up the last spot in the top eight. Looking at the draw, that shouldn’t be too difficult.

Predicted last spot: Rachel keeps the last spot for a top eight finish.

Mixed Doubles - Men

Locks: Ben Johns, JW Johnson, Christian Alshon, James Ignatowich, Federico Staksrud, and Dekel Bar

Analysis: This is a close one. Riley is playing Milwaukee with Jackie Kawamoto, and Hayden is playing with Hurricane Tyra Black. Tyson is not playing in Milwaukee. Hayden just needs to make the quarterfinals with Hurricane Tyra Black to overtake Tyson. 

Another wrinkle is Gabe Tardio in 11th. If he can earn a silver medal or better with Jessie Irvine, he too can surpass McGuffin.

Predicted last spot: I think Big H and Riley lock up the last two spots for the men’s mixed doubles finals, kicking Tyson out.