The FIVB and Sportworx are excited to announce the September launch of the King of the Court Crown Series 2018. Top international teams will compete in four iconic beach volleyball locations around the world, and with a total prize of US$ 450,000 and a new highly-coveted title at stake, play will be fast and furious. The series will engage and inspire athletes, fans and the media throughout the back-to-back tournaments.
The Series will consist of four stages that will run consecutively and were picked for their outstanding facilities and importance to the international beach volleyball community. Floodlit arenas in high-end stadium settings will also add to the significance and drama of the events:
- 07 Sep 2018 – Utrecht, Netherlands, Jaarbeursplein
- 08 Sep 2018 – Belgium Location TBC
- 14-16 Sep 2018 – Honolulu, Oahu, Hawaii, USA Fort deRussy, Waikiki
- 22-23 Sep 2018 – Huntington Beach, CA, USA Huntington Beach Pier
King of the Court has long been known as a training game but for the first time in the history of the sport Sportworx has created a pro-level competition, sanctioned by the FIVB. The format was finalized by Sportworx and a collaboration of players and the FIVB after a trial event, in June 2017, in Utrecht, Netherlands. “For us, the King of the Court trial event in Utrecht was the highlight of 2017,” said Dutch former World Champions and Olympic bronze medalists, Robert Meeuwsen and Alexander Brouwer. “It is a mix of sport and show and is much harder and more tactical to play than regular beach volleyball.”
“We love beach volleyball and want to contribute to its future,” adds Wilco Nijland, COO at Sportworx and creator of the King of the Court Crown Series. “We believe our elimination-style beach volleyball race will deliver an engaging action-packed experience for both players and fans”.
FIVB President Dr. Ary S. Graça F° said: “The FIVB is excited to support Sportworx in introducing the new and thrilling King of the Court Crown Series. The project presents beach volleyball in a completely different format, with as many as five countries competing at once. I believe it has great potential and we will continue to bring new concepts and ideas to the sport to ensure the best possible experience for both the athletes and spectators.
The positive feedback we have received so far from the players proves the importance of this new series, which
is providing more opportunities for the athletes to play.” The series will be invitation only, with some of the world’s leading players already committed, including American legend Casey Patterson. “I’m excited that the King of the Court Crown Series is coming together and that I will be a part of these four amazing events,” said Casey. “King of the Court is fast, spectacular and great entertainment.”
The European leg will involve 15 of the best men’s teams, while at the AVP Hawai’i Invitational, on the worldfamous Duke Kahanamoku Beach fronting the Hilton Hawaiian Village and Fort DeRussy in Waikiki, 15 top men’s teams will be joined by 15 of the best women’s. At Huntington Pier, 20 men’s and 20 women’s teams will fight it out to be the best in the sand, with both events organized in collaboration with the Association of Volleyball Professionals (AVP).
“We are thrilled to join forces with Sportworx to bring the King of the Court Crown Series to the U.S. – a unique and fun concept that not only represents the lifestyle of the sport, but more importantly offers increased opportunities for our athletes,” says Donald Sun, managing partner, AVP. “We kicked off the 2018 season with a successful collaboration in Huntington Beach with the FIVB, and to conclude the season with this FIVBsanctioned event is a perfect way in further growing our relationship with our international counterparts.”
Here’s how the King of the Court Crown Series works: It’s not the usual two teams against each other, but five (respectively four and three) teams battle it out in rotational matches., with one team eliminated per match. There’s a Challenger’s and a King’s side. Challengers serve and points can only be scored at the King’s side. If the Kings win a rally, they get one point and stay in their kingdom. If they lose, they’re out and are sent to the back of the line of waiting teams. Challengers then move into the King’s end to face the next team. The team with the least points on the buzzer is out.
All this happens to a ticking clock, adding another level of excitement to King of the Court tournaments: Round one and finals last max. twenty minutes, while round two lasts sixteen. In the finals, the first team to reach 15 points wins or whoever has the highest score after 20 minutes. The entire final round is blazed in sixty minutes of fast and furious play. It’s a revolution in beach volleyball.
FACTS & FIGURES
- Number of teams: 15/20
- Number of rounds: 3
- Number of matches (based on 15 teams): 18
- Total playing time of finals: 60 min
- Total playing time of whole tournament: approx. 6 hrs
- Total prize money of the King of the Court Crown Series: US$ 450,000
- The 2018 events are not contributing points to the FIVB ranking lists.
- Live TV & streaming
- Website: www.kingofthecourt.com
- Instagram: kingofthecourtbeach
- Facebook: kingofthecourtbeach
More information on the competition format
- Always 3 matches per group – first 5 teams, then down to 4 and down to 3
- 5-teams-matches last 20 minutes, lowest score is out
- 4-teams-matches last 16 minutes, lowest score is out
- 3-teams-matches are first to 15 points wins or highest score after 20 minutes
3 Rounds (Group Phase – Semifinals – Finals)
Group phase
- 3 groups with 5 teams = 15 teams in total
- Top 3 of all 3 groups + highest scoring 4th from 2nd match (4-teams-matches) advance to semifinals
- Eliminating 5 of the 15 teams
Semifinals
- 2 semifinals with 5 teams each = 10 teams
- Again 3 matches per semifinal
- Eliminating 5 of the 10 teams – top 2 of each semifinal + highest-scoring 3rd from both semifinals advance to finals
Finals
- 5 teams, 3 matches
- Eliminating lowest-scoring teams in first 2 matches – going to 3 teams in final match
- First to 15 points wins or highest score after 20 minutes wins