Gabe Tardio spent 14 and 15 September in Kuala Lumpur and Penang for the Malaysia stop of the Gabe Tardio Asia Tour. The two days covered private workshops with Facolos professional players, a guided open play session for 30 guests, and an exhibition showcase in front of roughly 300 spectators.
The stop followed the PPA Asia 1000 Leapmotor Kuala Lumpur Cup 2026, which ran from 9 to 13 September at The Hood. Tardio is 20 years old, turned professional in 2022, and is currently world No. 2 in men's doubles.
Closed Workshop with 30 Guests in Kuala Lumpur
PXP Pickleball hosted the opening day on 14 September.
Tardio started with a private workshop for Facolos professional players based in Kuala Lumpur. The closed-door session let the group train directly with him and work through specific parts of the game, from shot selection to how he reads a point at the professional level.
The evening session opened the court to 30 guests for guided open play. Guests played alongside Tardio rather than watching from the sideline, which gave a small group of Malaysian players a live read on how a top-two player moves and constructs points.
Sessions on that scale stay rare here. Most Malaysian players meet international pros through a livestream or a highlight clip, not across the kitchen line.
300 Spectators for the Exhibition Showcase in Penang
The tour moved north to Penang on 15 September, starting with a second private workshop for Facolos pros based in the state.
The evening turned into an exhibition showcase. Tardio played alongside Malaysian names including Timothy Foo and Bryan Lee, plus other Facolos professionals.
Around 300 people packed in around the court. The crowd noise became one of the talking points of the night, and the format put Malaysian players on court with one of the sport's leading names rather than with the audience.
Penang has built a steady pickleball base over the past two years, and the turnout tracks with what the city's court operators have reported. Our Penang court guide covers the venues driving that growth.
Why Facolos Built the Tour Around Access
Facolos presented the Malaysia stop, with Pickle ME representing the brand and organising the leg.
The Vietnamese paddle company signed Tardio in January 2026 on a deal that runs through 2027, putting him on its Pro Series EliteX paddle. Facolos operates in 13 countries, sponsors PPA Tour Asia, and has been building a roster of top Asian players since launching just over a year ago.
Rather than a single ticketed exhibition, the two days ran as workshops for the brand's own athletes, a 30-person play session and one public showcase.
Tardio flagged the region's appeal before his Asia season started. He told PPA Tour Asia in January:
I'm really looking forward to the challenge in Asia.
He added that the play style and conditions differ from what he faces in the United States, and that adjusting to them is part of why he likes the game.
Malaysia Keeps Pulling International Names
Two years ago, a world No. 2 running a workshop in Penang would have been a stretch. The Kuala Lumpur Cup brought the PPA to The Hood in September, and the Tardio tour stop extended that week into two more cities' worth of court time.
The pattern now looks familiar. International events land in Malaysia, players stay on for community sessions, and local pros get court time against opposition they cannot find domestically. Our coverage of the Kuala Lumpur Cup tracks the tournament side of that same shift.
For upcoming tournaments, exhibitions and community sessions across Malaysia and the region, check events.thepicklebase.com, and follow @thepicklebase for court-level updates.