A highly anticipated new era for badminton fans is officially on the horizon. The organizers of the groundbreaking “BDMNTN-XL” tournament have confirmed its return for 2025, after the event’s official Instagram account, @bdmntn.xl, posted a cryptic message on August 22, 2025: “#BDMNTNXL. 2025. SOON.” The news has sent a wave of excitement throughout the badminton community, sparking speculation about the tournament’s next chapter.
While the confirmation of the tournament’s return has been made, key details such as the location, dates, and the roster of players are still under wraps. However, based on the inaugural event in 2024, fans can expect another high-octane spectacle.
The first BDMNTN-XL tournament, held at the iconic Istora Senayan in Jakarta, Indonesia, from October 31 to November 3, 2024, captivated audiences with its unique and innovative format. The event broke away from traditional badminton tournaments by introducing a team-based competition. Four teams—the Blitzers, Hurricanes, Lightning, and Rockets—each comprised of seven players (four men and three women), battled it out in a series of matches.
A defining feature of the tournament’s format was the timed gameplay. Each match consisted of four 10-minute “quarters,” with a sudden-death tiebreaker if the score was tied at 2-2. This structure ensured a fast-paced and unpredictable experience. The event also introduced a new 3v3 match format, allowing for unlimited substitutions between sets, which added an extra layer of tactical complexity.
The 2024 BDMNTN-XL event attracted a star-studded lineup of top-ranked athletes, including two-time Olympic champion Viktor Axelsen, former world champion Ratchanok Intanon, and Indonesian fan favorites like Hendra Setiawan and Jonathan Christie. The players for each team were selected through a “snake draft” system, with non-playing captains strategically building their rosters.
The stakes were high for the inaugural tournament, which offered a total prize pool of nearly USD 1 million. The winning team, the Blitzers, took home a cash prize of approximately USD 479,000, while the runners-up, the Hurricanes, received USD 214,000. The third-place teams, the Rockets and Lightning, also shared a prize of USD 109,500 each.
With the 2025 edition confirmed, the badminton world eagerly awaits further announcements. Fans are hoping for a repeat of the thrilling action, strategic gameplay, and high-stakes competition that defined the inaugural event. The BDMNTN-XL is not just another tournament; it has established itself as a revolutionary event that reimagines the sport, and its return promises to once again push the boundaries of competitive badminton.