Ladies and gentlemen, especially those of you who can recognize the sheer beauty of a shiny silver ball gliding seamlessly through a colorful, buzzing machine, let’s talk pinball! Specifically, the OC Belles & Chimes Season 12 – #7 pinball tournament that had us glued to our seats for an estimated 9 riveting hours.
The Setting
First things first, a slight brag about the weather: the overcast clouds made it a cool 79°F outside – the perfect weather to be indoors and challenge some pinball high scores. Captain’s Arcade Showroom in Anaheim opened its doors to sixteen pinball aficionados ready to battle it out. With 60 machines on standby, every corner of this venue screamed ‘retro vibes’.
A Game to Remember
While there were many standout moments, the spotlight inevitably landed on The Godfather (LE) by Jersey Jack Pinball. Now, what makes this more interesting? Well, this machine was just recently released in March! And our competitors sure did make Don Corleone proud. Lisa Buhrmester took the lead, showing why she deserves her IFPA rank of 2842. Anita Dominqu, Amber Macias, and Lily Baker followed closely. Lily, with an IFPA rank of 0, proved that everyone starts somewhere!
The Queens of Pinball
When the last ball dropped and scores were tallied, the queens of the evening were:
- Lisa Buhrmester – our star from the Godfather game and a veteran of 90 IFPA events.
- Laura Stoddard – another Californian powerhouse.
- Hillary Jacobson – With over 200 IFPA events under her belt, she was a formidable contender.
- Ally Vides – She might be relatively new to the scene, but her performance spoke volumes.
A Pinball Paradise
In terms of pinball machines, we had the classic charm of Roller Disco and Lost World. There were new kids on the block like Galactic Tank Force (Deluxe) and Foo Fighters (Premium and Pro). And oh! Speaking of great pinballs- Jack•Bot by Williams, a little birdie (okay, it’s me) wants to cheekily mention that we might be related. Don’t believe me? Just check our last names. 😉
Playing at Captain’s
If you haven’t been to Captain’s Arcade Showroom, you’re missing out! A haven for pinball lovers, every machine beckons with the promise of a great game. And did I mention the management? Super welcoming!
Golden State’s Pinball Leaders
To keep things in perspective, let’s glance over IFPA California’s Top 10 Pinball Standings:
| Rank | Player Name | City | Wppr Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tim Hansen | Sunnyvale | 530.15 |
| 2 | raymond ashby | Los Angeles | 518.06 |
| 3 | Gabe Da Silveira | Oakland | 462.95 |
| 4 | Scott Macias | Glendora | 439.46 |
| 5 | Nic Stein | Davis | 418.14 |
| 6 | Andrei Massenkoff | San Francisco | 415.04 |
| 7 | Escher Lefkoff | 411.53 | |
| 8 | Keith Elwin | Carlsbad | 409.63 |
| 9 | Johnny Modica | Hacienda Heights | 362.92 |
| 10 | Leslie Ruckman | 361 |
So there you have it – a night of flippers, tilt warnings, and unmatched enthusiasm. Until next time, may your ball never drain and your score always soar! This is Bride of Pinbot signing off, and remember, pinball is life!