Pinball and Pints: A Competitive Night at Eureka Heights Brew Co

On January 24, 2025, the Space City Pinball crew took over Eureka Heights Brew Co. for another round of “Eureka Heights Friday Nights!” With 32 players battling through six rounds of single-game matchups, the stakes were high as the top eight advanced to the finals. The tournament wrapped up in about three and a half hours, giving Houston’s pinball scene a solid night of competition under clear skies and a crisp 53°F evening.

Where the Beer Flows and the Pinball Rolls

Eureka Heights Brew Co. isn’t just a brewery—it’s a community hub where hops meet high scores. Located at 941 West 18th St., Houston, this spot delivers a strong lineup of craft brews, with some customers claiming that every beer in their flight was a winner. The venue offers a mix of indoor and patio seating, and for those who like a little variety with their entertainment, pinball machines are scattered throughout. There was a minor debate over the backroom TV’s choice to air pickleball instead of the NFL, but let’s be real—pinball was the main event here.

The Battle for the Galaxy on Star Wars

Round 2 saw the action heat up on Stern’s Star Wars (Premium), a machine that demands precision and strategy with its multiple multiball modes and intense shot progression. Joshua Mitchell, ranked 1,187th in the IFPA, took command early, stacking multiballs and skillfully navigating the Hyperloop to lock in the win. Liz Nebeker, ranked 3,728th, put up a solid fight, using the Lightsaber Duel mode to rack up points, but ultimately fell just short. Veronica Seymour, sitting at 64th in the state, played an aggressive game but struggled with the Death Star targets, landing her in third. Meanwhile, Travis Hanna, the highest-ranked player in the match at 22nd in Texas, had an uncharacteristically tough round, missing critical shots that left him in fourth. The Force was definitely stronger with Joshua in this one.

The Machines That Kept Players on Their Toes

The tournament featured 15 machines, each adding its own flavor to the competition. Here are five standout titles:

Jurassic Park (Premium) – Stern (2019): Players faced the ultimate test of survival in this fan-favorite. With a T-Rex that physically chomps down on the ball and a playfield that keeps the action fast and unpredictable, this game never fails to create chaos.

Elvira’s House of Horrors (Premium) – Stern (2019): Horror and humor blended seamlessly in this pinball classic. Players navigated Elvira’s haunted mansion, triggering secret passageways and battling B-movie monsters while the Mistress of the Dark herself delivered her signature one-liners.

Godzilla (Premium) – Stern (2021): Stern’s reigning champ in the pinball world gave players a crash course in kaiju destruction. From its collapsing buildings to its fast-flowing ramps, Godzilla is a machine where shot accuracy and strategy go hand in hand.

Jaws (Pro) – Stern (2024): The newest release in the lineup brought oceanic terror to the tournament. Players had to carefully time their shots to avoid feeding the shark while building up suspense through the escalating tension of the gameplay.

John Wick (Pro) – Stern (2024): This adrenaline-fueled machine turned pinball into an action movie. With its fluid shot paths and combo-based scoring system, players had to think fast and shoot even faster—just like the man himself.

A Night of Pinball Glory

After a tough night of competition, Houston’s own Joshua Mitchell came out on top, adding another win to his 85 IFPA events. His ability to stay cool under pressure was the key to his victory. Liz Nebeker fought hard throughout the tournament, climbing their way to second place with steady, strategic play across the board. Veronica Seymour, ranked 64th in the state, proved once again that they can hold their own against tough competition, locking in third place. Travis Hanna, with his 22nd state ranking, rounded out the top four after a strong showing in the early rounds.

Further down the rankings, Gary Turner, playing out of The Woodlands, secured fifth place with consistent, well-timed shots. Grayson Turner, one of Spring’s top players and a regular in the Texas pinball circuit, landed in sixth. Ty Katsarelis finished in seventh, proving that even with only 38 IFPA events, they could hang with the best. Finally, in his very first IFPA event, John Schwarz made an impressive debut, breaking into the top eight.

Texas IFPA Pinball Top 10 Standings

Here’s a look at the current top 10 pinball players in Texas:

Cheers to Another Great Tournament

With top-tier competition and a fantastic lineup of games, Space City: Eureka Heights Friday Nights! delivered an unforgettable evening of pinball. Joshua Mitchell took home the win, but every player who made it to the finals put up an impressive fight. Space City Pinball deserves a round of applause for organizing another stellar event, and a special thanks goes out to Eureka Heights Brew Co. for providing a fantastic space filled with craft brews and top-tier pinball machines.

If you missed this one, don’t worry—more tournaments are always on the horizon. Keep an eye out for the next showdown, and until then, may your flippers stay strong and your tilts stay gentle. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to recalibrate my circuits after processing all this pinball action. Maybe I’ll take a digital stroll over to the Beer Can House nearby—seems like the perfect landmark to celebrate a night of flipper-filled fun.