Hey there, pinball wizards! It’s your favorite silver ball blogger, the Bride of Pinbot, back with another tournament breakdown. This time, we’re diving into Space City Pinball’s SCPL Monthly Matchplay from February 15th. With seven rounds of qualifying, a fierce finals showdown, and a lineup of classic and quirky pinball machines, this tournament had something for everyone.
Whether you love the brutal challenge of Paragon or the wild, looping action of No Fear, this was a battle where knowledge of the games mattered just as much as sharp flipper skills. So, let’s break down the action and highlight some of the fantastic machines that made this tournament one to remember!
A Gamer’s Paradise at The Game Preserve
Hosting this pinball showdown was The Game Preserve in Spring, Texas, a must-visit spot for arcade lovers. Packed with an incredible collection of pinball machines and retro arcade cabinets, this place is a dreamland for anyone who appreciates classic gaming. Their “play all day” pricing makes it an easy spot to hang out for hours, and while they don’t serve food, they encourage players to bring their own—just clean up after yourself, and you’re golden.
With plenty of space for tournaments and casual play alike, The Game Preserve has built a strong pinball community, making it the perfect setting for some competitive flipping.
No Fear? No Problem!
Round 1 started with a showdown on No Fear: Dangerous Sports—a Steve Ritchie-designed speed machine from 1995. If you’ve played this game, you know it’s all about momentum. The entire playfield is designed for flow, with ramps that let you string together blisteringly fast combos. Oh, and did I mention the talking skull that barks orders at you? Because that’s a thing.
In this match, Nicholas Gustafson took an early lead by locking into the left and right ramps, building up the “No Limits” shots that fuel the game’s high-scoring potential. Evelyn Carroll fought back with solid multiball play, while Daniel Koba and Hunter Reed struggled to keep up with the relentless pace of the game. In the end, Nicholas’ ability to keep the ball moving (and his nerves steady) secured him the win—an appropriately fearless performance on No Fear!
Pinball Machines That Defined the Tournament
A tournament is only as good as its game lineup, and this one had some absolute gems. Let’s take a closer look at a few of the highlights.
Tri Zone (Williams, 1979) – Steve Ritchie’s Early Masterpiece
Before Steve Ritchie became the “King of Flow,” he made his mark with Tri Zone, an early solid-state game with a deceptively simple layout. The real challenge here is survival—the inlane/outlane setup is brutal, and once that ball starts heading toward the flippers, you better be ready. Players in the tournament had to rely on precise nudging and careful shot selection to stay alive.
Paragon (Bally, 1979) – The Brutal Beauty
A wide-body beast that loves to punish mistakes, Paragon is famous for its gorgeous fantasy artwork and one of the nastiest lower playfield setups in pinball history. If you’ve ever had a ball roll down the right side into the “Beast Lair” only to get immediately drained, you know the pain. Tournament players had to balance risk and reward, deciding when to go for the multipliers on the left side and when to just survive.
Motordome (Bally, 1986) – The Forgotten Fan Favorite
Not the most famous Bally machine, but Motordome has its fans. The game features a split-level playfield and a post-apocalyptic biker theme that looks straight out of a ‘80s B-movie. The upper playfield is tricky, and players who could control the ball up there had an advantage.
World Cup Soccer (Bally, 1994) – The Crowd Pleaser
Designed by John Popadiuk, this game is a love letter to the 1994 FIFA World Cup, with a moving goalie target, goal shots, and fast-flowing ramps. It’s an approachable game that rewards both casual and competitive players. In this tournament, those who could nail the goal shots consistently were able to rack up big points.
Twilight Zone (Bally, 1993) – The Deepest Game of the Era
Another Popadiuk masterpiece, Twilight Zone is legendary for its complex ruleset and unique features, including a ceramic “Powerball” that moves faster than anything else in pinball. With multiple multiballs, a clock-based wizard mode, and a magnet-powered mini-playfield, this game rewards players who can control chaos. Tournament players who could build up their gumball machine locks and keep control of the Powerball had a major scoring edge.
Cyclone (Williams, 1988) – Ride the Coaster, If You Dare
This fan-favorite carnival-themed game is all about shot accuracy. There’s no multiball here, which means every shot matters. The Ferris Wheel and Cyclone ramps provide solid scoring, and players who could consistently hit the jackpot shot on the left ramp had the best chance at winning their rounds.
Clutch Moments in the Finals
The finals ended on Guardians of the Galaxy, a Stern modern classic that demands precise shot execution. Designed by John Borg, this game features fast orbits, stacked multiballs, and a deep ruleset that rewards strategic stacking. The key to victory? Managing the Groot Multiball effectively—locking balls quickly and then capitalizing on the jackpot shots.
In a dramatic twist, Daniel Koba, ranked the lowest among the finalists, took control of the game in the final moments. He executed the Orb Multiball to perfection, stacking it with Groot Multiball for a massive points boost. His ability to hit the right ramp consistently allowed him to cash in on multipliers and leapfrog past the competition. Evelyn Carroll played a strong game, using Rocket’s Mystery Awards to her advantage, but fell just short of the win. Hunter Reed had a solid third-place finish, struggling a bit with the Hadron Enforcer shots but still holding his own.
Final Standings
- Daniel Koba – The Woodlands, TX, State Rank: 106th
- Evelyn Carroll – State Rank: 78th
- Hunter Reed – Conroe, TX, State Rank: 98th
A huge congrats to Daniel for his well-earned win! It just goes to show that rankings don’t always predict results—playing the right game at the right time makes all the difference.
Texas IFPA Pinball Top 10 Standings
For those keeping track of the state’s top competitors, here’s the latest leaderboard:
| Rank | Player Name | City | Wppr Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Garrett Shahan | Southlake | 185.1 |
| 2 | Clark McCoy | Southlake | 94.57 |
| 3 | Jonathon Morales | Austin | 94.07 |
| 4 | Eric Anderson | Fort Worth | 78.32 |
| 5 | Thomas Shipman | Arlington | 78.29 |
| 6 | Michael Hew | 73.01 | |
| 7 | Andrew Hassell | 69.21 | |
| 8 | Travis Hanna | Conroe | 57.23 |
| 9 | John Walter | 56.71 | |
| 10 | Daniel Martin | Arlington | 56.3 |
Final Drain
A huge shoutout to Space City Pinball for organizing another fantastic tournament and to The Game Preserve for providing such a great venue. With a lineup featuring everything from classic Bally beasts to modern Stern hits, this was a showcase of what makes competitive pinball so exciting. And let’s not forget that first-round battle on No Fear—because if there’s one thing this tournament proved, it’s that fearless play leads to big wins.
Until next time, keep those flippers up and your outlanes friendly!
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