Mesa’s Multiball Madness at Belles & Chimes Phoenix

While much of the country was still defrosting from winter, Mesa, Arizona welcomed 35 competitors to Atomic Age Modern under a perfect blue sky and a comfortable 63°F. The scene was set for the March edition of Belles & Chimes Phoenix—six intense rounds of single-game matchups, all wrapped up in just under three hours. The event, organized by Tracy Lindbergh, brought together players from across the state for a fast-paced Saturday afternoon shootout.

A Retro-Futuristic Playground: Atomic Age Modern

Atomic Age Modern isn’t your average tournament venue—it’s like stepping into a vintage time capsule where space-age dreams meet the flashing lights of perfectly maintained pinball tables. Located on Main Street in downtown Mesa, this spot is a hybrid pinball lounge and mid-century modern shop with a real community vibe. Whether you’re coming to flip, browse vintage curios, or just pop in for a relaxed game after work, the shop delivers on charm and quality.

Their collection isn’t just fluff, either—these machines are dialed-in and mean business. With titles spanning five decades of design evolution, Atomic Age gives players a rare chance to test their reflexes on early solid-states like Stars and Strikes and Spares, right alongside cutting-edge Sterns like John Wick and JAWS. Throw in a change machine that’s always stocked and a Venezuelan joint next door, and you’ve got the ideal tournament hangout.

Ride the Lightning: Metallica’s Last-Round Meltdown

Round 6 delivered a metal-fueled masterpiece on Metallica (Remastered Premium), Stern’s 2024 revisit of their 2013 hard rock classic. If the original game was a headbanger’s dream, the remaster is a full-blown encore tour with all-new code refinements and light show enhancements. It still features the legendary Sparky bash toy—who gets electrocuted for your entertainment—and a fan layout that rewards risk-takers with enormous jackpots.

Tracy Lindbergh knew exactly how to rock this beast. She charged into “For Whom the Bell Tolls” mode and expertly built her Grave Marker Multiball, cashing in jackpots while her opponents were still trying to light them. Krisha Shufran made a valiant push with Snake multiball but missed a key shot that would’ve brought her into the lead. Stephanie Turner leaned into controlled flipper passes but couldn’t quite get momentum. Bella Lloyd brought solid energy, but Metallica’s brutal outlanes took no prisoners.

This match felt less like a final round and more like a stadium tour stop—with lightning-fast shots and a thundering soundtrack, it was one for the highlight reels.

The Classics, The Killers, and The Collectibles

Dolly Parton (Bally, 1978)
This machine marked Dolly’s actual pinball debut—yep, the Queen of Country herself was among the first celebrities to get a licensed machine. Designed by Claude Fernandez, it features cheerful artwork, a wide-open playfield, and that classic Bally chime that practically yells “1970s!” in falsetto. Beneath the glitz, it’s deceptively tricky—perfect spinner shots and a greedy right outlane make or break your bonus strategy.

Firepower (Williams, 1980)
Designed by Steve Ritchie (aka “The King of Flow”), Firepower was the first solid-state game to feature multiball and lane-change. It laid the groundwork for pretty much every modern game that followed. Players this weekend had to juggle speed with survival—those in-line drops can be feast or famine, and the speech callouts still carry a menacing robotic authority that puts you on edge.

John Wick (Pro) (Stern, 2024)
One of Stern’s most recent releases, this table wastes no time getting into the action. It’s all about stackable assassin contracts, neon-lit battle sequences, and rapid flow. The Pro model features slick upper playfield combos and that instantly-iconic Continental Hotel entrance ramp. While still fresh on the scene, it’s already being praised for its balance of deep code and shooter’s rhythm—a very modern Stern with the bite of a classic.

JAWS (Pro) (Stern, 2024)
This was Stern’s first major release of 2024 and immediately made waves (yes, pun intended). Designed by Keith Elwin, it offers a mix of thrilling shot geometry and subtle nods to the original Spielberg film. The Shark Cage magnet feature is more than just a toy—it’s a gameplay pivot point. Lock a ball in there while trying to manage multiball chaos, and your pulse will spike. It’s cinematic, it’s stressful, and it was the stage for this tournament’s final showdown.

Cactus Canyon (Remake Special) (Chicago Gaming, 2021)
Originally released in 1998 and famously rushed into production, Cactus Canyon never got its full rule set until Chicago Gaming brought it back in this fully upgraded remake. This version includes the completed code, full RGB lighting, and modern audio enhancements. It’s still got the saloon doors, gunfights, and that delightful western charm—but now it plays like it always should have. For tournament players, the balanced rules and reliable layout make it a breath of fresh air.

Bonus fact: Cactus Canyon was the last WPC machine before Williams pulled the plug on pinball entirely in ’99. So yeah, kind of a big deal.

Beneath the Shark Cage: Four Finalists, One Champion

The final game of the tournament took place on JAWS (Pro), and if you’ve played it, you already know—this machine doesn’t hand out wins. With its pulse-racing “Rescue Multiball” and the magnetized chaos of the Shark Cage, it’s less of a pinball machine and more of a survival simulator. And as the last game of the event, it was the perfect pressure cooker to separate the top contenders from the chum.

Mollie Stoltenberg kept her cool like a seasoned shark hunter. She navigated early mode progression with surgical precision, using the Harbor and Boat ramps to line up a blistering multiball. When the Shark Cage kicked in, she nailed the critical shots—timing the magnet grab and nailing the fin shot to cash in just enough points to take the lead. She didn’t just win; she closed the beach.

Shaniya Lee, playing in only her 23rd IFPA event, looked anything but inexperienced. She staged a late comeback with back-to-back hits on the Orca Ramp, nearly locking in her final ball for a high-value spinner combo. If the game had gone on for just 30 more seconds, she might’ve rewritten the leaderboard.

Amanda Kennedy leaned into a control-heavy style, letting dead flips and post passes do the work. She was efficient and methodical—but in a game like JAWS, sometimes you need chaos to score big, and the points just didn’t come in time.

Meghan Bougher brought flair and energy to the final four, opening with a slick two-ball multiball and making a gutsy play for the Bonus X target. It didn’t quite pan out, but her aggressive style made the last game one of the day’s most entertaining to watch.

Arizona IFPA Pinball Top 10 Standings:

Wrapping It Up with Style and Sparky

Another Belles & Chimes Phoenix tournament is in the books—and what a ride it was. Huge thanks to Tracy Lindbergh for keeping the action rolling and to Atomic Age Modern for the killer venue and hospitality. The Metallica spotlight match will definitely be one to remember, especially for those who like their pinball loud, fast, and lit in red LEDs.

We saw rock legends, rogue assassins, hungry sharks, and a gun-totin’ cowboy ghost town—all in one afternoon. Stay connected for more pinball excitement and tournament coverage, and we’ll see you on the flippers next time!