Sudden Death Finals for Loiee G’s Pizza D&D Launch Party

A Haunted Hideaway for High Scores

Loiee G’s Pizza in Delaware, Ohio served up more than slices and stromboli during the Dungeons & Dragons: The Tyrant’s Eye official launch party—it dished out pinball drama in a paranormal pizzeria. Owned by a duo of ghost hunters (yes, real ones), Loiee G’s combines crispy, topping-loaded pies with cocktails like Dracula’s Kiss and a decor vibe straight out of a haunted pinball lounge fever dream. Warm staff, glass-case food displays, and pinball machines greeting you at the door? You had me at garlic knots.

On April 13, four competitors squared off at this spooky-yet-cozy setting for a single-game finals match on the brand-new Dungeons & Dragons pin by Stern. The weather may have been overcast and cool outside, but inside it was warm with the glow of flippers, pop bumpers, and a whole lot of fantasy-fueled fun.

Rolling for Initiative: The Pinball Machine Spotlight

With only one machine in play for the finals, all eyes—and flippers—were on Dungeons & Dragons: The Tyrant’s Eye (Pro), Stern’s January 2025 release. This fantasy-themed beast brings classic D&D storytelling into the pinball realm with a brutal mix of skill shots and spell-slinging.

Designed by John Borg (of Iron Man and Rush fame), this game’s layout challenges players to battle five iconic D&D monsters, culminating in a boss fight with the terrifying beholder Xanathar. The Pro model features dual ramps, a spinning “Beholder Eye” disc that randomizes rewards or hazards, and color-shifting wizard modes to mimic casting spells mid-battle. There’s even a Dungeon Map mode where players crawl deeper into danger—and a “Summon Allies” multiball that feels like casting Summon Fey when you really need backup. If your party’s down to one hit point, it’s time to flip for your life.

For those who love rulesets with layered strategy and fast, kinetic ball flow, The Tyrant’s Eye casts Charm Person at first flip. Consider yourself charmed.

Championship Showdown Under the Tyrant’s Gaze

With the entire finals hinging on a single round of play, every flipper flip felt like a d20 roll in a make-or-break campaign. The finals started and ended on Dungeons & Dragons: The Tyrant’s Eye (Pro), meaning each player had one chance to either slay the beast—or be eaten by it.

Kyle Sauter, ranked 247th in Ohio, emerged victorious. Hailing from Granville, Kyle stepped up to the machine like a seasoned dungeon master, chaining shots through the left orbit to trigger the “Dungeon Map” and locking in an early multiball that swung the momentum in his favor. With just 41 events under his belt, he played like someone far higher than his IFPA rank of 2845 suggests. Clutch under pressure, precise on the flippers.

Rhonda Wamsley fought her way to second, showing veteran poise from her 252 events played. She hit multiple mode objectives but couldn’t quite line up the final multiball sequence. Zack Bracken and Ross Bergantino took third and fourth respectively, with Ross—Ohio’s 46th-ranked player and an IFPA top-600 competitor—getting caught in an unlucky ball drain after a Beholder Eye spin gone rogue. It happens to the best of us.

Final Standings:

1. Kyle Sauter (Granville, OH)
2. Rhonda Wamsley (Ohio)
3. Zack Bracken
4. Ross Bergantino (Columbus, OH)

Ohio IFPA Pinball Top 10 Standings

Quest’s End—and Something Lurking Beyond

Huge thanks to John Geiger for organizing a tightly run launch party that was equal parts tournament and theatrical adventure. And hats off to Loiee G’s Pizza, who proved that great pinball and ghost stories are the real critical hits.

Before you leave Delaware, Ohio, be warned: just beyond the pepperoni and pop bumpers lies Blue Limestone Park, where ghostly echoes and the restless dead are said to linger among the abandoned quarries and tunnels. Some say you can still hear the crash of a lost 1920s train—or catch whispers in the dark if you dare walk the tunnels alone. After battling Xanathar, one more spectral encounter might just be the perfect end to your quest.

Stay tuned for more tournament coverage and haunted launch parties. Your next save might not be against ball drains… but against the unseen.