The tension was palpable during Round 1 on the classic 1978 Gottlieb machine, Joker Poker. Pennsylvania’s top-ranked player, Matt Strzelecki, squared off against eighth-ranked Brandon Service in a grueling 24-minute battle. The drop-target heavy classic requires players to carefully complete hands to build bonus, with Queens offering a safe and lucrative strategy for those in the know. Strzelecki expertly navigated the playfield, ultimately claiming the top spot in that four-player group, adding another victory to his side of a longstanding rivalry and extending his head-to-head lead over Service to 14-7.
This early clash of titans set the tone for Week 3 of the X-Golf Summer League 2026. With a compact bracket of just 16 players, the event proved to be an absolute gauntlet, boasting 14 state-ranked competitors with an average Pennsylvania NACS rank of 111. The draw featured heavy regional hitters, including four of the state’s top 10 players, ensuring that every group draw carried serious bracket drama.
A Hidden Gem Hosting Heavyweights
The action unfolded at the Clubhouse Sports Bar in Chester Springs, a venue that regulars rave about for its heavily invested owners and multi-faceted entertainment options. Patrons frequently highlight the welcoming atmosphere, which pairs perfectly with strong drinks and massive, delicious chicken wings. Beyond the immaculate pinball lineup, the space offers gorgeous pool tables, live music, and indoor golf, creating a lively backdrop for serious competitive play.
That lively backdrop was necessary for a field stacked with national and regional talent. Matt Strzelecki entered as the strongest competitor with an IFPA national rank of #382, while Don Werth (IFPA #1474) and Brandon Service (IFPA #2037) added immense pressure to the top of the ticket. The intimacy of the 16-player field meant these regular competitors were constantly running into familiar foes, turning group play into a showcase of established rivalries. Werth, who came into the night in great form with three podium finishes in his last five events, managed to hold onto a narrow 7-6 lifetime head-to-head edge over Strzelecki through the grind.
Marathons on the Silverball
While Strzelecki and Service were grinding out classic drop targets, other groups were locked in absolute marathons. The longest match of the night took a staggering 95 minutes on Stern’s 2018 release, The Beatles (Gold). The machine demands precision, offering extra balls for those who can complete the FAB, FOUR, and 1964 drop targets on a single ball. Pam Pastorino outlasted the group to take first place in that epic test of endurance, leaving Albert Zuba, Kevin Lindsay, and Brendan Amicone trailing in her wake.
Elsewhere on the floor, Zac Martin proved his quiet upward mobility in the rankings by dominating a 22-minute four-player group on Guardians of the Galaxy. Martin, who has been quietly leveling up over the past year to IFPA #2,529, defeated Kevin Bull, Keith Saroka, and Guy Merrill. The game heavily rewards bringing modes into multiballs, and Martin clearly found the right combinations to leave his opponents behind. Saroka still had a respectable showing, entering the event on a hot streak of his own with three podium finishes in his last five outings. Meanwhile, Rodney Comegys, who has been steadily climbing the ranks this season to IFPA #570, fought through tough draws to finish 15th overall.
Amicone’s Cinderella Surge from the Shadows
The beauty of a dense, highly competitive field is that it always leaves room for a stunning upset. Entering the tournament with a staggering bottom-barrel seed Brendan Amicone arrived as the ultimate underdog in a room full of ranked sharks. Despite his completely unranked status, Amicone methodically picked his way through the bracket to tie for third place overall.
Amicone’s deep run from the absolute back of the pack proved that seeding numbers can quickly become irrelevant when the flippers start flipping. He shared the third-place podium step with seasoned veteran Brandon Service, whose own impressive career spans a decade and nearly 300 tournaments. Service also had personal milestones to celebrate, breaking a dead heat with Guy Merrill to take a 2-1 lead in their shared competitive history.
Strzelecki’s Sweeps and Bull’s Bullish Run
Matt Strzelecki’s path to the podium was defined by sheer dominance across multiple eras of machines. He posted the top score on three of his five played machines, putting together an arena sweep that seemed destined for an outright victory. He even managed to further assert his dominance over Zac Martin, notching another win to push their head-to-head record to 8-6 in his favor.
However, Kevin Bull had other plans, riding a massive wave of momentum to force a deadlock at the top of the standings. Bull entered the night on an incredible four-event podium streak, having secured two wins across his last five events. Currently trending up at IFPA #4,839, Bull’s recent form proved to be no fluke. He matched Strzelecki point for point in the final tally, resulting in a rare tied victory.
The shared crown between a surging, upward-trending talent and the state’s top-ranked juggernaut perfectly encapsulated the evening’s intense competitive context. In a 16-player bracket where almost every competitor held a formidable state rank, Week 3 of the X-Golf Summer League proved that Pennsylvania’s pinball scene is as deep, dangerous, and dramatic as ever.
No comment yet, add your voice below!