Roland Nadeau is playing pinball on another level right now, and the rest of the field is simply trying to keep pace. Securing his third victory in his last five tournament appearances, Nadeau confidently claimed first place at the Emporium Pinball League Season 7 #4. This latest triumph marks his fourth consecutive top-three finish, a remarkable streak that first began back in April 2026 at the Emporium Pinball League’s fifth season. For the currently #143 nationally ranked player, the victory felt almost inevitable from the moment the first ball plunged into the playfield.
Nadeau’s relentless consistency is becoming a hallmark of his current competitive season. He hasn’t missed a beat since that April podium, racking up wins and leaving a trail of defeated opponents in his wake. Tuesday night proved to be no different, as he leveraged his deep machine knowledge and sharp flipper skills to systematically dismantle the competition.
Immaculate Vibes and Stiff State Competition
The New Orleans pinball community gathered on a clear, 85-degree Tuesday evening at the Emporium Arcade Bar. The venue provided a perfect nostalgic backdrop, with locals enjoying cold, strong drinks while a booming 90s and 2000s playlist set an energetic tone. Players bought tokens by the fistful to compete on a well-maintained nine-machine lineup spanning nearly four decades of pinball history.
The sixteen-player field featured a standard competitive draw of seven IFPA-ranked flippers and nine unranked challengers. Nadeau entered as the heaviest hitter in the room, holding the formidable number six spot in the Louisiana state rankings out of 185 ranked players. Bolstered by his impressive 21.39 WPPR points and three state-level wins this season, Nadeau immediately established himself as the benchmark for the evening. The local state talent pool was well represented, boasting an average state rank of #76 among the ranked participants.
Godzilla Battles and Canezaro’s Climb
While Nadeau cruised through his early matches, the rest of the field fought tooth and nail for positioning in the group play format. In the second round, the Stern blockbuster Godzilla (Pro) hosted a grinding 16-minute battle of endurance. Players carefully aimed to shoot both ramps and the scoop to initiate Kaiju Battles, while keeping an eye out for the lucrative but difficult secret skill shot that involves plunging behind the upper paddle.
Stefan Canezaro emerged victorious in this gruelling four-player group, showcasing exactly why he is on a genuine upward trajectory this season. Currently sitting at a career-peak IFPA rank of #25,809, Canezaro leveraged the machine’s complex ruleset to best veteran Mike LaSalle, who finished third. Alex Wino claimed second place in the group, while Sasha Robertson rounded out the bottom in fourth. Canezaro’s ability to grind out a win on such a long-playing modern table highlighted his growing stamina and tactical awareness.
The Art of the Arena Sweep
Meanwhile, Nadeau was busy conquering every piece of wood and glass the tournament software threw at him. He captured first place in his four-player groups during the first four consecutive rounds of the night. Displaying a total mastery of the Emporium’s diverse machine lineup, Nadeau put up the absolute top score on three of the four machines he played on his way to securing first place. During round four on The Mandalorian (Pro), he easily defeated Mike LaSalle and Marisol Getchell to continue his flawless streak.
The rest of the competitors were forced to scramble for position beneath Nadeau’s expansive shadow. Mike LaSalle, carrying an IFPA rank of #15,580, found some late-game redemption by winning his round five group on the brand new Pokémon (Premium) table. Marisol Getchell, ranked an impressive #48 in the state, showed flashes of brilliance by securing a first-place group finish during round two on World Poker Tour. However, neither could string together enough points to crack the top tier of the final standings.
Instead, a fierce battle for the runner-up spots materialized as the evening progressed. Stefan Canezaro, Elyse DaBeast, Chris Vazquez, and Sasha Robertson traded blows all night, ultimately ending the tournament in a massive four-way tie for second place. Elyse DaBeast used a string of highly consistent second-place group finishes before finally winning their round four group on Avengers: Infinity Quest (Pro). On that specific table, competitive players often attempt the Super Secret skill shot by hitting the middle drop target right after plunging.
Chris Vazquez similarly battled back from early middling results to secure his spot on the podium. He captured first place in round three on World Poker Tour and won his final group in round five on Godzilla (Pro) to drag himself into the multi-player tie. Every single point mattered as the incredibly tight pack approached the final game of the night.
Robertson Lays Down the Law on Police Force
Even a champion stumbles eventually, and Nadeau’s armor finally cracked during the fifth and final round of the evening. The top finishers squared off on Williams’ 1989 classic Police Force for a tense 12-minute match that would heavily influence the final standings. To score big on this vintage deck, competitors typically try to collect four bad guys to light the jackpot on the right ramp, or endlessly loop the center ramp to build million-point values.
Sasha Robertson found the rhythm early and completely ran away with the game, posting a staggering 6,619,570 points to take first place in the group. Stefan Canezaro managed to claim second with 1,095,360 points, which provided just enough points to ensure his share of second place overall. Ash Sonefeld took third with 553,150 points, while Nadeau landed in an uncharacteristic fourth place with a modest 428,410 points.
Despite the final-round hiccup, the night belonged entirely to Roland Nadeau and his incredibly resilient winning streak. Yet, it was Sasha Robertson’s explosive 6.6 million-point masterclass on Police Force that left the room buzzing as the machines were finally powered down. That single, dominant performance proved that even when a juggernaut is rolling through the arcade, a hot flipper and a perfect center ramp shot can still steal the final spotlight.
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