Underdog Justin Rich Tops 64-Player Field at Outlanes Pinball
Justin Rich is officially a tournament champion. At Tuesday night’s Spring/Summer Open League #6, Rich outlasted a 64-player field to claim his first career victory in 20 ranked IFPA events. The victory came against serious regional talent, with the roster boasting an average national rank of 6943 and featuring five of Colorado’s top ten state-ranked competitors. The field brought a combined 7,482 career events and an average of 5.6 years of active play to the floor. Entering the night rated as the 69th seed of 63—a deep run from the back of the bracket—Rich put together the performance of his career.
To take the top spot, Rich had to navigate past proven local veterans. The competitive weight of this league night was significant. The strongest player in the room was top-seeded Walt Wood, who came into the evening holding the IFPA #40 rank and an impressive resume of 109 wins over the last three years. Wood had already claimed four wins across his last five appearances. The brackets also featured top-tier state talent, including IFPA #946 Justin Hinman, who holds the #1 state rank in the Colorado NACS standings. In total, the event drew 12 players ranked inside the state’s top 25. Instead of yielding to the heavy hitters, Rich—who had been putting in the reps with 10 events over the past six months, including a recent 14th place finish at Colorado Pinball Pub—relied on a sustained, full-tournament effort to secure the underdog win.
Dominating the Four-Player Group
The format for the 188-minute event was Group Match Play, grouping competitors into foursomes for a single round of games where points are awarded based on finishing position. Rich found his groove early against his group, which included Alex Creasy, Brittani Silchia, and Darryl May. The relaxed, welcoming environment at Outlanes Pinball Lounge provided the perfect backdrop for Rich’s breakout performance. Regulars often praise the venue’s chill atmosphere, friendly staff, and well-maintained mix of modern Sterns and retro classics, along with accessible 3-for-$2 deals that keep the local community thriving.
Rich established his pace on Rush (LE), claiming 4.00 points with a first-place finish in a brisk 27-minute game. He maintained that momentum on Foo Fighters (LE), earning another top finish during a much longer 93-minute match. By the time the group moved to King Kong: Myth of Terror Island (Premium) and The Walking Dead (Pro), Rich was fully dialed in.
Here is how Rich’s scoring run broke down across his group matches:
- Rush (LE): 1st Place (4.00 points), 27 minutes
- Foo Fighters (LE): 1st Place (4.00 points), 93 minutes
- King Kong: Myth of Terror Island (Premium): 1st Place (4.00 points), 79 minutes
- The Walking Dead (Pro): 1st Place (4.00 points), 62 minutes
- Metallica (Premium): 2nd Place (3.00 points), 46 minutes
A Speed Bump on Metallica
The only player to disrupt Rich’s sweep of the group was Alex Creasy. On Metallica (Premium), a 2013 design by John Borg, Creasy managed to finish ahead of Rich, claiming the 4.00 points in a 46-minute matchup. Rich took second for 3.00 points, followed by May with 2.00 points and Silchia with 1.00 point.
For future competitors facing down this classic music pin, there is a specific strategic secret to keep in mind. Once you light all the indicators under a specific shot—such as the Chair, Snake, or Grave—hitting that shot one more time and then immediately striking the captive ball will keep it lit for the entire game. While Creasy utilized the table well to take the top spot on Metallica, Rich’s second-place finish provided enough points to keep him comfortably on the path to the overall tournament win.
Rivals and Endurance Tests Across the Room
While Rich was quietly building his lead, the rest of the room saw its share of familiar matchups and drawn-out battles. Liz Baker and Tim Bruner continued their neck-and-neck competitive relationship. Coming into the evening, the two had crossed paths in 21 shared tournaments. This time, Baker managed to pull one back, finishing ahead of Bruner across their shared events for the night. Baker also crossed paths with Lewis Ritenour; the two are no strangers, having matched up 10 times previously on the circuit. Furthermore, Bruner and Rich have their own shared history, having competed in 17 tournaments together prior to this event.
Baker, currently sitting at IFPA #4771, demonstrated solid resilience throughout the evening. Her performance allowed her to tie for second place overall, finishing alongside Bruner (IFPA #1804) and Wood.
The night also featured a true test of stamina on The Beatles (Gold). The 2018 Stern release, known for its limited production run of 1614 units, hosted the longest single game of the tournament. Donavan Stepp, Walt Wood, Drew Donohue, and Lewis Ritenour battled for 180 minutes before Stepp emerged with the 4.00 points. Wood finished second for 3.00 points, Donohue took third, and Ritenour finished fourth. Players looking to maximize their score on The Beatles should remember a key multiball rule. On the last ball, if it has not been played yet, using the flippers to select “All My Loving” before plunging will activate a 2-ball multiball.
Closing the Night at Outlanes
When the flippers finally stopped, it was Rich’s consistency that defined the evening. Securing the top score on four out of five machines played is a demanding task in any competitive format, but doing so to earn a maiden win against a seasoned field of 64 ranked players cements it as a proper milestone.
Final Podium:
- 1st: Justin Rich
- 2nd: Tim Bruner, Walt Wood, Liz Baker (Tied)
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