The Flawless Run at Brewskis Summer #4

San Diego Pinball League – Brewskis Summer 2026 #4 ended exactly how the ratings suggested it might, with Derek Price putting on a flawless display to take first place. Securing top honors across all five of his group matches, the veteran competitor left no room for doubt on Tuesday night. Behind him, Mike Welsh and Jeffrey Wright battled to a dead heat, sharing second place on the final podium. The evening unfolded at Brewski’s Bar & Arcade on Miramar Road, a straightforward dive known for its free pool, standard pub fare, and an atmosphere that patrons consistently praise for its lively, event-heavy energy and loud music.

Under scattered clouds and a mild 74-degree sky, a robust field of 32 players gathered for the group match play format. The bracket featured 30 IFPA-ranked competitors, boasting a strong California NACS presence with an average state rank of 500. It was deep enough to produce real drama among familiar opponents, but small enough that the regulars knew exactly who they were up against. At the top of that list was Price, holding the number 58 spot nationally, returning to a venue where he captured a launch party win earlier in the spring.

Setting the Pace on Pokémon

Price’s path to the top began in Round 1 on Stern’s recent Pokémon (Pro) release. Stepping up to the 2026 machine, the San Diego local secured 7 points against a group that included Tom Isaak, Kenny Talcove, and Will Armour. The 30-minute opening match set a tone for the night, with Isaak collecting 5 points to finish second in the four-player arrangement.

Price and Isaak are incredibly familiar with each other’s playstyles, having crossed paths 14 times on the tournament circuit over the years. Isaak, currently sitting at IFPA 132 and carrying an impressive 63 top-three finishes over the last three years, is a formidable draw in any early round. Yet Price navigated the layout seamlessly to claim the early advantage.

Holding Ground on Transformers

Moving into the second round, the tournament favorite found himself assigned to Transformers. The 2011 Stern release proved to be one of Price’s longer tests of the early evening, demanding 31 minutes to resolve. He once again secured the top spot in his group, finishing ahead of Clemet Campa, Michael Kostolnik, and Gary L Brown.

Kostolnik, holding the CA NACS 188 ranking, settled for 3 points in this round but would bounce back to have a strong overall tournament, ultimately finishing fourth overall. For Price, the victory marked his second consecutive top-of-group finish, keeping him perfectly on pace as the 199-minute event reached its midpoint.

Endurance Tests and Unlikely Upsets

Round 3 brought the field’s top seed to Dungeons & Dragons: The Tyrant’s Eye (Pro). Designed by Brian Eddy with art by Vincent Proce, this 2025 Stern release demands careful resource management. During Dragon Multiball, jackpot values decrease for every ball that drains. Competitors looking to maximize their score should consider using a Shield pre-emptively to keep balls in-play. Price managed the table’s geometry over a 36-minute session, securing another 7 points by outlasting Dean StAntoine, Amber Niess, and Mark Bandong.

While Price was maintaining his perfect streak, the third round also delivered the biggest surprise of the bracket on King Kong: Myth of Terror Island (Pro). The 2025 Keith Elwin design features a distinct early scoring tactic: an anti-skillshot where players can plunge directly to the left outlane to collect 750,000 points and 5 seconds of ball save. In a 27-minute match, Philip Tabares—entering the night ranked 49,499th nationally—navigated the jungle theme to secure a first-place group finish. He managed to finish ahead of Jim Fitzgerald, Danny Rust, and Tom Isaak.

The Battle for Second Place Takes Shape

As Price breezed through Round 4 with a win on Star Wars: Fall of the Empire (Pro) against Nathan Erickson, Gaizah Wagschal, and Tabares, the rest of the field was locked in a bitter fight for the remaining podium spots. That tension peaked in a 33-minute faceoff between Jeffrey Wright and Mike Welsh on Dungeons & Dragons: The Tyrant’s Eye (Pro).

Wright secured the top position in the group, with Welsh finishing behind him for 5 points. This single result had massive implications for their ongoing competitive history. Wright managed to finish ahead tonight, narrowing a 10-tournament rivalry that Welsh still slightly leads. Wright’s performance also tightened an already-close, 22-event rivalry with Jim Fitzgerald.

Welsh, however, did not walk away empty-handed in the rivalry department. By securing enough points to tie Wright for second overall by the end of the night, Welsh edged Fitzgerald in the final standings. This outcome broke a dead-even tie in a rivalry spanning 11 shared tournaments.

Sealing the Sweep

The final round saw Price matched up on Jersey Jack Pinball’s Sonic the Hedgehog (CE). A 34-minute battle against Lucas Perez, David Dau, and Danny Rust stood between the frontrunner and a flawless scorecard. Price delivered once again, taking 7 points to complete his run. He claimed the top score on all five machines he played across the five rounds, an undeniable display of consistency from a player who peaked at IFPA 13 globally just four years ago.

Looking Ahead for the Champion

This dominant performance adds serious weight to Price’s California NACS campaign. With 3 wins across just 6 events this season and 192 state points to his name, he is clearly dialed in as the competitive year pushes forward. Maintaining this level of execution will make him a tough out in any upcoming regional brackets. Meanwhile, Wright continues to prove he is a rising threat, securing a runner-up spot while actively improving his rating in his first year of organized play.

• 1st: Derek Price
• 2nd: Mike Welsh
• 2nd: Jeffrey Wright