Flawless Victory: Ethan Smilg Wins Wednesday Wizard Pinball Tournament
Ethan Smilg walked out of Superelectric Pinball Parlor on Wednesday night with a flawless scorecard, capturing first place at the Wednesday Wizard 2X Series #6. The Ohio NACS #10 player secured the top finishing position in all five of his group games, completing a rare sweep across a competitive draw. He put up the top score on every machine he played, fending off a tough local crowd under broken clouds and 83°F summer heat in Cleveland.
It takes consistency to run a perfect card through 5 rounds of group match play, where points are awarded strictly by finishing position within each four-player group. Smilg delivered from start to finish. The tournament drew 40 participants, 39 of them holding IFPA rankings, including two in the national top 100 and eight in the top 500. The field boasted an average national rank of 5417, with competitors combining for 5231 career events. Smilg, whose rating has been steadily rising to IFPA #320, dismantled this experienced field with quiet efficiency over the 170-minute event.
A Statement on The Addams Family
Smilg’s path to victory started with a heavy matchup right out of the gate. In Round 1, he stepped up to Bally’s 1992 classic The Addams Family alongside Galvin Morgan, the highest-rated player in the room at IFPA #24. Morgan is a fierce competitor who came into the night as the strongest national threat and holds 242 state points this season. When approaching Pat Lawlor’s 1992 design, which saw a massive production run of 20,270 units, competitors know the side red ramp requires a late hit on the upper flipper, as flipping early sends the ball into the dangerous train shot. Smilg navigated the 13-minute game to earn the maximum 5.00 points, leaving Morgan to collect 3.00 for second place. Mark Brown and Don Robinson rounded out the group in third and fourth, respectively.
Navigating a Deep Bracket on Future Spa and Paragon
The Superelectric Pinball Parlor provides a great atmosphere for a midweek clash on Detroit Avenue. Patrons consistently praise the venue as a welcoming spot to escape the weather, offering a flat admission fee for unlimited play, a solid variety of arcade cabinets, and drinks at the bar. Smilg kept his momentum rolling through this environment in Round 2 on the 1979 Bally widebody Future Spa, taking another 5.00-point finish over Hayley Hartman, David Greene, and Corey Jackson in 14 minutes.
By Round 3, he maintained his grip on the bracket with a win on Stern’s 2018 Iron Maiden: Legacy of the Beast, besting George Grivas, Josh Biszantz, and Corbin Rispoli. The pressure of maintaining a perfect streak can rattle players in the late rounds, but Smilg pushed through Round 4 on Paragon. He found exactly what he needed to top Linnea Gunvalsen, Brent Reed, and Chuck Amicone, advancing to 4-for-4.
Movement in the Standings
While Smilg secured his position at the top, the rest of the pack battled for the remaining podium spots and regional pride. John Delzoppo, currently sitting at IFPA #50, finished tied for second overall with Morgan. That result drew them level across their seven shared tournaments, squaring up a rivalry that always runs close. Andrew Lee, holding IFPA #128, quietly compiled a strong night of his own, winning four of his five rounds to claim fourth place overall. Alex Clark also had a productive night, finishing fifth overall and clawing back ground to tighten an already-close 14-tournament history with Mark Brown.
Further down the standings, Tim Breidenstein broke a 25-tournament deadlock with Brown, stepping in front in their shared history. Breidenstein, however, met resistance in Round 5 on Cheetah. Don Robinson put up the top score in that 16-minute group, forcing Breidenstein into fourth behind Josh Biszantz and Alex Clark. Competitors on the 1980 Harry Williams widebody design often rely on holding the left upper flipper up to repeatedly shoot the lane behind it, a strategy that rewards precise repetition.
Closing Out on King Kong
Smilg needed one final win in Round 5 to complete his perfect run. His group was assigned to Stern’s 2025 release, King Kong: Myth of Terror Island (Pro). In a quick 15-minute match, Smilg outpaced JD Chips, Nolan Liem, and Norbert Heuber to secure his fifth consecutive group victory of the night. Across five distinct machines, from late-70s widebodies to modern Stern Pros, his execution never varied.
Smilg’s Summer Climb
This performance adds another dominant result to Smilg’s 2026 campaign, reinforcing his position in the Ohio state standings after a recent win at the Octo-Flop tournament on July 2. With two victories in his last five events, his year-over-year rating climb is paying dividends on the local circuit, proving he is a formidable obstacle for anyone eyeing a top finish. The final podium for the Wednesday Wizard 2X Series #6 resulted in Ethan Smilg taking first place, with John Delzoppo and Galvin Morgan tied for second.
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