As the last golden rays of a sunlit evening painted Denton, the Free Play Arcade on West Hickory Street brimmed with a unique energy. The temperature outside was a comfortable 89°F, but inside, the competitive heat was palpable.
A Venue Buzzing with Nostalgia
Free Play Arcade – Denton, often recognized for its impressive lineup of classic games, added another feather to its cap by hosting the eagerly-awaited Free Play Denton Pinball Monday. Early attendees, especially families, made the most of the venue, reminiscing old memories with every flip and tilt of the pinball machines. One visitor recounted, “The game choices were top-notch! It felt like a steal for the admission price. Only wish they had air hockey!”
The Game’s Afoot: Tournament Overview
Organized by the ever-enthusiastic Chris Delp, the tournament ran for a tight 3 hours, adopting a structure of 5 qualifying rounds where 26 players hustled in groups. The strategy was simple yet tricky: earn points based on your finishing position in each round. The top 8, having proved their mettle, would then move onto the electrifying finals consisting of 2 rounds. The formula ensured thrill, skill, and a few upsets along the way!
The Machines That Echoed Legends
Among the 77 pinball machines, standouts included Stern’s futuristic ‘Disney TRON: Legacy‘ and the spooky ‘Scared Stiff’ by Bally. Fans of movies and comics found solace in machines like ‘Jurassic Park (Premium)‘, ‘Iron Man (Vault)‘, and ‘Avengers: Infinity Quest (Pro)‘. And for those seeking a blast from the past, ‘Vector‘ by Bally, a gem from 1981, provided just that.
The Clash of Titans: Game Spotlight
The finals saw an unforgettable face-off on ‘Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (Pro)‘. Randy Nelson, with an IFPA rank of 3548, surprised everyone by clinching the top spot, narrowly defeating Denton’s very own Kevin Rodriguez.
Champions of the Evening
The tournament crowned Randy Nelson as its champion. Kevin Rodriguez from Denton, Mike Archuleta from Corinth, and the Shahan brothers from Abilene and Denton respectively, rounded off the top 5, with impressive scores and skillful gameplay.
IFPA Texas Pinball Top 10 Standings
| Rank | Player Name | City | Wppr Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jack Revnew | The Woodlands | 490 |
| 2 | Garrett Shahan | Denton | 442.76 |
| 3 | Phil Grimaldi | Houston | 338.48 |
| 4 | Wesley Johnson | College Station | 320.83 |
| 5 | Fred Revnew | The Woodlands | 255.09 |
| 6 | Lee Balusek | Conroe | 254.5 |
| 7 | Brian Krivonak | Corpus Christi | 246.12 |
| 8 | Collier Whitefield | San Antonio | 223.13 |
| 9 | Gilbert Herrera | San Antonio | 212.23 |
| 10 | Kevin Rodriguez | Denton | 206.92 |
As flippers ceased flipping and the neon glow dimmed, one thing was clear: the heart of Texas beats in sync with the pulsating rhythm of pinball. Until the next showdown, keep those scores soaring!