White Water Dominates as Cory Westfahl Wins SCPL NASA 3X Tuesday

With overcast clouds hovering above and temperatures feeling like a muggy 96°F, the players at SCPL’s NASA 3X Tuesday tournament faced off in an intense night of pinball action at The Game Preserve NASA. Despite the sticky weather outside, the cool atmosphere inside the arcade provided the perfect backdrop for nine thrilling rounds of competition. With 4-player groups battling for supremacy and eliminations only after 5 strikes, each match brought its own drama and excitement.

Welcome to The Game Preserve NASA

If you’re looking for a time capsule back to the 1980s, look no further than The Game Preserve NASA. Located on Gulf Freeway in Webster, TX, this retro arcade is a stunning tribute to the golden age of gaming. Black lights make the neon wall art pop, and the selection of games from the era is truly top-notch. The massive space allows plenty of room for the action-packed pinball battles while keeping the family-friendly vibe intact. With music videos playing (when they remember to turn it on), the atmosphere was the perfect mix of nostalgic and exciting for the Space City Pinball players. While some games might not always be powered on, the charm of this spot can’t be denied. It’s an arcade lover’s dream, minus the DeLorean.

Navigating the Rapids: White Water’s Role in Tournament Play

White Water by Williams brought plenty of thrills to the tournament at The Game Preserve NASA. This game’s rafting-themed adventure is always a crowd-pleaser, with its combination of fast-paced action, multiball madness, and the quest for the ultimate Vacation Jackpot. Let’s break down how the game played out in the tournament and highlight the key strategies that helped players navigate their way to victory.

In White Water, the main goal is simple: advance your rafts and aim for Wet Willie’s— the final stage that holds the Vacation Jackpot, the game’s ultimate reward. The more rafts you advance, the closer you get to scoring big, making raft progression a critical part of the strategy for tournament players.

One of the standout features in this game is the Whirlpool, a swirling vortex that offers consistent bonus points and sets up multiball opportunities. Players who took advantage of this could rack up points without needing to trigger multiball, making it a safer strategy for some. That said, when multiball did come into play, it was a game-changer. The three-ball White Water Multiball, which requires locking balls in the Whirlpool, proved to be the most effective way to score big. The more jackpots hit during this mode, the more those points started piling up. Some players kept their cool by cradling the balls on the flippers and waiting for the perfect moment to strike, keeping the jackpot multiplier in play as long as possible.

But it wasn’t just about multiballs. Precision was key when it came to advancing through the rafts. Using the upper right flipper to hit that raft shot at the center of the playfield was a key skill that top players focused on. Hitting the shot consistently led to raft progression and helped keep the points flowing smoothly. While raft progression can feel slow, it’s necessary for reaching the Vacation Jackpot, and those who mastered this shot had a clear advantage.

Bigfoot also made an appearance with his Hotfoot mode, providing players with a chance to score big bonus points. Shooting the upper left ramp to trigger this mode required some finesse, but those who took the time to aim for it were rewarded with a flurry of quick points, especially when they stacked it with other game modes.

The ultimate challenge, of course, was the Vacation Jackpot. It’s the most coveted reward in White Water, but getting there is no easy feat. Players needed to complete all the raft stages, collect major game features like multiball jackpots and Whirlpool awards, and then make the high-risk, high-reward shot to the upper playfield. It’s rare to see the Vacation Jackpot lit, but when it happens, it’s a game-changer.

Overall, White Water put players’ skills to the test, requiring a combination of multiball mastery, precision raft progression, and strategic Whirlpool shots. Those who could keep their cool under the tournament pressure and focus on these key strategies found themselves climbing the ranks in no time. For any player looking to excel on White Water in future tournaments, honing in on those raft advancements and nailing multiball jackpots will be the ticket to victory.

Tournament Winners Show Their Skills

After battling through a field of determined competitors, Cory Westfahl emerged as the champion of the SCPL NASA 3X Tuesday tournament. Cory, who holds a state rank of 87th and has competed in an impressive 567 IFPA events, showcased his deep tournament experience to outmaneuver his opponents. His skillful play on games like White Water helped him rise to the top in a fiercely competitive field.

Not far behind was Marc Gammons, ranked 47th in Texas and 1375th in the world. With 300 IFPA events under his belt, Marc fought hard to claim second place, putting up a strong challenge against Cory. His precision on key shots throughout the tournament kept him in contention until the very end.

In third place, Steve Clarner made a surprising run, proving that ranking isn’t everything. With a state rank of 235th and only 44 IFPA events to his name, Steve outplayed some more seasoned competitors, showing that he can handle the pressure when it counts. His performance on White Water in particular turned heads.

Rounding out the top four was Aaron Freedkin, who came into the tournament with a state rank of 297th and 64 events worth of competitive experience. While Aaron couldn’t quite break into the top three, his solid gameplay earned him a well-deserved spot among the tournament’s best.

These four players navigated a competitive field and challenging machines, showing why they’re players to watch in the Texas pinball scene.

Texas IFPA Pinball Top 10 Standings

Wrapping Up the NASA 3X Tuesday

The SCPL: NASA 3X Tuesday tournament was nothing short of intense, with players battling through nine rounds of strike-based eliminations. With each round, the stakes grew higher as competitors navigated challenging machines and strategic plays. In the end, it was Cory Westfahl who paddled his way to victory, skillfully outmaneuvering the competition on games like White Water and securing his spot at the top. Marc Gammons fought hard to claim second, while Steve Clarner and Aaron Freedkin rounded out the top four, each delivering standout performances in their own right.

A big thanks to Space City Pinball for organizing this thrilling event and to The Game Preserve NASA for creating an epic atmosphere that perfectly complemented the heated competition. The mix of classic arcade vibes and top-tier pinball action truly made this tournament one to remember.

As always, stay tuned for more exciting pinball news and upcoming tournament updates!