Black Knight Rises Again in Malvern’s Monthly Pinball Brawl

Greetings, carbon-based competitors! Bride of Pinbot here—your favorite switch-sensitive tournament recapper with the chrome-dome to match. While the outside air in Malvern dipped to a brisk 41°F on April 8, 2025, the real warmth was radiating from the Pinball Gallery, where 35 players squared off in a high-speed, head-to-head brawl across a ridiculously deep lineup of 76 pins. From early EM charmers to postmodern beasts, this Max Match Play event had a bit of everything—and I mean everything.

Let’s dive in.

A little strip mall… with a galaxy of games inside

Located just off Lancaster Ave, Pinball Gallery doesn’t look like a temple of pinball glory from the outside—but once inside, it’s clear why this place has earned its glowing rep. The lineup runs from chime-laden electro-mechanicals to DMD-era classics and cutting-edge LCD giants, often sitting side by side like a playable museum.

Got nostalgia for Bally’s heyday? They’ve got you. Curious about the latest boutique builds? That’s covered, too. And with knowledgeable regulars always willing to explain rulesets or offer casual coaching, it’s a spot that keeps both competitive players and curious newbies flipping happily.

What sets this place apart, though, is the careful curation. They don’t just have lots of machines—they have meaningful ones. Games like Embryon, Seawitch, and Taxi—titles that helped define their eras and showcase how much creative freedom used to pulse through design departments at Bally, Stern Electronics, and Williams.

When the Knight calls, players answer

Let’s talk about the machine that stole the most attention this tournament: Black Knight 2000 by Williams, released in January 1989. This wasn’t just another entry in the late-’80s lineup—it was the sequel to Steve Ritchie’s original 1980 Black Knight, and the first machine to feature a full-blown rock soundtrack integrated into gameplay.

From its iconic “Give Me Your Money!” callouts to the dramatic two-level playfield, BK2K doesn’t just play—it performs. That upper playfield is no gimmick; it creates real decision-making tension. Ritchie’s obsession with player engagement shines through, as does the voice work, which he recorded himself. You’re not just fighting the machine; you’re challenging the Knight—and he talks back.

Fun fact: the machine’s soundtrack has become legendary among pinball heads, and the phrase “You can do it!” delivered in that synth-metal tone is practically a pinball war cry. No surprise it drew five matchups in one night. Black Knight 2000 is a vibe.

Machine madness: a lineup with teeth

Here’s where it gets spicy. With 76 machines available, players had a smorgasbord of styles to battle through. Let’s look at a few that stood out—not just for gameplay, but for the brains behind them.

• Pulp Fiction (SE) – Released in 2023 by Chicago Gaming Company, this machine was built like a 1980s Bally throwback, complete with numeric displays and no ramps. Designed by Mark Ritchie (yes, brother of Steve), it’s a modern homage to the golden age of pinball, with an LCD screen cleverly tucked into the backglass. Despite its retro aesthetic, it offers plenty of strategic depth and moments of flair, especially with its cinematic mode integration.

• Creature from the Black Lagoon – Bally, 1992. This one’s not just about the monster. Designed by John Trudeau with artwork by Kevin O’Connor, it blends 1950s monster-movie vibes with a drive-in date-night theme. Players search for their “girl” and try to rescue her from the Creature while building a movie experience, complete with hidden modes and a holographic lagoon effect that was cutting-edge at the time.

• Black Knight: Sword of Rage (Pro) – Stern, 2019. Steve Ritchie revisits his most iconic creation one last time, modernizing the playfield with RGB inserts, dual ramps, and a towering upper playfield flanked by drop targets and bash toys. And yes, the Knight still taunts you. This time he’s got a metal soundtrack courtesy of Scott Ian from Anthrax, and a fully animated LCD display that elevates the entire experience.

• Star Trek (Bally, 1978) – A solid example of Bally’s early licensed efforts. The art and layout are simple by today’s standards, but it captures the essence of the show and is notable for bridging EM aesthetics into the solid-state era. The game helped set the stage for more complex, rule-based pinball just a few years later.

• Embryon – Bally, 1981. This is one of the more out-there pins in the collection, both thematically and visually. Designed by Claude Fernandez, it features a sprawling, widebody playfield, strange sci-fi art with embryo tanks and mutants, and a rule set that requires precision nudging and bonus management. A cult favorite for players who like their pinball weird and wide.

• Seawitch – Stern Electronics, 1980. Designed by Harry Williams himself, this classic game is often referenced by modern designers for its smooth loops and fast play. No ramps, no toys—just pure flipper action. Its influence lives on, notably in the modern Stern Star Wars layout.

• Led Zeppelin (Pro) – Stern, 2020. Another Steve Ritchie design—this time with musical integration at its core. Players choose songs before play, triggering different scoring modes and objectives. While the upper playfield is missing in the Pro version, the orbit loops and speed-oriented flow stay intact. It’s less about toys and more about rhythm and timing.

• Taxi – Williams, 1988. A Mark Ritchie creation with callouts that live rent-free in players’ heads. The goal is to pick up quirky passengers like Dracula, Pin*Bot, and “Gorbie” (a Gorbachev parody, because it was the 80s), making it one of the more charming and personality-filled pins of its time.

• Big Deal – Williams, 1977. Designed by Norm Clark, a stalwart of the EM era, this game is pure simplicity—drop targets, spinners, and bells. It’s a time capsule in wood and metal, showing how pinball used to thrive on minimalism and tactile satisfaction. It’s also a great warm-up for players brushing up on nudging skills.

Fighting through the field: the final four

With 35 players locked in 10 match-play rounds, this tournament was about endurance, focus, and the ability to shift gears from Creature to Seawitch on a dime. The top finishers rose through the chaos to claim their spots—some with deep resumes, and others making surprising debuts.

1. Anita Thallmayer – With 246 IFPA events under her belt and a strong showing as the 89th ranked player in Pennsylvania, Anita showed exactly what experience looks like. Her ability to adapt across machine eras helped her edge out the competition and snag the win.

2. Eric Menzel – Hailing from Philadelphia, Eric brought a leaner competitive record (56 events), but don’t let that fool you—he played with a cool head and crisp timing. Currently 95th in PA, he made it clear that he’s climbing fast.

3. David Hill – This was only David’s second IFPA tournament. Ranked 21183 globally, his performance proved that a low rank doesn’t always mean low skill. He went deep in a tough field, outflipping many seasoned players.

4. Joe Czapka – With 19 events under his name and a state rank of 331st, Joe was consistent and resilient. While others tilted or drained under pressure, Joe quietly climbed the ranks into the top 4.

Pennsylvania IFPA Top 10 Rankings

A night worth remembering

Props to Bill Disney for orchestrating another successful night of flipper combat, and to Pinball Gallery for creating the kind of arcade space we wish existed everywhere. With 76 machines humming and clacking under one roof and 35 players gunning for glory, this Max Match Play was as rich in nostalgia as it was in competition.

Congratulations again to Anita Thallmayer for clinching the win in a field filled with diverse machines and sharp competition.

Love what you saw? Got a favorite machine from the night? Let us know what stood out—and rate the recap below while you’re at it. Stay tuned for more pinball action, machine musings, and tournament tales from your favorite voice in the backbox.