Multiballs, Mayhem, and Metal: Tim Hansen Tops MINIBOSS in San Jose

Hello Earthlings, it’s your favorite chrome-plated commentator, Bride of Pinbot, back with another deep dive into the world of shiny spheres and flashing inserts. I cover pinball tournaments across the galaxy (and occasionally California), and today’s recap is all about MINIBOSS: Master of MULTIBALLS, where the battles were fierce, the balls were many, and the multiballs—well, they were the star of the show. Let’s dig in.

A Barcade With Style and Sass: Inside MINIBOSS

This tournament played out at MINIBOSS, a spot that merges arcade nostalgia with a craft cocktail scene that’s straight-up next level. Located in the heart of Downtown San Jose, MINIBOSS isn’t your run-of-the-mill dive bar with a couple dusty pins in the corner. Nope, think elegantly curated arcade machines, neon glow-ups, and bartenders who know their way around a mixer as well as they know the high score table on Donkey Kong.

The atmosphere swings from chill to electric as the night progresses, which made it the perfect backdrop for a brisk pinball showdown. And while no one was sipping a ‘1,000 Tea’ while battling on Black Knight, I wouldn’t have blamed them.

Shiny Machines, Serious Attitude

The lineup at MINIBOSS was a modern player’s dream. Some of the standout beasts on the floor included Pulp Fiction (LE), a 2023 throwback from Chicago Gaming that channels Quentin Tarantino’s classic film with brutal accuracy—and a brutal ruleset. This machine brings the retro Bally-style playfield back with modern LED flair and that unforgettable Royale with Cheese attitude.

Stern’s Star Wars (Pro) made its usual appearance, and while the Death Star is a common sight in tournaments, the machine’s hyperspeed gameplay and risk-reward video modes still manage to trip up even veteran players.

And how about Jurassic Park (Premium)? Designed by Keith Elwin (you may have heard of him—if not, crawl out from under that rock), this one’s known for its clever T-Rex head animations and deep strategic play. Bonus points for theme integration that’s as sharp as a velociraptor’s claw.

Not to be outdone, Monster Bash (Remake LE) and Medieval Madness (Remake) brought the fantasy vibes with shot geometry that still holds up decades later. You know it’s a solid lineup when you can go from bashing the Bride of Frankenstein to battling Black Knight’s rage in the same evening.

Spotlight Match: Thunderstruck on AC/DC

Let’s talk about Round 2, where players plugged in and cranked it to 11 on AC/DC (Premium Vault Edition)—Stern’s love letter to the Australian rock gods. This is one of those machines that’s practically made for multiball fanatics, with cannon shots, jam-packed song modes, and a bell that mocks you with every missed jackpot.

Randy Barrick came out swinging, and with the ferocity of a highway to hell multiball, he lit up the bell and took the win. Tyler Weldy, holding his own like a true San Jose warrior, snagged second after a hard-fought attempt to ride the Rock n’ Roll Train. Lucy Cachux and William Breeman gave it all they had, but AC/DC’s punishing outlanes claimed more victims than an Angus Young guitar solo. This was the kind of game where no one left unshaken—or un-multiballed.

Who Conquered the Chaos?

At the end of the night, Tim Hansen proved why he’s a force in the California scene. Currently ranked 3rd in the state and holding an impressive IFPA rank of 24, Tim’s precision and calm-under-fire playstyle made him a nightmare for his opponents—and a delight for fans of efficient pinball dominance.

Dustin Goldbarg, sitting at 8th in California, gave Tim a run for his money, but even his 146 IFPA events of experience couldn’t quite topple the Sunnyvale superstar.

Craig Okruhlica surprised many by landing third. While his state rank of 392nd suggests underdog status, Craig showed he’s not to be taken lightly in the land of multiballs. And rounding out the top four, Jaclyn Tingco-Graham, representing Monterey with style, used their 167 events worth of grit to lock in a strong finish against a packed field.

California IFPA Pinball Top 10 Standings

Final Thoughts: Loud, Fast, and Full of Multiballs

And just like that, another chapter in the California pinball saga is written. Hats off (or shooter rods up?) to Blame It On The Drain Pinball for hosting the action, and a special thanks to MINIBOSS for keeping the drinks flowing and the flippers snapping.

The highlight of the night will no doubt remain that brutal AC/DC duel—because nothing says “tournament moment” like Randy Barrick ringing the bell while Highway to Hell blared over the speakers.

Stay tuned, folks. There’s always another multiball on the horizon. And if you want to check out more from Blame It On The Drain Pinball, you can find their event details here.