The tournament came down to a single, high-stakes battle on Williams’ 1980 classic Alien Poker. In the final elimination round of the Amazing Race format, Dawnda Durbin squared off against Connor Stowe with the championship on the line. Navigating the playfield under the immense pressure of a winner-takes-all scenario, Durbin managed to survive the round, leaving Stowe in second place and securing the ultimate victory. This defining clash capped off a relentless evening of competitive pinball that tested the endurance of every player in the room.
The Next Level Pinball Shop & Museum in Hillsboro provided a spectacular backdrop for the drama, offering an atmosphere unlike any other arcade in the region. Competitors battled among over 600 pristine, perfectly maintained machines, surrounded by floor-to-ceiling displays of vintage toys and pop-culture posters. Between intense rounds, players could step outside to the food trucks or take in the sheer scale of the museum—patrons consistently marvel at the incredible collections and even the castle-decorated bathrooms. It was the perfect stage for an event that rippled outward from Durbin’s final triumphant flip.
Patridge Sets the Early Pace
Long before the grueling elimination finals, the 19-player group match play qualifier established the heavy hitters for the night. Joe Patridge absolutely dominated this opening phase, sweeping the top score on five of his eight machines to secure the number one seed. His commanding performance included evening his career head-to-head rivalry with Gregorio Sicard Jr. at two wins apiece in shared events.
Stowe also proved his mettle early, tying for second place with Sicard Jr. and setting the stage for his deep tournament run. Stowe is a seasoned veteran with a decade of active play and 238 total tournaments under his belt, having reached a career peak rank of #425 in 2019. His vast experience was on full display as he methodically navigated the early rounds to secure his position.
Celebrating Coin-A-Bunga
The qualifying rounds also featured a massive milestone for a beloved machine, as Data East’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles celebrated its 35-year anniversary. Originally rolling off the production line between in 1991 with a confirmed run of 3,750 units, the game continues to draw fiercely competitive play three and a half decades later. Designed by Joe Kaminkow and Ed Cebula, with vibrant artwork by Kevin O’Connor and Paul Faris, the machine famously enticed operators with the slogan, “Coin-A-Bunga, Dude!”
Savvy veterans know that despite its age, the TURTLES Millions feature remains incredibly overpowered on this classic deck. By shooting the ramp to spot letters and spelling the game’s title, players light one million points at each ramp, and securing both lights a massive ten million point sewer shot. Mastering this feature was crucial for anyone hoping to post a competitive score on the anniversary machine.
Upsets and Runaways
As the field narrowed to nine players for the finals, the punishing Amazing Race format took effect, eliminating the lowest scorer on a single machine each round. Durbin’s path to the trophy was nearly derailed right out of the gate in Round 1 on Stern’s JAWS (LE). In a surprising upset, Joseph Sachs outscored Durbin in a grueling 34-minute, three-player game. Despite dropping that specific game, Durbin advanced and ultimately extended her commanding head-to-head tournament record against Sachs to six wins and three losses.
Other players experienced their own moments of sheer dominance as the herd thinned. Joseph Rembecki delivered a masterclass during Round 3 on Bally’s 1977 classic Eight Ball. Rembecki posted a staggering runaway score of 98,590, almost quadrupling the 25,010 put up by Jacob Edwards OR. The dominant performance eliminated Edwards from the tournament in seventh place overall, while Rembecki cruised forward into the deeper rounds.
The Mandalorian Milestone
The finals featured another major machine milestone, with Stern’s The Mandalorian (LE) celebrating its 5-year anniversary. Released in June 2021, the game remains an incredibly popular staple of modern competitive play. Tournament regulars understand that strategic stacking is absolutely critical on this demanding, shot-heavy layout.
A prime strategy involves hitting three “up the middle” Razor Crest shots before starting a mission at the scoop. This allows the player to hit the final middle shot to seamlessly stack Razor Crest Multiball directly onto the mission for massive points. Navigating these complex modern tables required intense focus, and the shrinking field left nowhere for the remaining competitors to hide. With only seven IFPA-ranked players and two unranked challengers in the finals, survival demanded absolute consistency across eras and manufacturers.
Durbin’s Surge to the Summit
As the finals approached their climax, Durbin locked into a completely different gear. She unleashed a dominant streak, posting the top score on three of her final four machines played. A veteran of 911 tournaments over eight active years, Durbin’s experience shone through as the pressure mounted. Her momentum proved unstoppable, culminating in a spectacular Round 7 showdown against the top-seeded Patridge.
Facing off on Williams’ 1986 Grand Lizard, the two heavyweights traded blows in a tense nine-minute duel. Durbin expertly navigated the playfield, putting up a formidable 429,250 points. Patridge fought valiantly but ultimately fell short with a score of 337,420, resulting in his elimination and a very respectable third-place finish.
With Patridge knocked out, the stage was set for that fateful round on Alien Poker. Durbin’s incredible resilience and tactical mastery allowed her to edge out Stowe and claim the championship. It was a fitting end to a spectacular day of competitive pinball, proving once again that true champions can weather early setbacks to rise when it matters most.
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