On a steamy New Orleans Tuesday where the 91-degree air packed a brutal 58% humidity that felt more like 102 degrees outside, the action inside Emporium Arcade Bar was just as scorching. Patrons flock to this local haven for its immaculate nostalgic vibes, strong drinks, and a 90s and 2000s playlist that absolutely slaps. The venue is famous for reasonable token prices and a massive selection of remarkably well-maintained retro games, creating the ultimate arena for flipper fanatics. It was here, under the neon glow of the displays, that Mike LaSalle finally had his massive breakthrough.
After grinding through 13 career ranked events and ramping up his competitive schedule with four tournaments in just the last six months, LaSalle claimed his very first tournament victory. Sitting at IFPA #15,627, the local competitor delivered a commanding wire-to-wire performance. It’s the kind of milestone every dedicated player dreams of, proving that putting in the coin-drop reps eventually yields the ultimate jackpot.
A Heavyweight Local Field
The Emporium Pinball League Season 7 #6 brought out 18 total participants for a classic Group Match Play format. Over five rounds of intense four-player groups—with three-player groups used when the math required it—points were awarded based on finishing positions. The bracket featured a solid local turnout, mixing 10 IFPA-ranked players with 8 unranked challengers looking to make a name for themselves.
The undisputed giant of the bracket was Roland Nadeau, sitting at a staggering #145 on the national IFPA leaderboard and #7 in the Louisiana state rankings. Nadeau brought heavy momentum into the building, boasting an active four-event podium streak and three outright wins across his last five tournaments. Also in the mix was 17-year veteran Ben Applebaum, a seasoned competitor sitting at IFPA #32,885 with a massive 250 career tournaments under his belt.
Dominating the Data East Classic
LaSalle set the tone early in Round 1 on Data East’s legendary 1990 release, The Simpsons. He completely ran away with the group, putting up a monster score of 5,524,390 to take the full 7 points. He left Tony Hudson, who scored 989,730, and Bernard M, who scored 758,380, in the dust. LaSalle proved early on that he had the mechanical skills to handle the unforgiving geometry of the vintage playfield.
When attacking The Simpsons in tournament play, focus on the left side to add letters to “MILLIONS,” which eventually lights a lucrative million-point shot on the ramp. LaSalle’s absolute command of the table was an early warning shot to the rest of the field that he was dialed in and looking for gold.
Bounties and Battles on The Mandalorian
The true test of the evening arrived in a grueling Round 3 clash on Stern’s 2021 masterpiece, The Mandalorian (Pro). Top finishers Roland Nadeau, Mike LaSalle, and Roby Arensman found themselves locked in a tense four-player group alongside Elyse DaBeast. The Mandalorian is a brutal arena that demands precision, requiring players to expertly manage their shots and stack modes for explosive scoring.
Nadeau navigated the outer rim flawlessly, taking first place in a 19-minute marathon. LaSalle secured a crucial second-place finish to keep his overall point total healthy, while Arensman took third and Elyse DaBeast rounded out the group in fourth. Drilling three “up the middle” Razor Crest shots before plunging into a mission at the scoop is the ticket to stacking Razor Crest Multiball with a mode.
The King of the Monsters
In Round 4, LaSalle kept his foot heavily on the gas during a battle on Stern’s 2021 smash hit, Godzilla (Pro). Facing off against Lucy Rosenbloom, Preston Umstead, and Patrick Cobb, LaSalle dominated the 17-minute game to claim another 7 points. Godzilla is a deep, chaotic arena, where shooting both ramps and then the scoop is required to initiate a Kaiju Battle.
Advanced players will also try to qualify the Godzilla Multiball add-a-ball by ripping 30 spins at the right spinner. LaSalle’s mastery of the kinetic layout ensured he stayed ahead of the pack, leaving Rosenbloom to take a respectable second place in the group, followed by Umstead in third and Cobb in fourth.
Monster Fish and Narrowed Rivalries
LaSalle’s historic night wasn’t just about the overall win; it was also about settling scores on the playfield. He and Roby Arensman have been locked in a gritty, 10-tournament rivalry. While Arensman still holds a slight overall lead in their shared history, LaSalle finished ahead tonight, significantly narrowing the gap between the two fierce competitors.
Arensman also faced heavy resistance in Round 5 on Williams’ beloved 1992 fishing machine, Fish Tales. In an 11-minute, three-player showdown, Stefan Canezaro managed to edge out Arensman to take the top spot, while Curtis Wilde finished third. When battling on Fish Tales, top-tier strategy involves alternating the center ramps; nailing six ramps lights the Monster Fish hurry-up on the left orbit, yielding a score that gets bigger every time you successfully hit it.
An Unstoppable Run to the Top
Despite facing off against a Louisiana state champion and seasoned veterans, this night belonged entirely to Mike LaSalle. He didn’t just survive the match play gauntlet; he utterly dominated the arenas. LaSalle put up the top score on four out of the five machines he played on his way to securing first place.
This breakthrough victory marks a massive career milestone for the #15,627 ranked player. After 13 events of grinding through the ranks, LaSalle finally claimed his first tournament win, successfully holding off Nadeau’s fierce momentum and proving that the local New Orleans scene is as unpredictable and thrilling as ever.
Podium heights:
- 1st: Mike LaSalle
- 2nd: Roland Nadeau
- 3rd: Ben Applebaum
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