The Ball Busters Pinball League – Summer 2026 W2 brought 22 local flippers out to Malvern, Pennsylvania, on a Wednesday night for an intense session of group match play. Patrons at the Pinball Gallery are used to a nostalgic, pay-by-the-hour haven packed with classic arcade cabinets and pinball tables, allowing players to leave their quarters at home. It is the kind of establishment where you can bounce from vintage video games like Galaga and Zaxxon straight into a high-stakes pinball tournament. All 22 participants walked in unranked on the national IFPA stage, but 10 players carried state rankings into the building, averaging a Pennsylvania NACS rank of #234.
But this specific evening belonged entirely to PA NACS 50th-ranked Kim Smith, who put on a dominant performance from the opening plunge. Smith overwhelmed the fiercely competitive field, putting up the top score on four of the five machines she faced on her way to the gold.
Firing Up the Floor and Celebrating 40 Years of Heat
Smith started her path to victory by securing first place in Round 1 on Bally’s Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy. She kept her foot on the gas in Round 2, locking in another first-place finish on Gottlieb’s 1980 table, Roller Disco. While Smith was putting on a clinic, the entire arcade was buzzing about another Gottlieb classic celebrating a massive milestone on the tournament floor.
Released in June 1986, Hollywood Heat officially hit its 40-year anniversary this month, proving that four decades later, this machine is still a serious competitive battleground. During Round 4, Samantha Christina dominated a 15-minute game on the anniversary cabinet, besting Kathy Hecht, Elizabeth Hollinger, and Sherry Disney. For players looking to maximize their score on this retro gem, tournament strategy dictates focusing on the upper playfield. Because both banks of drop targets are linked during multiball, you need to quickly raise the drop value up top. Lock two balls on that upper section, and then nail the ramp shot to trigger the multiball for a massive scoring opportunity.
A Pulp Fiction Upset and a Slight Stumble
Even the most dialed-in competitors face a speed bump, and for Smith, it arrived in Round 3 on Bally’s Mousin’ Around!. Abby Tague managed to out-flip Smith in the 14-minute showdown, forcing her into a second-place finish for the round. It was the only time all evening Smith didn’t walk away with the maximum five points, proving she is human after all.
While Smith was battling the mice, Round 3 also delivered a brutal upset on Chicago Gaming’s 2023 release, Pulp Fiction (SE). Sherry Disney walked up to the machine with roughly a 1-in-5 shot on paper against the heavily favored Tessa Morton. Disney defied the odds in a grueling 20-minute, four-player clash, taking first place over Morton, Ruth Parks, and Olivia Schultz. A quick piece of advice for Pulp Fiction competitors: holding the left flipper while plunging opens up an alternative skill shot. Making any of the four flashing Payoff shots will award the same value as the standard saucer skill shot.
Settling Rivalries on Deadly Weapon
Heading into Round 4, Smith needed to rebound on Gottlieb’s 1990 table, Deadly Weapon, but she was staring down two of her most familiar adversaries. The group included top finishers Emilia Choate and Terri Morton, alongside Julia Furlong. The tension was palpable in the 18-minute match, as Smith shared deep competitive histories with both Choate and Morton.
Smith didn’t just win the group; she settled some long-standing scores in the process. By finishing ahead of Morton, Smith pulled completely even in a dead-heat rivalry spanning nine shared tournaments. Furthermore, leaving Choate in second place for the round allowed Smith to level their six-tournament rivalry to an absolute coin-flip.
Sealing the Deal on Embryon
Entering the fifth and final round, Smith approached Bally’s 1981 widebody, Embryon, with absolute focus. She needed one more solid game to close out the night and solidify her position at the top of the leaderboard, fending off Jhenny Adams and Tessa Morton who were hot on her heels. Smith systematically picked apart the playfield, capturing first place over Samantha Christina, Johanna Sorgini, and Pam Pastorino in a 13-minute battle. If you ever find yourself on this machine in a bracket, remember that the right saucer can often be backhanded from a trap, making it a highly repeatable and safe shot from either flipper.
As Smith secured her win, the rest of the podium was fiercely contested. Jhenny Adams locked in second place overall after pulling off a crucial Round 5 win on Williams’ Jack•Bot, defeating Elizabeth Hollinger and Anita Thallmayer. Meanwhile, Tessa Morton held onto third place overall by scraping together a second-place finish on Gottlieb’s Mars God of War behind Olivia Schultz. It was a fitting end to a night that showcased incredible stamina and consistency from the local standout, highlighting exactly what makes league nights at the Pinball Gallery so thrilling.
- 1st Place: Kim Smith
- 2nd Place: Jhenny Adams
- 3rd Place: Tessa Morton
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