Kennedy Commands the Floor at Camp Free Play

Kennedy claimed the top spot at Camp Free Play on July 8, 2026, navigating a fast-paced 62-minute event to secure the victory. Stepping out of the clear sky and 98°F Richardson heat—which carried a stifling heat index of 110°F—13 unranked competitors faced off indoors. Kennedy dictated the pace from the 13:15 start time, ultimately posting the top score on 5 of the 7 machines played on the way to 1st place.

The tournament utilized a Flip Frenzy format, which strictly limits the time players have to compete. Under these rules, competitors play head-to-head matches on a fixed set of machines. When a match ends, the victorious player remains on the machine to face the next queued challenger, while the defeated player rotates to the back of the queue. Whoever holds the highest number of net wins—calculated as wins minus losses—when the clock expires takes the tournament.

A 13-Player Sprint at Free Play Richardson

Free Play Arcade – Richardson provided the setting for the Wednesday afternoon contest, a venue noted by patrons for an impressive array of excellently maintained games spanning from 1995 to 2026. Visitors frequently praise the location for its flat entry fee, exceptionally clean environment, and a well-stocked bar featuring boutique beers. Between matches, players also have access to pizzas and sandwiches. One attendee noted they did not see a single broken machine during their visit, a testament to the floor’s upkeep.

Event organizer Chris Delp gathered a tight field of 13 players for the afternoon. Because Flip Frenzy rules force the loser to the back of the line, avoiding the queue by winning consecutive matches is the most effective path to victory. A smaller field size meant competitors encountered each other frequently across the 10-machine lineup. That lineup featured diverse titles from 3 different manufacturers—Stern, Bally, and Chicago Gaming—ensuring players had to adapt quickly to different flipper feels and rule sets.

Rachel and Beau Keep the Pressure On

Rachel set an early benchmark for efficiency, putting together an unblemished record despite playing fewer total games. Across her 3 rounds, she secured 3 consecutive 1st-place finishes. Her wins came on a trio of modern Stern machines: Foo Fighters (Pro), Star Wars: Fall of the Empire (Pro), and Transformers: More Than Meets the Eye (Premium/LE). Transformers saw the most action throughout the day, logging 4 total plays and an average match duration of 8 minutes.

Beau stayed in the hunt by trading blows with the rest of the field, finishing with 4 wins and 2 position 2 finishes. Beau found success on Deadpool (Pro), JAWS (Pro), Dungeons & Dragons: The Tyrant’s Eye (Pro), and Star Wars: Fall of the Empire (Pro). In 2 shared games with Mia, Beau and Mia proved evenly matched, with each player finishing ahead once. Beau found identical results against Forrest, as the two competitors also split their shared appearances evenly.

Navigating the Mid-Field Battles

While the top 4 pulled ahead, the rest of the 13-player roster fought for every available net win. Forrest landed in 5th place after completing 4 rounds, securing 2 wins and taking 2 losses. Harley and Kynlee both finished with identical records of 1 win and 2 second-place finishes, resulting in a tie for 6th place. Mia navigated a busy schedule of 6 total rounds, collecting 2 wins and 4 second-place results to end the day in 9th place.

Many of these mid-field clashes occurred on Deadpool (Pro), a 2018 Stern release that saw 3 total plays during the event. Matches on Deadpool averaged a brisk 6 minutes, forcing players to score efficiently before draining their ball. Both Kennedy and Evan capitalized on this machine, each securing a win with a 100% win percentage in their respective Deadpool matches.

Kennedy and Evan Meet at the Black Knight

As the hour progressed, a pivotal 5-minute match materialized on Stern’s 2019 release, Black Knight: Sword of Rage (Pro). The Steve Ritchie-designed machine challenges players with a physical Black Knight upper torso toy and a motorized ball gate representing a flail. The playfield rewards those who can lock 2 balls, prepare a mode, and send the final lock to the center scoop to stack a knight multiball.

Kennedy and Evan squared off on the layout, which saw an average game duration of 7 minutes during the tournament. Kennedy secured the victory and the full 1.00 points, leaving Evan with a position 2 finish and 0.00 points for the round. This outcome contributed to a broader pattern for the afternoon, as Kennedy finished ahead of Evan in both of the games they shared. Evan still managed a solid performance on the day, grabbing 3 wins overall and finishing ahead of Mia in their 2 shared matches to claim 4th place.

Building Momentum for the Summer Season

Kennedy’s ability to secure the top score on the majority of machines played demonstrates a deep understanding of varied layouts, setting a high standard for future Texas region events. Over 7 total rounds, Kennedy dropped only 2 matches—one on JAWS (Pro) and another on Dungeons & Dragons: The Tyrant’s Eye (Pro)—before rattling off a streak of 4 consecutive wins. Navigating a fast-paced queue against 12 other eager players requires endurance, and this Wednesday performance builds undeniable momentum for the winner’s upcoming tournament schedule. When the 62 minutes finally expired, the final podium stood as Kennedy in 1st, Rachel in 2nd, and Beau in 3rd.