Sherwood Park was set ablaze with fervent competition as Alberta’s premier pinball players converged for the 2023 Pinball Alberta Challenge Cup. The finest from Edmonton and Calgary spent the day locked in duels, their fingers moving swiftly over the pinball machine flippers to earn the coveted champion’s title.
Die Hard Pinball’s president and event organizer, Derek Thompson, attests to the popularity of this annual showdown. “A massive pinball tournament we run every year, it’s a team competition, aimed purely at winning bragging rights for who holds the honour of Alberta’s finest club.”
Thompson drew a parallel between pinball and competitive sports, emphasizing the physicality involved that appeals to players and provides them a platform to be the best.
Among the competitors were Krista Goshko and Theresa Hurst, proudly representing Edmonton’s women’s team. Introduced to pinball by their partners, both women now share a profound love for the game. “We aim to defeat Calgary, that’s our end-of-day goal”, stated a determined Goshko.
Calgary’s men’s team captain, Tony Batti, recounted his solo journey from a casual player to a pinball maestro. He led his team with high hopes of securing back-to-back championship titles.
Beyond the competition and bragging rights, for many, pinball represents camaraderie, shared passion, and nostalgic joy. “Pinball allowed us to step out into public spaces and make new friendships post-Covid”, shared Hurst.
Batti expanded on the charm of pinball, citing the opportunity to play games harking back to the 60s, 70s, and even the 80s to modern offerings, making it a fun, learning experience.
The pinball community now sets its eyes on the upcoming 2023 Alberta Provincial Pinball Championships at Sherwood Park’s Arkadium Retro Arcade, happening on Saturday, January 20th.
As you consider partaking in intense, adrenaline-filled competitions like these, you may also fancy trying your hand at online casinos. These can offer an array of engaging games, all from the comfort of your home. At West Island Blog, we provide an extensive curated list of top online casinos for this month. So, why not extend your gaming experiences beyond the pinball arcade and explore the electrifying world of online casinos?
