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🏆 Dayton Underground Pinball League – Week 8: “The Tony Breakthrough” 🏆

The pinball gods finally smiled upon Tony B, and man, did he make it count. After a full season of flirting with victory, settling for silver after silver, Tony walked into Dave’s House of Pinball last night with the kind of quiet confidence that makes legends. The curse was real, but destiny was louder.

The Battle for the Throne

The night began with Scooby Doo LE, where Tony came out swinging but landed just shy of Diane S’s haunted high score. No panic. Just patience. Because what came next was a masterclass in grit. On Batman 66, Jacks Open, and the monstrous King Kong LE, Tony fought tooth and flipper against some of the fiercest players in the league — Diane, Derek, and William — all battling for their place in the final standings.

While others got trapped in multiball chaos or fell victim to Kong’s brutal magnet slings, Tony dialed in, locking shots and chaining jackpots like a man possessed. When the dust cleared, his name sat atop the scoreboard — not by luck, but by sheer precision and poise.

Breaking the Curse

For seven weeks, Tony had been the bridesmaid of the DUPL — always second, always close, but never crowned. Week 8 changed that forever. His first-ever 1st place finish wasn’t just a win; it was a statement. Against a murderers’ row of talent — Diane’s consistency, Derek’s calculated skill, and William’s explosive scoring — Tony didn’t just survive… he conquered.

His 11 match points locked in the top spot in Season 12, edging Diane by a single point (94 to 93). That razor-thin margin will live in DUPL history as one of the most dramatic finishes the league has ever seen.

A League of Legends

Behind Tony’s long-awaited triumph were storylines everywhere:

• Diane S, the queen of clutch, missed the top by a hair, proving once again why she’s always in the mix.
  
  

• William B and Derek H rounded out a brutally strong top four — each with flashes of brilliance that kept the crowd roaring all night.
  
  

• Across the room, new faces and familiar rivals alike — from Vern’s late surge to Muffins’ wild multiballs — closed out the season in style.
  
  

Final Word

When Tony lifted that metaphorical DUPL crown, the entire room knew it wasn’t just another win — it was a release. A sigh of victory after a season of almosts.

From second-place streak to Season 12 Champion, Tony B’s story is one for the archives.
The curse is broken. The champ is here.

👑 Congratulations, Tony — you’ve officially joined the pantheon of DUPL greats.