A New Champ Crowned At The 2025 Pop-A-Shot National Championship

By Bryce Smith
Championship, Events
Aug 06, 2025

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By Bryce Smith
Championship, Events
Aug 06, 2025

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The airing of the 2025 Pop-A-Shot National Championship on ESPN2: The OCHO was a hit. 40 year old dad’s, as everyone knows, are electrifying under the bright lights and proved they are amongst the best in arcade basketball.

Full broadcast of the 2025 Pop-A-Shot National Championship on ESPN8: The Ocho

How We Got Here: Legacies in the Making

Full broadcast of the 2025 Pop-A-Shot National Championship on ESPN8: The Ocho

The 2024 Pop-A-Shot National Championship was a momentous return for arcade basketball. After a 25-year hiatus, Pop-A-Shot crowned a new champion in Rock Hill, South Carolina in front of a live national audience on ESPN2. The field was fierce, and the gameplay intense, culminating in Josh Caputo emerging as the inaugural modern-era champion. With lightning fast form and a reputation for hitting the bonus rounds with machine-like precision, Caputo quickly became a household name within the Pop-A-Shot community.

Full broadcast of the 2025 Pop-A-Shot National Championship on ESPN8: The Ocho

That return to the big stage wasn't just a one-time spectacle. It sparked a movement. The 2025 championship season was bigger, bolder, and more competitive, with qualifiers hosted in San Francisco, San Antonio, St. Louis, Chicago, and Las Vegas. Each event was packed with talent and storylines, but they all funneled into one goal: punching a ticket to the 2025 Pop-A-Shot National Championship, hosted at the world-renowned ESPN Wide World of Sports in Orlando, Florida.

The Reveal of the Pop-A-Shot Elite

For the 2024 Pop-A-Shot National Championship 2 custom games were created, based off of our tournament series Pro Single Shot games. In the background, we were working day and night on creating a coin operated game that would be a game changer for arcade basketball. In February 2025, we unveiled the Pop-A-Shot Elite at the San Francisco Qualifier, part of the NBA’s All Star Crossover Event.

(from left to right) 1) Champ Chain by Trophy Smack 2) 2024 Champion Josh Caputo 3) The Pop-A-Shot Elite Arcade Game

(from top to bottom)

1) Champ Chain by Trophy Smack 2) 2024 Champion Josh Caputo 3) The Pop-A-Shot Elite Arcade Game

Qualifiers

Register

High Scoring Pop-A-Shot Players

Behind every high score is a story, and the 2025 National Championship roster had no shortage of them. From changing your work and sleep schedule to attempting to get a title to go along with a Super Bowl Ring.

“Honestly, it's an honor. It’s this joyful little game that’s somehow connected me to old friends, my kids, strangers at bars, and now… this great set of competitors on ESPN.”

- Jarrod Shappell

Two of our competitors, Jarrod Shappell and Jon Taburaza, earned their spots at the San Francisco qualifier, but not in the traditional way. Jon, in fact, stumbled upon Pop-A-Shot’s setup during the NBA All-Star Crossover event and hadn’t even realized there was a path to nationals. By pure instinct and skill, he posted a 141-point game, which tied Jarrod’s mark. Since the qualifier was based on the top score of the weekend, both advanced. The surprise didn’t end there: days before the championship, Shappell got a surprise visit from Golden State Warriors star Brandin Podziemski, who gifted him an autographed jersey and gave him some motivational words.

2025 Contestants awaiting for the arrival of the media circuit before the competition

In St. Louis, Michael Pashkow emerged as one of the most precise shooters we’ve ever seen. Pashkow blew away the competition in St.Louis as he was the #1 seed going into bracket play and dominating the field, only losing once on his way to victory.


He wasn’t alone. The field at Chicago’s qualifier was as fierce as it got. Despite the huge line of players, one came out victorious. After showing up to the St.Louis Qualifier and not advancing to the bracket play, Scott Setzke drove down from Michigan and qualified in Chicago as the crowd ripped and roared with his electrifying performance.

 

When it comes to clutch moments, few compare to Nick DeMarinis' journey through the San Antonio Qualifier. After a delayed flight threatened to keep him from competing entirely, Nick showed up with just 30 minutes left in the event. No warm-up, no time to scout the field, just one shot. He walked in, locked in, and dropped a score just high enough to slip into the bracket play. From there, he went on a tear, winning the qualifier and punching his ticket to the National Championship. Sometimes, the best stories start with a bit of chaos.


Then there was Chris “Murph” Murphy who qualified in Las Vegas during NBA Summer League, outlasting over 5,000 games played across three intense days. He edged out a handful of close competitors with a 164-point game in the final hour, showcasing true clutch DNA. 

“To me, life is all about two things: relationships and experiences.  Qualifying enables me to build several new relationships with the other competitors and members of the Pop-a-Shot team, plus creates a fun, unique experience for not only myself, but also my family and friends. So, qualifying is what it was all about.”

 - Chris Murphy

Another wild card was Brad Johnson (aka BIG BAD BRAD). The 2003 Super Bowl winning quarterback for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and social media trick shot influencer. Johnson’s performance at the St. Louis Qualifier earned him a Wild Card spot and he made waves with his humble approach and sharp shooting.


And of course, all eyes were on the defending champ, Josh Caputo, who carried a target on his back and the weight of fan expectations. Leading up to the championship, a fan poll showed 43% of voters believed Caputo would repeat. Pashkow followed with 15%, Shappell with 14%. Meanwhile, Setzke held just 2.5% of the vote, the ultimate underdog.

Leading Up To The Ocho

Before the championship, all eight qualifiers flew into sunny Orlando and arrived at the ESPN Wide World of Sports complex. With ESPN8: The Ocho set to broadcast the showdown, stakes couldn’t have been higher. A pre-tournament dinner helped break the ice, where competitors mingled, swapped stories, received their jerseys, and drew numbers for the qualifying round order.


It was at dinner we learned of Setzke’s meticulous preparation, altering his entire sleep and work schedule to better match the late-night timing of the national championship. Previously an early riser, Scott shifted his whole routine just to make sure he was wide awake when the cameras rolled. Meanwhile, Brad Johnson had the table rolling with tales from the NFL, including the legendary play where he completed a touchdown pass to himself and how he won an ESPY for it.

The Championship Begins

Recreating the iconic Dream Team photo

Qualifying Round Scores and Seeding

Each player got one game to establish their seeding. Pressure was beginning to build from the night before as contestants were swapping out the order in which they would go to qualify for a strategic advantage.

  1. Scott Setzke – 148 points (93% accuracy)
  2. Josh Caputo – 137 points (84%)
  3. Michael Pashkow – 134 points (93%)
  4. Nick DeMarinis – 134 points (87%)
  5. Chris Murphy – 123 points (81%)
  6. Jarrod Shappell – 121 points (88%)
  7. Brad Johnson – 116 points (80%)
  8. Jon Taburaza – 110 points (72%)

Round 1: Quarterfinal Matchups (Best of 3)

The opening round brought fireworks right away. Here’s how each matchup played out:

Matchup 1

#1 Setzke vs #8 Taburaza
Game 1: Setzke 142 – Taburaza 119
Game 2: Setzke 146 – Taburaza 83

Matchup 2

#4 DeMarinis vs #5 Murphy
Game 1: DeMarinis 119 – Murphy 116
Game 2: DeMarinis 130 – Murphy 113

Matchup 3

#3 Pashkow vs #6 Shappell
Game 1: Pashkow 149 – Shappell 114
Game 2: Pashkow 130 – Shappell 121

Matchup 4

#2 Caputo vs #7 Johnson
Game 1: Caputo 145 – Johnson 139
Game 2: Johnson 120 – Caputo 118
Game 3: Caputo 148 – Johnson 122

Round 2: Semifinal Matchups (Best of 5)

The semifinals were a grind. Setzke and DeMarinis battled, while Pashkow and Caputo clashed in a rivalry that felt inevitable.

Matchup 1

#1 Setzke vs #4 DeMarinis
Game 1: Setzke 144 – DeMarinis 120
Game 2: DeMarinis 131 – Setzke 119
Game 3: Setzke 129 – DeMarinis 110
Game 4: Setzke 151 – DeMarinis 130

Matchup 2

#2 Caputo vs #3 Pashkow
Game 1: Pashkow 151 – Caputo 138
Game 2: Caputo 148 – Pashkow 144
Game 3: Pashkow 147 – Caputo 111
Game 4: Pashkow 140 – Caputo 122

The Final Showdown

The two most dominant shooters, from a statistical standpoint, stood atop the bracket. Pashkow and Setzke were playing lights out and very consistent with a few games played where they only missed 3 shots amongst the 70+ they shot. Their dedication to training and love for the arcade basketball game was shining through as it all came down to the final round.

Pop-A-Shot Championship: Setzke vs Pashkow (Best of 5):

Matchup Results

Game 1: Setzke 145 – Pashkow 144
Game 2: Pashkow 146 – Setzke 132
Game 3: Setzke 143 – Pashkow 132
Game 4: Pashkow 146 – Setzke 138
Game 5: Setzke 146 – Pashkow 136

Each game was a masterclass in focus and finesse. In total, both players averaged 141 points per game. Setzke edged Pashkow with a 92% shooting average vs 89%, and that 3% difference made all the difference in the final round. Setzke may have had the lowest fan vote in the Pick ‘Em Challenge, but under the bright lights, he was unshakable!

Recap of the finals matchup between Scott Setzke and Michael Pashkow

Anything But A Sophomore Slump!

This year’s Pop-A-Shot National Championship wasn’t just a hit in the arcade, it was a hit on television, too. The live airing on ESPN8: The Ocho pulled in 47,364 households, more than doubling last year’s viewership of 18,672. Even more impressive? It ranked as the second most viewed event during The Ocho’s slate, trailing only one other televised event.


The takeaway: Pop-A-Shot is no longer just a bar room game, it’s must-watch TV.


The 2025 Pop-A-Shot National Championship had everything: underdog stories, legends of the game, breakout stars, and a level of competition that proved this isn’t just an arcade game, it’s a sport. Setzke’s rise from overlooked qualifier to national champion embodies what Pop-A-Shot is all about.

Looking Ahead: The 2026 Season

We’re not slowing down. The road to the 2026 Pop-A-Shot National Championship kicks off this fall. The first chance to qualify for the 2026 National Championship takes place in St. Louis on September 17, 2025, followed by events in Indianapolis on October 23rd and Atlanta on November 20th to wrap up the calendar year before ramping up again early 2026.

More locations, more games, more chances to prove your shot is national championship worthy. Will we see another underdog rise? Will another repeat contender emerge? One thing is clear: the world of Pop-A-Shot is just getting started.

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