St. Louis Pop-A-Shot Tournament Delivers High Scores, Big Names, and a Nail-Biting Finish
 
By Bryce Smith
Events
May 30, 2025

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By Bryce Smith
Events
May 30, 2025

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The road to the 2025 Pop-A-Shot National Championship made its next big stop in St. Louis on May 22, and the competition was as intense as ever.

Held in the heart of the city, the St. Louis Pop-A-Shot tournament saw 122 contestants come out swinging during our four-hour open play session. With lines consistently stacked 60 to 75 deep at any given moment, players had their eyes on the prize: a coveted ticket to the National Championship this August. Whether it was locals rolling in after work or travelers flying in from places like Brooklyn, D.C., Kansas City, and Atlanta, the energy was electric.

Familiar Faces and Fierce Competition

The scene wasn’t just filled with hopeful amateurs. This qualifier attracted some serious names from the Pop-A-Shot circuit. We saw familiar faces from our San Antonio Qualifier on April 6, including Brett Morse Karzen, the 2024 Pop-A-Shot National Championship runner-up.

And in a twist that adds to the Pop-A-Shot legend, former Super Bowl-winning QB Brad Johnson (aka Big Bad Brad) stepped into the lane, proving he’s just as competitive with a basketball in hand as he was with a football.

For most of the evening, Big Bad Brad held the top score with a 136. That lead was broken when Brett Morse Karzen knocked down a 137 just an hour before finals. But not long after that, Michael Pashkow (aka PKOW) one-upped them both with a blistering 139, a score that would hold as the highest of the night.

Still, the depth of talent was clear. The top scorer from the San Antonio event placed 9th and missed the finals entirely, with the cutoff to qualify sitting at 124 points.

 

Register Today

Pop-A-Shot Finals Tournament Recap

The finals tournament, structured as a best-of-three format in the opening rounds and semifinals, delivered major upsets and highlight moments. Three higher seeds were knocked out in the first round, including #2 seed Brett Morse Karzen, #3 seed Big Bad Brad, and the #4 seed LaFleur. Only top-seeded Pashkow held strong and advanced to the semifinals.

The semi-final matchups delivered some of the highest scoring action of the night, with players dropping scores well into the 130s. In the end, it came down to #1 seed PKOW and #6 seed KevinC in a best-of-five final with a trip to the Pop-A-Shot National Championship on the line.
Poster

Pashkow jumped out to a two-game lead. KevinC answered back with his best score of the night, a sizzling 137 point performance. Game 4 was a heart-pounding thriller, with Pashkow edging out KevinC 128-127 in the final seconds to secure his spot in the National Championship.

And while I’m not one for hot takes, I’m going to put it out there and say it will be less than 25 years before the next Pop-A-Shot National Championship. Why? Because people nationwide keep asking for it!

 

I’ve lost track of the number of letters I’ve received on my computer (editor’s correction: emails) saying they could beat Champion Josh Caputo’s highest score of 153, and a few of them have already proved it! I see nine scores of 150+ on our Pop-A-Shot Leaderboard including one from our 2024 Championship runner-up Brett Morse-Karzen. 2nd place never sleeps! 

 

The watercooler chatter at Pop-A-Shot HQ is that 2025 may have more than a National Championship tournament. There’s potential for leagues and local tourneys at your neighborhood bar (order a Pabst for me), as well as 3-4 regional tournaments leading up to the Natty. 

Register today if you’d like to be the first to hear about these additional competitions.  And make sure to note if you’re interested in hosting one. We had 250 players show up to our qualifying tournament on a Wednesday, sooooo, that’s not a bad bar tab.

Play In Upcoming Pop-A-Shot Tournaments

Think you’ve got what it takes to compete in a Pop-A-Shot tournament and possibly earn your place at the Pop-A-Shot National Championship?

Stay updated on upcoming qualifier locations and dates by visiting the Pop-A-Shot National Series page.

Ready to step up and take your shot? Register for the next qualifier and start your journey to the big stage.

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