Pop-A-Shot 2026 Chicago Super Qualifier

By Bryce Smith
Championship, Elite, Events
Jun 17, 2026

Share This Blog
By Bryce Smith
Championship, Elite, Events
Jun 17, 2026

Share

Share

Share

Share
  • The Finalists: Two dark horses who haven’t appeared at a qualifier made it to the finals securing automatic bids to the National Championship.
  • Historic Bubble: The event featured the tightest leaderboard in history, with the top 12 competitors separated by just 15 points (146 to 161) and a score of 133 failing to even make the top 20.
  • National TV: The electric  tournament was recorded for an upcoming broadcast on ESPN2.

Chicago is officially the epicenter of the arcade basketball universe. On June 11, 2026, the Windy City hosted our second action-packed Chicago Pop-A-Shot Super Qualifier 2026 of the year at the massive, beautifully themed Punch Bowl Social in Fulton Market. This marked our third legendary qualifier event in Chicago, following a historic 2024 debut at Barstool River North (where 2024 runner-up Brett Morse-Karzen was first discovered) and a wild 2025 stop at Sluggers in Wrigleyville, which minted eventual 2025 National Champion Scott Setzke.
 

But the 2026 installment? It rewrote the history books. We didn't just see great shooting; we witnessed the tightest leaderboard of competitive scores ever recorded in Pop-A-Shot history.

The Hype: Eager Shooters and a Brutal Bubble

Though official open play wasn't scheduled until 5:00 PM, the hype was real. Competitors began lining up over an hour early, eager to get their hands on the leather and find their rhythm on the four games we had locked and loaded, including two pristine setups designated for the night's final televised bracket.
 

Once the clock struck five, the building was electric. Thanks to the massive reach of our recent Pop-A-Palooza Virtual League, a wave of fresh, elite talent showed up to challenge the seasoned veterans we've come to know by name.

Halfway through the night, the bubble was already historic. A score of 133 points didn't even get you into the tournament bracket, it just barely kept you in the top 20! To make the elite Top 12 cut, shooters had to post a jaw-dropping 146.

 

When the dust settled on open play, the final leaderboard was separated by a razor-thin 15 points from 1st to 12th place:

  1. ONIONS - 161 PTS
  2. JSCHWAB 160 PTS (tiebreaker)
  3. MAP21 160 PTS (tiebreaker)
  4. DANNYK02 - 157 PTS
  5. THE-GLOVE - 155 PTS
  6. RPETERSEN - 154 PTS
  7. JH3 - 152 PTS
  8. BBN8 - 150 PTS
  9. NEUPACC - 149 PTS
  10. ZPL412 - 147 PTS
  11. MELVERUM - 146 PTS (tiebreaker)
  12. DAVIDKIRK - 146 PTS  (tiebreaker)

Round 1: Tiebreakers and Crying Shakes

The opening round pitted seeds 5 through 12 against each other in a Best-of-3 format, and it immediately delivered chaos.

  • #8 BBN8 vs. #9 NEUPACC: NEUPACC (Bobby Derian’s friend from the formidable Skyline Swishers and a locked-in National Championship qualifier) went to war with BBN8. Their first game ended in a dead tie, forcing a rare four-game Best-of-3 series. NEUPACC clutched up at the buzzer to advance.
  • #5 THE-GLOVE vs. #12 DAVIDKIRK: THE-GLOVE (Gary Preston, another Skyline Swishers standout) showed zero mercy, sweeping DAVIDKIRK in two straight games.
  • #7 JH3 vs. #10 ZPL412: JH3, a comedian out of Rochester, NY who literally picked up the game two weeks ago, put up a heroic effort but was ultimately swept by a locked-in ZPL412.
  • #6 RPETERSEN vs. #11 MELVERUM: The bubble-surviving MELVERUM pulled off the upset, taking down RPETERSEN 2-0 to advance.
Alt image

The Quarterfinals: The Night of the Broom

If you like close, dramatic finishes, the Quarterfinals were not for you. If you like absolute, unadulterated dominance, it was a masterclass. Every single matchup ended in a 2-0 sweep.
 

Top-seeded ONIONS (a familiar face at past events and close friend of Brett Morse-Karzen) handled business against NEUPACC. THE-GLOVE stayed white-hot, cooling down #4 DANNYK02 with a clean sweep. On the other side of the bracket, Portland runner-up JSCHWAB comfortably dispatched ZPL412, while MAP21 ended MELVERUM’s underdog run.

The Semifinals: Tickets to the Big Dance

The Semifinals carried monumental stakes. Because this was a Super Qualifier, the winners of these two matchups wouldn't just play for the Chicago title; they would both automatically punch their tickets to the big stage.

Matchup 1: ONIONS vs. THE-GLOVE

This was the entertainment match of the night. Both players brought elite showmanship, trading massive mid-game celebrations and crowd-pleasing antics. But when the lights were brightest, THE-GLOVE’s stroke was unstoppable. He swept ONIONS out of the bracket, punching his ticket to the final tournament to join his Skyline Swishers teammate, Bobby Derian.

Matchup 2: JSCHWAB vs. MAP21

This was the entertainment match of the night. Both players brought elite showmanship, trading massive mid-game celebrations and crowd-pleasing antics. But when the lights were brightest, THE-GLOVE’s stroke was unstoppable. He swept ONIONS out of the bracket, punching his ticket to the final tournament to join his Skyline Swishers teammate, Bobby Derian.

This was the most fiercely competitive, bucket-for-bucket matchup of the entire evening. MAP21 (Mitch Phillis), a total dark horse who emerged from the virtual ranks to play in his very first live Qualifier Event, went toe-to-toe with the veteran JSCHWAB. In a brilliant display of endurance and rapid-fire accuracy, the newcomer pulled off the stunning upset to secure his own trip to the finals.

The Finals: Bragging Rights

With national berths already secured, MAP21 and THE-GLOVE faced off one last time for pure Chicago bragging rights.

The two newly crowned champions put on an absolute clinic for the roaring Fulton Market crowd. Ultimately, MAP21 put an exclamation point on his debut weekend, capturing the crown with a blistering 160-144 victory over THE-GLOVE.

What's Next? Catch the Action on ESPN2!

Missed out on the action live at Punch Bowl Social? Don't sweat it. The entire final tournament bracket was fully recorded and is currently being packaged for a national broadcast on ESPN2 in the coming weeks. Keep your eyes peeled on our social channels for official air dates and times!

None of this happens without great partners. Punch Bowl Social delivered a world-class venue that matched the energy of our biggest qualifier yet, and Liquid Death showed up with three custom Pop-A-Shot inspired cocktails the Coconut Crossover, Full Court Lime, and The Point Guard that had the crowd as fired up as the competitors.
 

Think you have what it takes to survive a historic bubble and trade buckets with the best in the world? Check out our official Elite Competitors Page to track the leaderboard, or register for an upcoming live tournament near you.

 

Congratulations to Mitch Phillis (MAP21) and Gary Preston (THE-GLOVE), we'll see you at Nationals!

Reads You May Enjoy

Championship, Elite, Events

Pop-A-Shot 2026 Chicago Super Qualifier

Between the tornado warnings, a historically tight leaderboard, and 2 new faces winning it all; the Pop-A-Shot Chicago Super Qualifier had it all!

Read More
Title
By Bryce Smith
Jun 17, 2026
Championship, Elite, Events

Pop-A-Shot 2026 Portland Championship Qualifier

NickyBucketz punched his ticket to the 2026 National Championship after a thrilling Game 5 thriller at QuarterWorld Arcade in Portland, Oregon.

Read More
Title
By Bryce Smith
May 19, 2026
Championship, Elite, Events

Pop-A-Shot 2026 New York City Championship Qualifier

The road to the 2026 Pop-A-Shot National Championship made a historic stop in Astoria, Queens. With 110 competitors and a record-breaking qualifying score of 148, the New York Qualifier was our most intense competition to date.

Read More
Title
By Bryce Smith
Apr 29, 2026
Championship, Elite, Events

Pop-A-Shot 2026 Chicago Super Qualifier

Between the tornado warnings, a historically tight leaderboard, and 2 new faces winning it all; the Pop-A-Shot Chicago Super Qualifier had it all!

Read More
Title
By Bryce Smith
Jun 17, 2026
Championship, Elite, Events

Pop-A-Shot 2026 Portland Championship Qualifier

NickyBucketz punched his ticket to the 2026 National Championship after a thrilling Game 5 thriller at QuarterWorld Arcade in Portland, Oregon.

Read More
Title
By Bryce Smith
May 19, 2026
Championship, Elite, Events

Pop-A-Shot 2026 New York City Championship Qualifier

The road to the 2026 Pop-A-Shot National Championship made a historic stop in Astoria, Queens. With 110 competitors and a record-breaking qualifying score of 148, the New York Qualifier was our most intense competition to date.

Read More
Title
By Bryce Smith
Apr 29, 2026
Championship, Elite, Events

Pop-A-Shot 2026 Chicago Super Qualifier

Between the tornado warnings, a historically tight leaderboard, and 2 new faces winning it all; the Pop-A-Shot Chicago Super Qualifier had it all!

Read More
Title
By Bryce Smith
Jun 17, 2026
Championship, Elite, Events

Pop-A-Shot 2026 Portland Championship Qualifier

NickyBucketz punched his ticket to the 2026 National Championship after a thrilling Game 5 thriller at QuarterWorld Arcade in Portland, Oregon.

Read More
Title
By Bryce Smith
May 19, 2026
Championship, Elite, Events

Pop-A-Shot 2026 New York City Championship Qualifier

The road to the 2026 Pop-A-Shot National Championship made a historic stop in Astoria, Queens. With 110 competitors and a record-breaking qualifying score of 148, the New York Qualifier was our most intense competition to date.

Read More
Title
By Bryce Smith
Apr 29, 2026
Home, How To

Spring Clean and Make Room for a Pop-A-Shot Game

Turn that seasonal refresh into a family reset that ends with your first tip-off together. A tidy corner becomes your joyful family arena, proving small spaces host big memories.

Read More
Title
By Mr. Pop
Apr 21, 2026