The final table at this year’s World Series of Beer Pong was filled with familiar faces. But in the end, a new champion was crowned as Drinkin’ Smokin’ Straight West Coastin’ beat two-time WSOBP champion Smashing Time to win the World Series of Beer Pong VIII.
The teammates from California, Michael “Sonoma Joe” Sievert and Timothy “Byron” Findley, long considered two of the games premier players, have tasted success before. Both players have won numerous high-stakes beer pong tournaments, both individually and as teammates. But in what is rumored to be their final World Series of Beer Pong appearance, DSSWC finally claimed the elusive title of World Champions and its grand prize of $50,000.
“Feels pretty incredible,” Michael Sievert said of the win. “In everything I have ever done in life I have strived to be the best at what I do, and I have finally accomplished that with beer pong and it feels great.”
Making the final table for their first time in WSOBP play was no easy task. In winning their pod, they outlasted WSOBP VI champions “Standing Ovation” and one of last year’s winners, Ross Hampton, of “DanegeRoss.” As a reward for their difficult pod, they had the luxury of facing the only two-time World Series of Beer Pong champions, Michael “Pop” Popielarski and Ron Hamilton of “Smashing Time,” winners of WSOBP IV and WSOBP V in the finals.
While the day started with 160 teams hoping to take home the giant-sized check, the field was quickly narrowed to 128 teams after the single-elimination play-in round. The winners of each of the 16 pods then played in the Sweet 16 round, which left Smashing Time vs. Zach Gilkison and Ricky Posada of “The Blueprint” and DSSWC vs. Richard “Chewie” Patchett and Paul Toland of “Captain Esquire” in the Final Four.
Team “Albuquerque Owes Us Handjobs” was the #1 overall seed heading into the final day of competition with a 12-0 record in prelims and record +63 cup differential. Teammates Nolan Jones and Grady Hunt lost in the finals of Pod 1 to “Boom Goes the Dynamite,” teammates Michael Gramer and Ryan Rossell. Boom Goes the Dynamite was later eliminated by “The Blueprint” in the Elite 8.
Please check back soon for photos and more coverage of this year’s World Series of Beer Pong.
WEST COAST IS THE BEST COAST!