Each day for 21 days, leading up to the 2016 Batcave Masters major pinball tournament to be held May 13th-15th, we will take a look at one of the players competing for top honours in this prestigious event. Who will be the next player spotlight out of the 60 players competing? Find out tomorrow!
14 of 21 - Richard Rhodes
Pictured here winning the Australian AC/DC Pinball Championship (and holding the keys to a shiny new AC/DC pinball machine), with Gary Stern (Stern Pinball) and Mark Evans (AC/DC band member) at either side. Photo by the Australian Pinball League.
Region: Sydney NSW
Australian Rank: 2nd
Years Competing: 5
Best Result: 1st place - 2016 Auckland Pincade Pinball Championship (74 players)
Average Finishing Position: 8th
2015 Batcave Masters Placing: 4th
Monkey on his Back: Daniele Acciari, Italy (0 wins against, 9 losses, 1 draw)
Notes: Where do you start with a player like Richard Rhodes? One of only three people to have attained the rank of number one in Australia along with Steve Edwards and Peter Watt, and one of only three to have cracked the top 100 in the world. Richard is without a single doubt one of the best players in the world, and will rack up scores on machines that even exceptionally good players can only dream about. The great thing about Richard is that not only is he a very serious player who will exploit the table for everything it can give - as the best players in the world will do - but he absolutely loves others just enjoying the game; he gets a genuine kick out of someone ‘blowing it up’, even if it’s against him in a match. Sometimes this enthusiasm can be seen as blunt and to the point commentary or criticism, but it is just a manifestation of his passion for high level play. An ambassador of events that he believes in (New Zealand Pincade in particular!), Richard wants you to enjoy competitive pinball as much as he does. If you get to play Richard at a pinball meet or event, just keep a cautious eye out - the chances of Tim Chapman man-hugs in the area dramatically increases when Richard is around.