# 2025 Stern Pro Circuit Championship

**Source:** Stern Pinball  
**Type:** video  
**Published:** 2025-10-28  
**Duration:** 2m 46s  
**Beat:** Pinball

**URL:** https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9AzM7poFt2Y

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## Analysis

Stern Pinball video coverage of the 2025 Stern Pro Circuit Championship featuring a new challenge-based, timed format. The tournament culminated 20 qualifying events with 32 finalists competing in objective-based challenges. Zach McCarthy won the championship with a notably fast completion time, earning a Stern pinball machine and championship belt.

### Key Claims

- [HIGH] The 2025 Stern Pro Circuit Championship uses a new all challenge-based, race-against-the-clock format — _Stern Pinball official championship video intro_
- [HIGH] The championship culminated from 20 qualifying events held over the past year — _Championship narrator/official commentary_
- [HIGH] 32 finalists competed in the 2025 championship — _Championship narrator statement: 'All 32 players that we saw today'_
- [HIGH] Zach McCarthy won the 2025 Stern Pro Circuit Championship — _Championship narrator: 'Zach McCarthy comes out on top with an insanely quick time'_
- [HIGH] Jack Slobicek won Pinball Expo last year — _Championship narrator identifying top competitors: 'Jack Slobicek who won Expo last year'_
- [HIGH] The tournament format involved timed challenges where players stop a timer upon completing objectives — _Participant commentary: 'You hold both hands on the timer, and then once it starts, you're good to go. And then as soon as you complete the challenge, you stop it.'_
- [HIGH] The timed challenge format eliminated long wait times between turns and kept the tournament moving quickly — _Participant commentary: 'The tournament was moving quickly. You were just playing constantly. You didn't have to wait for long games.'_

### Notable Quotes

> "The format this year is all challenge based. It's all race against the clock."
> — **[name withheld pending review]**, Opening
> _Establishes the major format change for the 2025 championship_

> "Honestly, any tournament, you give me an objective, I will do that thing."
> — **[name withheld pending review]**, Early commentary
> _Expresses enthusiasm for the objective-based format_

> "Usually when you play under pressure and you have a lot of stress, try to play it slowly. But here, you can't really play it slowly."
> — **[name withheld pending review]**, Format discussion
> _Highlights how the timed format creates different pressure dynamics than traditional tournaments_

> "I representing Italy I can say my playing style is on fly because when I play pinball, I have to be fun. If I not fun, I play very bad."
> — **[name withheld pending review]**, Competitor profile
> _Shows international participation and personal playing philosophy_

> "I wouldn't be shocked if they win."
> — **[name withheld pending review]**, Pre-finals assessment
> _References Swedish competitors Arvid and Vigo as strong contenders_

> "Zach McCarthy comes out on top with an insanely quick time."
> — **[name withheld pending review]**, Finals announcement
> _Official declaration of championship winner_

> "Yeah, that was blindingly fast."
> — **[name withheld pending review]**, Post-finals reaction
> _Emphasizes the exceptional speed of Zach McCarthy's winning performance_

### Entities

| Name | Type | Context |
|------|------|---------|
| Stern Pro Circuit Championship | event | 2025 annual championship event organized by Stern Pinball featuring new challenge-based format with 32 finalists from 20 qualifying tournaments |
| Stern Pinball Inc. | company | Official organizer and sponsor of the championship; providing prize machine and Mountain Dew sponsorship |
| Zach McCarthy | person | Elite pinball tournament player; winner of the 2025 Stern Pro Circuit Championship with notably fast completion time |
| Jack Slobicek | person | Competitive pinball player; identified as winner of Pinball Expo last year, top competitor in 2025 championship |
| Mountain Dew | company | Official sponsor of the 2025 Stern Pro Circuit Championship |
| Arvid | person | Swedish pinball competitor identified as strong finalist contender |
| Vigo | person | Swedish pinball competitor identified as strong finalist contender |
| Keith Elwin | person | Pinball player referenced as source of gameplay inspiration for international competitors |
| Nick Lane | person | Pinball player referenced as source of gameplay inspiration for international competitors |
| Freeman Davidson | person | Tournament participant mentioned as progressing through championship rounds |
| Mimamichi | person | Tournament finalist described as fierce, relentless competitor |
| Pinball Expo | event | Major annual pinball exposition where Jack Slobicek won championship last year |

### Signals

- **[event_signal]** 2025 Stern Pro Circuit Championship introduces entirely new challenge-based, timed format replacing traditional match play structure used in prior championships (confidence: high) — Championship narrator: 'The format this year is all challenge based. It's all race against the clock.' This represents a significant departure from ladder finals format mentioned in KB context for 2020 edition
- **[competitive_signal]** Participants express strong positive reception to new timed challenge format, noting benefits for pacing, tournament flow, and elimination of wait times (confidence: high) — Participant: 'The tournament was moving quickly. You were just playing constantly. You didn't have to wait for long games. It moved great. It was really fun.'
- **[competitive_signal]** Zach McCarthy demonstrated exceptional speed in winning the championship, with observers noting his performance was 'blindingly fast' and 'insanely quick' (confidence: high) — Championship narrator and post-match commentary emphasizing extraordinary speed of McCarthy's winning times
- **[community_signal]** 2025 championship featured diverse international competitors including players from Italy and Sweden, expanding the competitive circuit's global reach (confidence: high) — Italian competitor stating 'I representing Italy' and Swedish competitors Arvid and Vigo noted as strong contenders
- **[event_signal]** 2025 Stern Pro Circuit Championship maintained 32-finalist format from prior year, with qualifying through 20 regional/international events (confidence: high) — Championship narrator: 'All 32 players that we saw today' and 'This is everyone culminating from 20 events that happened over the past year'
- **[competitive_signal]** Challenge-based format fundamentally changes competitive strategy by preventing slow, methodical play under pressure and requiring speed-focused execution (confidence: high) — Participant commentary: 'Usually when you play under pressure and you have a lot of stress, try to play it slowly. But here, you can't really play it slowly.'
- **[business_signal]** Mountain Dew secured title sponsorship of 2025 Stern Pro Circuit Championship, signaling continued corporate partnership investment in competitive pinball (confidence: high) — Opening narration: 'brought to you by Mountain Dew'

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## Transcript

Welcome to the Stern Pro Circuit Championship brought to you by Mountain Dew. The format this year is all challenge based. It's all race against the clock. This is everyone culminating from 20 events that happened over the past year. The format is objective based spinning. I love objective-based spinball. Honestly, any tournament, you give me an objective, I will do that thing. You hold both hands on the timer, and then once it starts, you're good to go. And then as soon as you complete the challenge, you stop it. I think it's fun and interesting that it's a new quick time. Usually when you play under pressure and you have a lot of stress, try to play it slowly. But here, you can't really play it slowly. Yeah, the tournament was moving quickly. You were just playing constantly. You didn't have to wait for long games. It was almost always your turn to go. It moved great. It was really fun. Well done, Mr. Freeman Davidson, progressing. The prize is this sweet belt. Cast a brand pinball machine from Stern Pinball. Top competitors at least today for this event you have Zach McCarthy, Jack Slobicek who won Expo last year. I representing Italy I can say my playing style is on fly because when I play pinball, I have to be fun. If I not fun, I play very bad. I like to watch other player because I can learn something. For example, I watch a lot Keith Elwin and Nick Sane. There's also Arvid and Vigo, who are here from Sweden. I wouldn't be shocked if they win. I haven't practiced any techniques to turn off and on the timers. I try to not knock it over. We are almost there. We are entering the finals. All 32 players that we saw today are fabulous players. Congrats to them all. They all fought valiantly to get here, and they fought valiantly here. And Zach McCarthy comes out on top with an insanely quick time. Yeah, that was blindingly fast. So, very excited, just fresh off it. Yeah, it was a great tournament. Brand new, it's nerd, Mimamichi. He's a fierce competitor, he's never out of it, and he's relentless. Best word to describe it.

_(Acquisition: youtube_groq_whisper, Enrichment: v3)_

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*Exported from Journalist Tool on 2026-08-04 | Item ID: 0a68fe3f-dadf-45a6-b9bf-ec5e6f3ef270*