A weekend of flying bean bags could put Tri-Cities on national cornhole map
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- The first ACL Tri-Cities Open runs at Pasco HAPO Center.
- Around 300 players from across the country, including local competitors, will compete.
- Tournament will award over $25,000 in prizes from player-contributed prize pools.
Some of the country's best cornhole players are headed to Pasco this weekend, bringing a national-level competition to the Tri-Cities for the first time.
The American Cornhole League (ACL) is putting on the first Tri-Cities Open, starting June 18 through June 21 in the HAPO Center.
Some 300 players from around the nation and Washington will compete in front of expected crowds of up to 1,200 or more, say organizers. The event will be streamed on ESPN+, YouTube and Facebook.
Cody Lewis, member of the board and a player for the 3 City Slingers, said he wouldn’t be surprised if every state in the country had representation in the tournament.
The 3 City Slingers is a Tri-City-based cornhole club.
Lewis and Mark Leonard, Washington’s American Cornhole League state director, club president of the 3 City Slingers and player, are both founding members of the program. They have played a large role in promoting this weekend’s events.
“In this kind of game, a pro could be partnered up with a beginner or someone just starting out,” Leonard said.
On the days of the actual competition, players will have entered into their chosen division, upper or lower, and applicable category in which they’ll compete. Women, men and children of all ages and skills will be able to play.
The American Cornhole League has primarily put its focus on the eastern and southern states, Lewis said. This weekend could be a turning point for cornhole on the West Coast.
“The hope is that we can extend the Open into 2027,” Lewis said.
The HAPO Center is providing concessions, coffee and a bar and is assisting the 3 City Slingers in set-up, Lewis said. Leonard and ACL National Director Michael Gonzales will be running the tournament along with tournament director Kat Kennedy-Halbert.
ACL will provide two vendors, Bag Queens and Underworld Cornhole, selling custom bags and apparel.
Over $25,000 in prizes and cash will be dispersed among the winners throughout the tournament from the pot of money that players must pay to enter. Event registration fees range from $25 to $200 based on the event.
The tournament is open to the public to watch, with free parking available at the HAPO Center.
While everyone is encouraged to register and participate, the league places a cap on the number of amateur players who aren’t contracted as an ACL league player.
Tri-Cities events
Singles competition is divided into five skill-based tiers determined by a player’s Cornhole Performance Index (CPI), with competitors required to play at their assigned level or higher. Players compete in double-elimination brackets within their tier, and top finishers advance to a final, single-elimination bracket for trophies, cash payouts and prizes.
Doubles competition begins with a round-robin format over six rounds, where teams are matched against opponents with similar records and each game is played to 21 points. After those rounds, teams are filed into four skill-based tiers and compete in double-elimination brackets for prizes, trophies and payouts.
Blind Draw competition randomly pairs players with partners and is divided into three skill-based divisions based on CPI ratings. Competitors must play within their designated division, with teams competing for cash payouts and trophies based on their final placement.
The Crew Cup is a team-based double-elimination tournament featuring two divisions: Upper Crew, which is open to all players, and Lower Crew, which is limited to teams with no player above a 7.25 CPI rating. Teams compete in a 14-round format for trophies and cash payouts based on final standings.
Schedule
Friday, June 19
8 a.m. - Doors Open
9 a.m. - Open Women’s, Senior, Junior Singles
9 a.m. - College Singles
1 p.m. - College Doubles
1 p.m. - High School Doubles
2 p.m. - Crew Cup
2 p.m. - USA Forces Doubles
4 p.m. - Open Women’s, Senior, Junior Doubles
6 p.m. - Divisional Blind Draws
Saturday, June 20
8 a.m. - Doors Open
9 a.m. - Open Doubles Rounders
Sunday, June 21
8 a.m. - Doors Open
9 a.m. - Singles: Tiers 1, 4, 5
Noon - Singles: Tiers 2 & 3