Skip to content
Pinball Profile
200 episodes tracked since 2020 about →
Copied!

Episode 368: Donna Wai

PodcastAnalysis updated 3d ago26 min listen
From the creator

It would be tough to find someone who doesn't love the social aspect of pinball more than Donna. She is always looking forward to the next event, willing to assist, and see strangers that become...

Highlights

  • Donna won the grand championship/highest score on Break Shot at the Louisville Arcade Expo tournament after playing the game for the first time
  • Donna finished sixth in the Whipped tournament at Pinberg (128 women competitors) in her first Pinberg attendance
  • Donna won her first ever tournament at a Stern Deadpool launch party, defeating Jeff Teolis in the final
  • Donna started playing competitive pinball in March (prior to the interview/Pinberg attendance)
  • Donna consistently makes the Ontario provincial pinball finals

Notable quotes

I have no interest, none at all, because I like the social aspect. I've gone to tournaments and the number of people I've met, I love the people. The community is what does it for me.
Donna Wai
I just hit the flippers... I just want to play, meet people and talk and have a good time.
Donna Wai
I think the more I know a game, the worse I play. So sometimes I'd rather play something I've never seen before.
Donna Wai
When you look at all the different sports communities, associations, you know, pinball has a unique group of people. They're probably the more friendly of all the groups if you think about it.
Donna Wai
Anybody on any given day. But the main thing is you're having fun and you're meeting people.
Donna Wai
I played games I'd never played before, and that's when I seem to play the best. It's like, just go and have fun and just play, and who cares?
Donna Wai
I don't go with the thought, oh, I'm going to go win. Because I know, yes, sometimes I'll have that great game. I'm not consistent. And I'm okay with that.
Donna Wai

Entities

  • Chicago Expo· event
  • Louisville Arcade Expo· event
  • Pinberg· event
  • Played in America Tour· event
  • The Beast· event
  • Yagpin· event
  • Break Shot· game
  • Pinball Profile· media
  • Bang Back Pinball Lounge· organization
  • Game Terminal· organization
  • Maple Pinball· organization
  • Marco Pinball· organization
  • Pocketeer Billiards· organization
  • Rec Bar· organization
  • Rochester Pinball Collective (RPC)· organization
  • Angela Fisher· person
  • Bowen Kerins· person
  • Donna Wai· person
  • Elizabeth Gieske· person
  • Escher Lefkoff· person
  • Holly Koskinen· person
  • Jeff Teolis· person
  • Raymond Davidson· person
  • Shane Jackson· person
  • Wayne Rouse· person

More from Pinball Profile

→ All content from Pinball Profile
Pinball ProfilePodcast1w ago

Episode 439: Emily Reilhan

30 min listen

Talk about a banner year…and it’s only June! Emily has won everything under the sun so far in 2026 as you’ll hear, including the Women’s World Championship, the WNACS, the first ever Women’s...