2026 Cornhole Tournament

These cornhole summaries are usually just that, a summary. This year I wanted to share some of the stories that some may not be privy to.

What started as a 19-team cornhole tournament eventually became a 16-team, single-elimination battle to determine who would claim bragging rights for our 8^th official tournament. And because this is the Bastards Reunion, naturally nothing could be as simple as throwing bags at a board until somebody scored 21 points.

From 19 Teams to 16 – The Confusion

At one point, we had 19 teams signed up and were planning to run a double-elimination tournament. The first double-elimination since 2022. After further review, we discovered that after a lot of chaos setting it up and a multitasking error, someone had ended up on two teams, while two others decided they didn’t want to play after all. That brought us down to a much more manageable 16-team bracket.

We originally intended to make it double elimination, but the reunion weekend had plenty of other activities competing for everyone’s time. Between fishing, golfing, shopping, and everything else going on, we decided single elimination gave us the best chance of actually finishing the tournament.

Those familiar with Bastards Reunion cornhole history know this is a legitimate concern. Somewhere out there, the 2021 cornhole tournament is technically still in progress. When we finally get that year’s teams back together at the same reunion, maybe we’ll finish it.

As it turned out, we probably had enough time for double elimination this year anyway. We just didn’t realize the final championship game was going to become a long drawn out process.

Randomizing the Seeds…Again

Before anyone could throw a bag, we first had to determine the bracket. Challonge.com initially seeded the teams in the order they were entered, so obviously we needed to randomize it.

And randomize it.

And perhaps randomize it a few more times.

Without naming names, there may or may not have been someone that took advantage of the Randomize Seeds button until his team received a more favorable path through the bracket. I’ll simply point out that the team supposedly benefiting from all this careful “randomization” was eliminated right out of the gate by the team containing his own wife.

Sometimes the bracket administers its own justice.

The Road to the Championship

Once play began, things actually moved along pretty smoothly.

The defending champions, Linda & Mooney, defeated Reina & Doyle in the opening round before taking down Shelly & Sara in Round 2. They then faced TT & DT in the semifinals and won 21–12 to earn another trip to the championship.

On the other side of the bracket, Nidy & I opened with a win over iallotta & Dietz before defeating the Deorzios in Round 2.

That set up a semifinal against Shaggy Balls.

For those unfamiliar with the significance of that match-up, Shaggy Balls have basically been the final Boss of Bastard’s Cornhole. Whenever they are at the reunion and able to play together, they win. Single elimination, double elimination – it hasn’t mattered. Sure, Shaggy Balls have lost a match or two in years past but whenever these two get together, they always manage to eliminate everyone else to take home bragging rights.

Not this time Satan.

Nidy & I remain the only team to ever knock Shaggy Balls out of the tournament winning 21–11 and earning a spot in the championship.

What followed was less a cornhole championship and more an experiment in government bureaucracy.

The final stage:

And Then the Board Got Involved…

The Bastards Reunion Board consists of six members, including yours truly. However, since I was playing in the championship with Nidy, I was understandably stripped of my voting privileges for matters concerning the game.

Before the championship began, the two teams agreed on which boards and bags we wanted to use. Apparently, this level of cooperation could not be allowed to stand.

The five remaining board members who, apparently bitter about their inability to throw bags well enough to reach the championship themselves, suddenly discovered an intense interest in cornhole governance. It began with a mix and not match of boards, bags and several secret meetings as to what will eventually happen. This began the rules changing progressively as the game went along.

After the game started, it was decided that apparently, we needed a halftime. Eventually at halftime, the teams were required to change sides as well as switch bags. I’m surprised we didn’t switch partners! The Board had spoken.

Am I bitter? Only a little. It was entertaining and comical. It would have been funnier if I hadn’t been playing in the final round lol. In the end, I understand what they were trying to do and I thank them for that.

It was a great halftime show despite NOT having a wardrobe malfunction.

Back-to-Back Champions

Eventually, despite halftime, musical chairs, rotating equipment, legislative intervention, and whatever other obstacles the Board could manufacture, somebody actually managed to win the damn thing.

Linda & Mooney defeated Nidy & Szanto 21–16 to successfully defend their championship.

That makes Linda & John back-to-back Bastards Reunion Cornhole Champions.

Nidy & Szanto will have to settle for second place this year after finishing third last year, although we’ll continue reminding everyone that we’re still the only team that has ever knocked Shaggy Balls out of the bracket.

Congratulations to the finalists on surviving not only the tournament but also the championship rules committee.

The Pot

Linda and John threw this year’s $320 winnings back into the pot increasing the overall pot to $3,131. Rather than have that money sitting in the ammo can, I will open a high yield savings account to earn a considerable amount of interest on these winnings and protect it in the bank.

Until Next Year

Will next year’s tournament place Nidy and me in 1st? Who the hell knows.

Maybe we’ll even finish the 2021 tourney.

One thing we have learned from this year’s tournament is that single elimination does not necessarily save time when five Board members are standing nearby with the authority to invent rules.

Congratulations again to Linda & Mooney, our 2026 champions, and thanks to everyone who played, watched, heckled, complained about the seeding, manipulated the seeding, denied manipulating the seeding, or served on the completely unnecessary championship rules committee.

Another successful Bastards Reunion Cornhole Tournament is officially in the books.