Rock Hill is in the spotlight this week. It’s ‘The Mecca of cornhole’. What to know.
Nearly 1,800 cornhole competitors have decended on Rock Hill this week for their chance at jackpots worth thousands of dollars.
In fact, champions in the American Cornhole League’s World Championships will win a total of $375,000.
The ACL championships begin Monday at the Rock Hill Sports and Events Center and culminate in the crowing of the winners on Aug. 7. The highlighted event for this year’s championships is ESPN2’s The Ocho Day at the Superhole III championship on Aug. 5.
Hundreds of spectators are expected at the sports and events center, where the ACL’s headquarters are located. The ACL is the world-wide governing body for professional, competitive and recreational cornhole.
Friday kicked off the USA Cornhole Championships at the sports and events center but changed over today to the ACL World Championships.
“This venue is the Mecca of cornhole,” said Josh Keck, an ACL national director.
This year, cornhole enthusiast Gabe Dolen of Zanesville, Ohio traveled 6.5 hours to compete.
“I am an ultimate competitor,” Dolen said. “I love to win. I don’t like to lose a lot but that comes with the game.”
The 20-year-old Dolen said he is hoping for name recognition and the chance to become a professional. He started playing the game as a teen with his dad in their backyard.
“He taught me a lot, now I’m kind of teaching him some,” Dolen said.
Dolen said he took his love of the game to a new level when he won a tournament hosted by a college buddy at their apartment courtyard. That’s when the pair started traveling to tournaments.
“I just love to compete,” Dolen said. “No matter how big and strong you are — it doesn’t matter, you can get beat by a 12-year-old.”
Cornhole enthusiasts like Dolen will have the chance to watch their favorite professionals compete with celebrities this week.
Eight celebrities will go head-to-head with 8 ACL Pros, competing for a $100,000 jackpot. ESPN2 will feature the events during two broadcasts on Friday, during the Superhole III championship. Celebrities will donate winnings to charity.
The Celebrities include NFL’s Terry Kirby, UFC’s Ultimate Fighting Champion Chris Weidman, Dawn Staley, American basketball Hall-of-Famer and head coach for the University of South Carolina’s women’s basketball team, ESPN’s Marty Smith, NFL’s Jay Cutler, musician Ben Rector, former NFL quarterback Doug Flutie, who won the 2021 ACL World Championship, and Mike “The Situation” Sorrentino.
Sorrentino is a reality TV star from the show “Jersey Shore.” Cast members will be in Rock Hill this week filming for a show reunion episode, Keck said. Celebrity Flavor Flav will be the host.
Amateurs will also compete in the ACL Pro Qualifier and pros will compete for a World Championship title.
The Ocho also will feature lesser-known games, such as kickball, World Axe Throwing League, wiffleball, bullshooter darts, quidditch, dodgeball and air guitar.
The games will be split between the Rock Hill’s Sports and Event Center and Manchester Meadows park.
In addition, a full 24 hours of the games will air on ESPN2, 14.5 of the live events will be in Rock Hill.
Spectators can purchase tickets for the Superhole III event Aug. 5. The VIP tickets are sold out, but general admission and reserved seating are available. Tickets grant entry to the sports and events center from 3 to 10 p.m. and ticket holders can attend The Ocho events between the two ESPN broadcasts.
ACL Cornhole TV (aclcornhole.tv) and the ACL Digital Network (watch.iplayaci.com) will stream The ACL World Championships all week.
For ESPN2’s broadcast of the events, visit iplaycornhole.com for the schedules.
This story was originally published August 1, 2022 at 8:53 AM.
