CHARLESTON, W.Va. — It’s not a game, it’s way of life. More than 350 competitive cornhole players from around the country are in Charleston this week for the 9th annual American Cornhole Organization’s World Championship.
ACO President Frank Geers says just a decade ago the sport didn’t exist.
“When I got involved with the game nine years ago, it was just that, a backyard thing that people would play at a BBQ or a church festival. I looked at it and I said, ‘This could be a competition! This is competition! People are competitive with this! Why isn’t anybody organizing it as a competitive sport?’ That’s where (the ACO) comes into play. We have now taken this backyard game and decided to organize it as a competitive sport,” explained Geers.
Just how competitive? Geers said the players have sponsors, spend thousands of dollars traveling to the championship and play to win.
“It’s a tournament now that has all these diehards that come out and compete against each other. These are the best cornhole players in the world having a great time eating, drinking and partying together as well,” Geers said. “But they take it very seriously, very seriously!”
The preliminary match-ups are underway. The finals will be held this weekend. Geers said some prestigious titles are on the line.
“The King of Cornhole is the title that crowns the number one player in the world and on the planet. And we have the Queen of Cornhole, the title claimed by the best female player.”
However, Geers explained a Queen can become a King if the champ is a woman. Geers said they have several women who are just as competitive as the men. They’ll also crown champs in doubles and the senior division.
Geers said the championship will only continue to grow. This year they have competitors representing 17 states and the game continues to gain popularity in the south and even out west. Teams from the Netherlands and Australia have already signed up to participate in next year’s championship, taking it world-wide.
For more on the championships, log on to americancornhole.com.