Beer pong champions test their stamina — and sobriety

Bill Hughes

The intense concentration. The trash talking. The massive amount of beer. All integral parts of the World Series of Beer Pong.

Chris Bitonti

Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2012 | 4:57 p.m.

“Keep your focus, and keep sober.” That is the key to beer pong glory, at least, according to Ross “the Boss” Hampton. And he should know, having been one half of Seek ’N Destroy, this year’s World Series of Beer Pong champions and the event’s 2012 MVP.

Yes, it was binge-drinking season again last week, when 450 of the world’s finest competitive beer pong duos descended upon Las Vegas to compete in the seventh annual World Series at the Flamingo Las Vegas. Teams comprising bros and dudes filled the room, all vying to take that victory stumble around the hallowed arena, collect the $50,000 grand prize—and a place in sports immortality.

It’s hard to describe the atmosphere at the World Series of Beer Pong to someone who has never experienced it, but I’ll give it a shot. You know that guy in college who always took beer pong a little too seriously? That guy who disputed every cup and over-celebrated every shot? That guy who’d get so heated after losing that no one else could have a good time? Yeah, that guy. Well, if you gathered almost a thousand of them in a convention room, set up a three-day tournament and put their egos on steroids, you would have the World Series of Beer Pong.

This year’s tournament was fraught with rule disputes, fights, damage to Flamingo property, flipped tables and even a few tears. But that shouldn’t take away from Seek ’N Destroy’s impressive tournament run. The champs made it to the final table with a 21-0 record and “the Boss” shooting 9-for-9 in the last game of the best-of-three finals. Even if they had to take a couple of breaks during the match to partake in a screaming duel with a heckling fan and take a bathroom break.

Don’t get me wrong, I love beer pong. I think it is one of, if not, the greatest drinking games ever invented. And the World Series of Beer Pong is harmless. If nothing else, it gives aged frat boys a chance to reclaim freshman year and maybe go a little overboard. Which also means it has found the perfect home here in Las Vegas.