ESPN's World Armwrestling League comes to Lakemoor for Illinois championship this Sunday!
Professional arm-wrestlers from ESPN's World Armwrestling League are set to descend on Lakemoor this Sunday as the league's 50 State Championship Series hits the Land of Lincoln to crown the best male and female competitors in the state!
Scores of elite-level "pullers" (yes, they exist) will converge on Longshot Sports Pub at 1 p.m. Sunday for the Illinois championships, which are open to amateur and experienced competitors alike.
More than nine million viewers tuned in to ESPN this summer to watch the World Armwrestling League take "pulling" mainstream, and pullers battled for more than $500,000 in the WAL's 2015 campaign.
The winner of Saturday's state tournament will earn an automatic bye into the regional qualifying stage of the WAL's 2016 season, along with TV time on ESPN and their own shot at thousands in prize money.
Sunday's event will also feature WAL left arm super heavyweight champ Travis "The Beast" Bagent. Travis' scary appearance is inversely proportional to his friendliness, and the pillar of pulling will be on hand to offer newbies tips on the finer points of the sport during a 10 a.m. seminar.
Here is Travis on ESPN's Sports Science, breaking down the subtle technique and strategy behind arm-wrestling:
http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=13485649
He'll also throw down with Kent Damore, a McHenry resident with 27 years at the arm-wrestling table.
The pro pulling scene is a congenial one, full of competitors who are insane at the table but supportive to newbies away from it, so come on out and learn how to pull!
Full details for Sunday's event can be found at www.walunderground.com/events.
Does the WAL sound familiar? You might have recently seen WAL champ Devon Larratt effortlessly pin The Mountain from Game of Thrones, a testament to the fact that bicep size does not make a winner at the table.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IkkL-bAH8H4
Facebook: /WorldArmwrestlingLeague
Twitter/IG: @WALUnderground
WALUnderground.com
About the WAL:
Based in Chicago, the World Armwrestling League is the largest and fastest growing professional league in the world, featuring intense matches, a high-energy and up-close fan experience, and the sport's top superstars. We are an inclusive league dedicated to introducing the sport to new arm-wrestlers and encouraging participation at every level, and we believe everyone has the ability to develop the strength, technique and strategy it takes to compete in "The Pit."
Arm-wrestling is one of humankind's universal forms of competition: virtually everyone has put their elbow on a table and gripped up with a friend or rival. It's the world's most popular method of score-settling and a universal test of strength. Arm-wrestling combines grit, tactics and mettle in a highly-accessible format that draws competitors from all walks of life, from school teachers to oil rig workers. When you're in The Pit, it's not about what you do or where you come from, it's about one thing: what you're made of.