44, Pinball Pro
Why He’s Interesting: Currently ranked 30th by the International Flipper Pinball Association, Delzoppo won a pinball state championship in 2015 and has competed in some of the world’s toughest competitions, including the World Championships. In 2014, he founded Cleveland Pinball League.
The Plunge: Delzoppo began playing pinball as a kid in bowling alleys. He entered his first tournament — the Ohio Pinball Show — in 2010 after watching a documentary on pinball called Special When Lit and attending the World Championships in Pittsburgh in 2016. “Seeing it up close and seeing the best players in the world do it made me want to start giving it a try.”
Music Man: Delzoppo’s deliberate style of never-miss-a-beat pinball jives with his other passion: making music. In addition to running a recording studio for nearly 20 years called Negative Space, he has played the drums for several bands. “Both activities are also very centered on focus and the ability to perform something physical while being ‘lost in the zone,’ and there’s also the tactile nature of rhythmic force, whether that’s a repeated shot in a pinball machine or a steady beat on a snare drum.”
DIY Kind of Guy: Delzoppo is also working on publishing an archival book about Speak in Tongues, a ‘90s DIY music venue on Lorain Avenue. “It opened me up to how things can be done in a ‘do it yourself’ model. That inspired a lot of my decisions in life, like starting my own bands, my own tours and my own recording studio.”
Cultivating Community: Despite the accolades and trips to Denmark and Milan, which was extra special trip due to his Italian heritage, he counts growing the Cleveland Pinball League to about 150 players as his biggest accomplishment. “It’s something people can look forward to and feel that connection.”
Superelectric Pinball Parlor in Gordon Square: Delzoppo’s favorite local place to play and the weekly host of Cleveland Pinball League.
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