The largest-ever prize pool was handed out at the 17th edition of the Big Buck World Championship in Chicago, Illinois, US, earlier this month.

Big Buck

US$125,000 was up for grabs by hunters from across the globe at the Big Buck World Championship XVII, which saw 128 competitors testing their skills on the famous arcade game from Raw Thrills and Play Mechanix.

Jamie Rundall, from Minnesota, took home the Pappy’s Jug trophy and $25,000 top prize after two days of tough competition. 2024 saw 16,637 players participate in Pro Mode, which set a record for the most attempted qualifiers in event history.

Rundall wasn’t the only winner, with Lauren Hope from Canada winning the Ladies Division for the third time, taking home $5,000. Nathan Kasuboski, from Wisconsin, earned the 2024 Rookie of the Year title and added $2,000 to the $9000 he earned from his 16th place overall finish.

Preparations are already underway for the 2025 season, with an announcement that the 18th championship will take place in Nashville, Tennessee, US, on October 10 – 11, 2025. Players wishing to qualify can try their skills in Pro Mode, which is available at all online Big Buck Hunter cabinets around the world.