There are only two more events before the 2025 ACL World Championships, and it is basically a two-team race for that number-one-team-in-the-world spot. Jamie Graham and Jacob Trzcienski, as well as Mark Richards and Tony Smith, are tied at the top, and this event will hopefully break that tie. Let’s get into it.
Bracket A
Graham/Trzcienski continue as the #1 seed in the A bracket, and this is what we call a “cake walk.” It is very simple: This is Jamie Graham and Jacob Trzcienski’s bracket to lose. There aren’t a ton of teams in this bracket that will put up a fight. I don’t have faith in Matt Wilson and Colby Shearer. I don’t trust Logan Dupler and Austin Kipple. AJ Sims and Brayden Wilson haven’t beaten a ton of top teams yet, and the same with Steven Bernacet and Philip Lopez Jr.
It does not matter who is in the bracket final – Jamie Graham and Jacob Trzcienski are winning this bracket.
Bracket B
This bracket is much different for Mark Richards and Tony Smith. They have a ridiculously difficult side. When they win their first game they will play either Tanner Halbert and Justin Reul, who are on the cusp of breaking through and having a good finish, or Jackson and Jakob Gore, who have had a lot of success previously. Say Mark and Tony win that; then they either get Derek Holland and Alex Rawls, who have multiple doubles titles together, or Dillon Turpin and Eddie Grinderslev, who finally had a good performance last event and are looking to build on that.
Say Mark and Tony win that as well; the whole right side of the bracket is tough too, with teams like Bret and Matt Guy, Chad Hunt and Tommy Sliker, and Austin Waskow and Quinn Reeves.
Waskow and Reeves intrigue me the most. They were the #1 Elite doubles team last year, but have had a pretty lackluster season so far. If Quinn can revert back to how he was throwing last season, paired with how Waskow is throwing now, this is a dangerous team. So dangerous, I think they will make the bracket final against Mark and Tony, and hey, who knows what can happen.
Bracket C
When looking through the C bracket the first time, I assumed it would go relatively chalk in favor of Sammy Soto and Gavin Cano. They would probably face Jimmy Youmans and Eian Cripps to get to the winner’s final. But then I saw it. The 20 seed in the C bracket. Erick Davis. Tony Forbes. Oh my God, this team is going to be fun to watch. So much fun that I have fully convinced myself they have a chance to win. There are, however, some other good teams in this bracket.
Jeremiah Ellis and Devon Harbaugh have finally dug themselves out of their hole and are up as a 2 seed, which means easier paths. They’re quadrant is very easy, but when they make it out it gets interesting.
Alan Rawls/Chris Kingsbury, Chase Lester/Tye Thompson, and Ryan Smith/Ryan Weidenfeld are all looking to make it out of that bottom right quadrant and upset Ellis/Harbaugh. Could it happen? Absolutely. Will it happen? I doubt it. Devon and Jeremiah are finally starting to hit their stride and look very good. I would not want to be in their way. I see Devon and Jeremiah taking on Tony Forbes and Erick Davis in the C bracket final.
Bracket D
Extremely tough test for 1 seed Logan Chamberlain and Justin Burton Jr. Their second match will be against either Mike Hoffman/Leston Allen, who are coming off a Maryland State Championship, or Ryan Hart/Chris Roybal, who are finally finding their stride.
Below them are three other teams who could take down the Texas boys: Mason Traiteur/Cash Chamness, Cody Henderson/Ethan Walker, and defending World Champs Adam Hissner/Trey Burchfield. Whoever comes out of this side will 100% have earned it.
Cheyenne Bubenheim and Jordan Power are coming off their best performance of the season, and they are rewarded with a very winnable side. Barring a surprising upset from Eric Zocklein and Jordan Camba, they should win their quadrant. After that they’ll most likely face Hunter Thorne and Hunter Thorson, who have confused me this season. I expected a lot more out of them, but this has been a pretty lackluster effort. No better way to get out of it than to beat Cheyenne and Jordan.
Give me Hunter Squared to make the final against Mason Traiteur and Cash Chamness.
Utica, New York. ACL Signature #5. It is going to be electric, and you’re not going to want to miss it.
Jake’s Takes
Bracket A: Jamie Graham and Jacob Trzcienski over it does not matter
Bracket B: Mark Richards and Tony Smith over Austin Waskow and Quinn Reeves
Bracket C: Erick Davis and Tony Forbes over Devon Harbaugh and Jeremiah Ellis
Bracket D: Cash Chamness and Mason Traiteur over Hunter Thorne and Hunter Thorson
Overall Pro Doubles Champions: Erick Davis and Tony Forbes
How to watch:
PRO DOUBLES begins Saturday, 6/21 at 9 am ET. Follow along with the early matches in the Fan Zone app, and then tune in to ESPN+ and ACL Facebook and YouTube for livestream coverage beginning at 11 am.
PRO DOUBLES FINALS airs Sunday, 6/22, at 3:30 pm ET on ESPN2.
Full event schedule: https://www.iplaycornhole.com/2025-signature-5?tab=schedule
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