CHICAGO — "Pullers" will invade Wrigleyville for Saturday's World Armwrestling League’s Midwest Classic tournament at Cubby Bear.
North America's top female and male arm wrestlers — called "pullers" — will throw down for thousands in prize money with a chance to earn a trip to the league's 2017 Championships June 29 in Las Vegas on ESPN.
The competition begins at 10 a.m. Saturday. The finals start at 3 p.m.
Pro arm-wrestling has existed in bars, basements and convention halls as a thriving subculture around the world for decades, but the World Armwrestling League is taking it mainstream, Chief Operating Officer Ben Murray said. Millions have tuned in over the last two summers as the championships are broadcast on ESPN, Murray said.
The league was founded by Chicago resident Steve Kaplan, a serial entrepreneur who was turned on to the sport while visiting U.S. troops in Afghanistan.
"Arm-wrestling is both the age-old test of brute strength and a modern sport of speed, power and strategy," Kaplan said. "It’s also insanely fun to watch live as these competitors battle head to head to see who stands above the pack and collects the prize money.”
At the Las Vegas championships, $235,000 is at stake, with the top men winning $12,500 and the top women snagging $4,000. Most matches last less than 15 seconds, but some go a minute.
Professional pullers include athletes from all walks of life. The arm wrestlers include soldiers, teachers, engineers, fitness coaches, truckers and stay-at-home moms and dads. Women compete on each arm in three weight classes, while men go on each arm in four weight classes.
Strength is important, but that's not enough to be a champion, say the competitors.
"You see it all the time. The big, strong guys get beat by the little guys," said competitor Todd "Toddzilla" Hutchings on the league's website. "A good skill guy can overcome power."
Heidi Cordner, who used to arm-wrestle her father and two brothers as a child, once broke a competitor's arm.
"It was quite traumatic, and I felt responsible for what happened. I wanted to quit arm-wrestling forever, but lots of people around me talked me through it," she says on her profile page.
Other qualifier events include tournaments in Europe and Malaysia.
For more information on the event, click here.
“Chicago is going to be one of our biggest events in the history of the league, as it’s the last chance for competitors to qualify for the Championships in Las Vegas shown live on ESPN," Kaplan said. "It’s going to be nuts in the Cubby Bear this Saturday."
