Most sports fans know cornhole as that laid-back tailgate game – the one with wooden boards and beanbags that everyone plays on game day. But lately, cornhole has been quietly stepping into the spotlight as a legitimate competitive sport.
In fact, national leagues and championships now treat it like any other spectator sport. The American Cornhole Organization (ACO) and the American Cornhole League (ACL) were formed in the 2000s and 2010s, standardizing rules and holding big tournaments.
Today, matches are even televised (often on ESPN’s “Ocho” programming) and feature cash prizes, which is a far cry from the casual yard games of old. For fans used to grabbing a drink at a BBQ and casually tossing bags, it may come as a surprise just how serious cornhole has become.
A Brief History: Backyard Fun to Organized Leagues
Humble Beginnings
Cornhole’s exact origins are part legend (some claim a 14th-century German craftsperson invented a similar game!), but its modern form took shape in America in the late 20th century. An early patent from 1883 described a “bean-bag quoits” game with a slanted board and hole.
In the 1970s, magazines even featured a bean-bag target game called “bull’s-eye” that was almost like cornhole. By the 1980s, the game as we know it was spreading through Cincinnati and the Midwest. It became a backyard staple: you’d see it at college quads, barbecues, and stadium parking lots.
The Birth of Organized Cornhole
The jump from backyard to big leagues really began in the 2000s. In 2005 Ohio entrepreneur Frank Geers founded the American Cornhole Organization (ACO), aiming to formalize the rules and run tournaments. The ACO’s first national events helped treat cornhole like a sport rather than just a picnic game.
A decade later, in 2015, Stacey Moore launched the American Cornhole League (ACL) for much the same reason. Both groups grew quickly: they worked to establish official bags and boards, and marketed cornhole as family-friendly competition.
By the 2020s, cornhole tournaments were packed events, complete with sponsors and leaderboard tracking, and thousands of amateur leagues had sprung up around the country. As one cornhole blog put it, the ACO’s 2005 launch of official championships “elevated the backyard pastime to a serious competitive sport”.
Big Tournaments and Leagues Today
Nowadays, there are two big annual “world championships” – one run by the ACL and one by the ACO – plus numerous regional events.
The American Cornhole League (ACL)
The ACL World Championship is held each summer in Rock Hill, South Carolina (a purpose-built “Cornhole Capital” venue), and it attracts top pros and thousands of players.
In recent years that event has even aired on ESPN networks during “Ocho Day,” making cornhole a TV spectacle. In 2024, for example, roughly 1,800 players showed up at Rock Hill for the ACL Worlds, and fans could watch the finals live on TV. (The ACL reports it hosts over 25,000 tournaments a year nationwide with 100,000+ active players – yes, really – and counting.)
ACL World Championships
At the 2024 ACL World Championships, Ohio’s Trey “The Robot” Burchfield won the Men’s Singles title, and teamed up with Adam Hissner to take Doubles.
Trey is only in his early 20s but already holds four ACL World Championship trophies, making him the league’s most decorated player.
In the Women’s Singles bracket, Florida’s Cheyenne Bubenheim swept the field – she won her third straight women’s world title at ACL Worlds 2024. (In fact, Bubenheim has become a star in her own right: she’s a three-time ACL women’s champ and also won multiple women’s doubles titles.)
Past years saw heroes like Mark Richards and veteran Matt Guy share the men’s spotlight: in 2022 Richards (age 25) upset older pro Matt Guy to win the ACL singles title.
The American Cornhole Organization (ACO)
Meanwhile, the ACO World Championships (often just called “Worlds” of Cornhole) is also a major week-long event. ACO Worlds usually take place in summer at large venues (recently in Kentucky), with divisions for Open (men’s), Women’s, Seniors, Juniors, and even mixed and adaptive play.
In the 2023-24 ACO World Championships, Isaac Hurt of North Carolina captured the Open Singles championship. Isaac (who grew up playing cornhole with his family) and his brother Kaleb won the Doubles title together.
Other divisions crowned stars too: for example, Maggie Geiger won the Women’s Singles World Championship.
In short, the tournaments now feel like a festival. They offer everything from single-elimination pro brackets to “luck of the draw” tailgate events, allowing beginners and weekend warriors to compete right alongside seasoned players.
The Inclusive Spirit of Cornhole
Whether it’s three friends on a lawn or 1,800 competitors under one roof, cornhole tournaments are surprisingly inclusive. You’ll see players of all ages and backgrounds lining up on dozens of courts. At a recent world championship there were over 130 courts set up side by side, with fans and families watching like at any other sporting event.
Some pros even pack all their gear to travel – one player flies with a 28-pound rolling bag of extra beanbags and boards! There’s no strict uniform: some players wear team jerseys or hats (even Bush’s Beans sponsors jerseys), while others play in casual shorts.
The vibe is friendly, but make no mistake, the competition is intense. Even players using prosthetic legs (as one photo shows) battle it out at the highest level, proving the game is all about skill and practice.
In fact, many players live by the mantra that for those 1,800 competitors at Worlds, “’Hole is life,” and they truly believe cornhole could go global.
Notable Champions and Top Players
Men’s Division
Cornhole now has its superstar names, much like any sport. Leading the ACL scene is Trey Burchfield (nicknamed “The Robot”). Trey turned pro as a teenager and has already amassed four ACL World Championship titles (two in singles, two in doubles) as of 2024.
That record makes him the ACL’s winningest player ever. He’s also known for his laser-focused accuracy and steady underhand toss – skills he’s honed by hours of backyard practice.
Trey often looks as relaxed as if he’s still at a tailgate, but his game is ruthless under pressure. Another rising star is Jack Nagy, a pro from Illinois who reached the 2024 ACL final (he’s built a reputation with his trademark cowboy hat).
Women’s Division
On the women’s side, Cheyenne Bubenheim is the name everyone watches. The 24-year-old from Florida has dominated women’s pro cornhole. She won three straight ACL Women’s Singles world championships (2022, 2023, 2024).
Cheyenne is also a killer in doubles – she’s a three-time women’s doubles champion alongside partner Sarah Cassidy. Impressively, she even cracked the open (gender-neutral) brackets: she’s one of the few women to have won an ACL Pro Doubles title in co-ed competition. Cornhole fans love her both for her smile and her fierce skill – she often adds flair to her throws.
Across both leagues, other names to know include Matt Guy (the seasoned champion who’s now in his 50s but still a top competitor), Jamie Graham (a rising West Virginia player who made ACL finals), and Sean “Carryboy” McGraw (ten-time ACL Women’s champion – yes, the entire winner’s list in that bracket!).
Doubles Dynamos
On the ACO side, in addition to Isaac Hurt there are players like Patrick “Top Gun” O’Brien and Frankie Pennington who have won world titles. The rosters change year to year, which shows how the sport is still full of up-and-comers.
Getting Started: Tips for Fans and New Players
If this sounds fun, trying out cornhole is easy – you just need a board and a few bags. (Official boards are 48″×24″ with a 6″ hole, and bags are 6″ squares filled with corn or resin.) Even a basic backyard set will do, but if you want to step up your game, here are a few quick tips:
- Perfect your stance. Keep both feet behind the front edge of the board when you throw. You can plant both feet or extend one – find what’s comfortable for you. The key is consistency. (Just don’t step past the foul line or your throw won’t count.).
- Grip and toss technique. Hold the bag flat: thumb on top and fingers under, with the filling even so the bag flies straight. Toss underhand with a relaxed arm and a gentle arc. Try to put a bit of spin on the bag (so it slides smoothly). You don’t need to hurl it hard – actually, throwing too fast can cause the bag to bounce off the board. A smooth, underhand lob is usually best.
- Aim and consistency. Many pros aim for the center of the board rather than the hole itself. If the bag lands center and slows, it often slides right in. Focus on hitting the board the same way each time. (Save aiming directly at the hole – an “airmail” shot – for special situations when you need to clear blockers.)
- Learn basic strategy. Once you can hit the board reliably, add a little tactics. For instance, drop a bag short of the hole to “block” your opponent’s shot path. If a bag is already near the hole, sometimes the best shot is an airmail – an underhand toss that flies cleanly into the hole without touching anything. These moves can turn a close game in your favor.
- Practice and have fun. Like any sport, cornhole rewards practice. Try playing with different bag types (e.g. corn vs. all-weather bags) or on different surfaces (grass vs. indoor mats) to see how the game changes. Most importantly, keep it social – part of cornhole’s appeal is enjoying it with friends, whether at a tailgate or park.
Beginners should also think about gear
While you can start with any board and bags, having regulation-size equipment helps you get used to tournament standards. There are plenty of online resources that break down the best cornhole bags, boards, and setup tips, helping new players get started with the right gear. That way, you’re not just playing—you’re improving.
What Makes Cornhole a True Sport
Today, cornhole sits at the crossroads of laid-back fun and athletic competition. Sports fans might catch ACL tournament finals on ESPN or enjoy cornhole segments during college football tailgate TV coverage.
And attending a big cornhole event really feels like being at a mainstream sporting event: dozens of courts hum with action, vendors and music fill the air, and people cheer each other on. It’s a reminder that any simple game can find a big audience.
Cornhole is Skill-Based, Not Luck-Based
In many ways, cornhole’s journey mirrors that of other sports that started casually (think skateboarding or disc golf). It’s inclusive — all skill levels and ages can play — but it also rewards skill and practice.
For tailgate devotees, this means game day just got an extra layer of excitement. Who knows – maybe you’ll spot the next pro champion playing just a few fields over at the parking lot party! And if you ever feel the bug to compete, you can always enter a local league or even aim for those world championships one day.
Cornhole is Inclusive and Accessible
Whether you take it as seriously as a pro or keep it in the backyard, cornhole has solidified its place in game-day culture. It brings people together – a cup in one hand, a bag in the other – blending friendly fun with a surprisingly competitive spirit.
So next time you fire up the grill or head to the stadium, toss a bag or two and join in. You might just discover that a little couch competition is the perfect way to be part of a big new sports trend.
