What you’re seeing below is two of Crokinole’s greats simultaneously securing perfect rounds.

Technically speaking, they each flicked a 3.2cm disc 30cm across a board into a 3.5cm hole (just 9% wider than the disc itself) eight times in a row. In game terms, they made eight open 20s each.

But it’s just flicking a little disc across a small board. How hard can it be, really?

The mesmerizing 56 seconds above were captured at the semifinals of the 2024 World Crokinole Championship, where Connor Reinman defeated Justin Slater. A matchup not unlike Magic vs. Bird, or Swift vs. Eilish.

How rare was this feat of perfection? Was this one of those obscure new Olympic events? You may even be wondering, wtf is Crokinole?

We’ll get to all these questions. But first, you must understand Crokinole.

If you are from the southern region of the Canadian province of Ontario, you may already be well-versed in Crokinole due to its Canadian origin. For the uninitiated, Crokinole is like a mashup of shuffleboard and curling, played on a tabletop board. It’s been around since the 19th century but has seen a steady rise in global popularity in recent years.

To know the game, one must play the game.
Let your training begin.

Easy Keanu, that was just the basics. We didn’t even get to the one-cheek rule (yes, that cheek). For more details you can watch this video or read the rules.

Oh, and feel free to go play—we made a simulator for you to hone your skills against a bot.

You are ready for the next part of the journey. What does the data tell us about Connor Reinman and Justin Slater?

Reinman, the back-to-back world champion, and Slater, the perennial powerhouse, are arguably the greatest players right now on the world stage.

But how good are they? Let’s start by looking at their ability to make open 20s, an indispensable skill for success. Here’s how competitive players compare in open 20 success rates.

Reinman and Slater are top competitors in open 20s, with success rates of 66% and 75%, compared to the average competitive player’s 55%.

For basketball fans: a Crokinole player making eight consecutive 20s in live play is like an NBA player sinking 20 straight free throws during a game—not impossible, but far from common.

How do they compare to casual players? Observing players with varying experience, success rates for in-game open 20s ranged from 20% to 50%.

The odds of two opponents making eight consecutive shots can vary greatly depending on their skill level. Here are the odds of a double perfect round.

Our theoretical scenarios show how even a slight drop in skill greatly impacts the odds. To witness this rare event, both top players must hit a hot streak at the same time.

These percentages reflect in-game attempts, where a player’s rhythm is disrupted by various shots. In non-competitive, less plamigerent settings, their skills really shine—like Shawn Hagarty, who set an unofficial record with 64 consecutive open 20s.

However, real games are far more nuanced and complex. Players — or their opponents — often miss early on. Here’s what the data reveals after analyzing 300 rounds from various matchups in last season’s tournaments.

At Which Shot an Open 20 is First Missed in Competitive Matches

More often than not, the elusive double perfect round is lost right at the start. But I’ve been discussing this in the context of the most elegant form — a “pure” double perfect round, where all 16 shots are made as open 20s.

Technically, though, a miss doesn’t completely rule out a perfect round. A perfect round can (and often does) include a combination of open 20s and ricochet 20s, where a disc bounces in off the opponent’s.

The perfect blend of aim and power is required to perfect shots like those. Try it yourself: can you achieve the feel-good ricochet 20?

Going for a 20 isn’t always the best or even a viable option. Discs on the board introduce more exciting scenarios that add layers of strategy.

Having all your discs on your side is usually a strong defensive position, but watching your opponent dismantle it can be demoralizing. That’s exactly what happened in this round between Andrew Hutchinson and Nolan Tracey.

The Slater-Reinman round was the only double perfect in a review of 445 highly competitive rounds in the past year. One thing is certain: more skilled players tend to keep the board clear and make open 20s at a higher rate, increasing the chance of glimpsing a pure double perfect round.

If there’s one takeaway, it’s that Crokinole is fun and the community is awesome. Whether you’re playing to win or just flicking a few rounds with Grandma during the holidays, it’s a great time.

So, maybe you’re into Crokinole now? Here are some resources to help you get started, or go get some practice in with the simulator.

• Find a club
• Buy a board here (or here, here, here)
• Watch some matches
• Listen to some jams
• /r/Crokinole

P.S. Crokinole isn’t an Olympic sport — yet.