Over the past years, many backyard Sports have gained recognition on international stages, and you may find hundreds of instances of it, of which Cornhole is one. The bag-throwing competition is steadily flourishing across the US, and they have even an Admiral body known as American Cornhole Association.
Perhaps, the game didn’t have any rules until played unprofessionally, but soon after incorporation into the International Sports Stream, it is playable under a set of established Guidelines and Regulations.
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The game plays in multiple formations, generally two or four in single or double matches. Of course, the team pots maximum corn bags into the opposition hole’s first wins. Sometimes there are no potential pots, then the game is decided on point values.
Like any other sport, the governing body of the Cornhole game conducts annual championships in which pro teams from all over the USA participate, and winners are awarded prize money and trophies.
Hence, each coming day is adding more professional and energetic Cornhole players. Let’s take a look at the Top 5 Best Cornhole Athletes of all time alongside their pro-career achievements and net worths.
| Sr.No | Cornhole Player | Trophy Title |
| 1 | Kaleb Hurt | Won National Cornhole Championship in2021 |
| 2 | Austin Cameron | Won the ACO Junior Tournament in 2019 |
| 3 | DJ Long | Winner of Dodge City Major |
| 4 | Matt Gammon | Runner-up of 2022 World Singles Event |
| 5 | Jack Harcorw | Winner of Texas Major Season |
1# Kaleb Hurt
To attain the title of the King of Cornhole, Kaleb Hurt didn’t do anything short of exceptional to pursue it as he became the National Cornhole Champion in 2021. Notably, the entire Hurt family keeps pro-expertise in this sport.
However, Kaleb entered this sport by chance, and it has a very interesting backstory. One day, Kaleb and his father, Rex, joined some of their friends in a cornhole game at their friend’s party, and both quickly developed a passion for the sport.
After spending a few years practicing the game at home, in 2018, the son-father duo decided to play in higher competitions. In 2021, Kaleb Hurt won the American Cornhole Association World Junior Champion, and shortly, he uplifted the title of National Cornhole Champion.
2# Austin Cameron
The world’s second-ranked Cornhole player, Austin Cameron, started his professional career at 14 when he won his first-ever ACO Juniors tournament. Talking about his pioneer pro victory, Cameron admitted that he was nervous throughout the event though he defeated other high-profile players, including Erik Davis.
Cameron, who once started with minimal Cornhole rankings, rose to the second position in 2022, according to the American Cornhole Association. Perhaps, Cameron often credits his whole success to unmatched training he used to do during earlier career stages.
In 2019, Austin stated that the status he presently enjoys has come through hard work and consistent training because he used to train four hours three days a week in a specially-designed building.
3# DJ Long
DJ Long, the only Cornhole player who realistically poses challenges to other top-ranked athletes in this game, currently ranks third, just below Kaleb Hurt. However, Long’s recent performances could let him advance to the top position in the upcoming months.
The professional Cornhole player Long currently train in Collinwood, Tennessee, and affiliates various titles to his name. During pro-career, Long won the ACO Dodge City Major against Can Deisher, alongside a victory against Gary Ferguson in the ACO Cedar Rapids Major.
It is pertinent to mention that in March 2021, DJ Long ranked the number two Cornhole player worldwide, but as of April 2022, he dropped to the third position, according to the ACO, while his arch-rival Kaleb Hurt still sits in first place.
4# Matt Gammon
The world’s number four Cornhole player, Matt Gammon, belongs to Kentucky. Even though Gammon hasn’t held prestigious titles with this name, he still manages to outrank relatively highly-ranked players to become the Top-ranked Corny 40 player.
In 2022, Matt Gammon qualified for the finals in the American Cornhole Association Singles Championship, part of the Season 17 Majors, where he faced off old-rival Riley Brewster, and Gammon merged as champion with a stunning score of 21-8.
Unfortunately, Matt Gammon would never achieve his goal of winning the Cornhole Singles Championship, despite his success in reaching the semi-finals of the respective event in 2022, where he narrowly lost to Jack Harcrow.
5# Jack Harcorw
The Cornhole’s number six ranked player has proved himself by defeating the number one Kaleb Hurt in the Season 17 Lubbock, Text Major. His career-best success against a comparatively higher-ranked player couldn’t just help him rise in the rankings but engraved his name on the prestigious Corny 40 list.
The Alabama native is known for displaying significant performances against high-ranked opponents. Apart from victory against Hurt, Jack Harcrow also outsmart Matt Gammon in the fourth major of 2022 with a final score of 20-21.
His game against the world’s number one Cornhole player Kaleb Hurt during the Season 17 Lubbock, Texas Major was wholly memorable in which Harcrow, starting under pressure, managed to seize the victory with a score of 21-8.
People also Ask
Q: How much a Professional Cornhole Player Earns?
A: The salary of a professional Cornhole player depends on his International Rankings and Number of Appearances in Seasons. However, an average Cornhole athlete earns around $5000 to $25000 per season. Apart from Sports Income, top professional players also earn money from Sponsorships and Endorsements.
Q: What is the Prize Money of ACL World Championship?
A: For your information, ACL Championship is the highest-grade Cornhole competition that includes various events, including Pro-Advanced, Competitive, Intermediate Singles, Crew Cup Shootout, and Women’s Doubles. The ACL management allocates around $150,000 in Payouts among entire event winners.
Q: How to become a professional Cornhole player?
A: The governing body of Cornhole in the United States welcomes players of all ages and skills to participate in various seasons of the sport. However, to play in ACL Championship, athletes need to apply for pre-registration before appearing in the Main rounds.