A last-second 52-yard field goal lifted Drini “Drini” Gjoka to a 30-27 win over Jaylen “Astro” Morrow-Reynolds in the Madden Bowl final on Friday in Redwood City, Calif.
Drini, a McKinney, Texas, resident, joins Henry “Henry” Leverette as the only two-time winners in the 10 editions of the event featuring 1-on-1 competition. Henry was also part of a three-player team that won the Madden Bowl in 2021, when a different format was used.
The latest victory was worth $250,000 and the championship ring. Astro, from Waldorf, Md., pocketed $150,000 as the runner-up.
“This is the biggest win of my life,” Drini said. “I’ve had so many big wins in my life, but this right here tops it all, I’m not going to lie. This feels so good. Like, I’m shaking in my hands. This is insane, man.”
Drini captured his first Madden Bowl crown in 2019, a year after losing in the final. He has been competing in the Madden Championship Series for eight years.
“It’s been seven years since I won my last Madden Bowl, since I won my last belt,” Drini said.
He added that he felt disrespected by those who were overlooking him.
“I’m just here to prove a point that I’m still that guy,” he said.
In the semifinals, Drini got past John “MrFootball88” Britt of San Diego 24-12, and Astro topped seeded David “DavidT” Tampellini of Patchogue, N.Y., 38-29.
Madden Bowl 26 prize pool
1. $250,000 — Drini “Drini” Gjoka
2. $150,000 — Jaylen “Astro” Morrow-Reynolds
3-4. $100,000 — John “MrFootball88” Britt, David “DavidT” Tampellini
5-8. $55,000 — Jonathan “JonBeast” Marquez, “GoatGeezy,” Peyton “Dez” Tuma, Henry “Henry” Leverette
9-14. $30,000 — “Drip,” Christian “No Mercy Lambo” Webb, “Cobo,” “Abram,” Dwayne “Cleff” Wood, “Gabagol”
Madden Bowl championship-round history, with final score and winner’s prize money
2016 — Frank “Stiff” Sardoni Jr. def. Eric “Problem” Wright 37-21; $20,000
2017 — Michael “Skimbo” Skimbo def. Eric “Problem” Wright 24-20; $100,000
2018 — Shay “Young Kiv” Kivlen def. Drini “Drini” Gjoka 28-24; $107,000
2019 — Drini “Drini” Gjoka def. Mike “Spoto” Spoto 41-0; $41,000
2020 — Raidel “Joke” Brito def. Daniel “Dcroft” Mycroft 17-0; $65,000
2021 — (3 vs. 3) Henry “Henry” Leverette/Wesley “Wesley” Gittens/Jack “NBG” Kronstein def. Jacob “Jwall” Wallack/Jacob “Fancy” Worthington/Joshua “DatBoi” Wright 31-3; $150,000
2022 — Henry “Henry” Leverette def. Wesley “Wesley” Gittens 35-31; $250,000
2023 — Peyton “Dez” Tuma def. Henry “Henry” Leverette 24-21; $250,000
2024 — Henry “Henry” Leverette def. Wesley “Wesley” Gittens 35-24; $250,000
2025 — Jacob “Fancy” Worthington def. Jonathan “JonBeast” Marquez 31-28; $250,000
2026 — Drini “Drini” Gjoka def. Jaylen “Astro” Morrow-Reynolds; $250,000
–Field Level Media
