Big Champ

Big Champ, manufactured by Alben of France in 1964, is an electro-mechanical pinball machine built around a boxing theme. Alben operated from 1958 to 1964, making Big Champ one of the company's final releases. Its playfield layout is the same as Gottlieb's 1953 'Grand Slam.'

The single-player machine features two flippers, three pop bumpers, three kick-out holes, and an unusual five outlanes positioned between the flippers, a layout choice that shapes a distinctive risk-and-reward flow to each ball in play. The boxing theme ties into the physical, competitive feel of the shot-making.

Big Champ's design reflects period French EM pinball aesthetics. As one of the last games from a short-lived manufacturer, it is a scarce find today, of interest to collectors focused on European pinball history of the era.