Pub Sports

Beer Pong
The playing field Sam Adams would have rocked. If you aren’t familiar with this drinking game – where everyone thinks they’re the best – here’s the general gist: two teams attempt to sink ping pong balls into cups of beer arranged in triangular formation at opposite ends of the table. A ball sunk means a cup consumed. I Love Shanghai do a weekly tourney with the top team bagging two bottles of vodka and their prized gold medal. It’s RMB50 per team with a pitcher, but if you win, you get to stay on fo’ free. Windows Scoreboard also has a beer pong hall where you can play any time you like. Pitchers are RMB60.
Starts: 9pm-2am, Thursday at ILS, daily at Scoreby’s.
Get involved: Grab a partner and get your dunk-and-drink on.

ILS: 3/F, 1788 Xinzha Lu, by Jiaozhou Lu 新闸路1788号3楼, 近胶州路 (5228 6899)
Window’s Scoreboard: 11/F, 527 Huaihai Zhong Lu, by Chengdu Lu 淮海中路527号11楼, 近成都路 (5382 7757)

Darts
Are you a ‘score whore’? Prove how often you can hit the cork with one of the almost 30 teams which make up the darts league. Divided into four divisions based on skill level, the teams play at various bars around Shanghai. It’s free to join and your aim will dramatically improve after a round of specially priced drinks. You’ll also get a free spread of snacks provided by the bar. Bullseye!
Starts: 8pm, Tuesdays. Seasons start in spring and winter.
Get involved: Visit shdl.leaguerepublic.com

Flip cup
Seems Shanghai is turning more American. New to this year’s lineup, this popular tailgating game begins with two rows of people, each with a cup of beer in front of them. The first in each line chugs their beer, sets the cup upside down on the table and tries to flip it over with a flick of their wrist. A successful landing and it’s the next person’s go. First team to drain and flip wins. Easy enough eh?
Starts: 8pm, Wednesdays. Free to play, with draft San Miguels for RMB10.
Get involved: Head to Caliburger and prepare to flip it.

Caliburger: Eco City Mall, B/1 1788 Nanjing Xi Lu, by Huashan Lu 南京西路1788号, 近华山路 (5239 7728)

Foosball
A combination of soccer and shish kebabs, table football is very much alive and kickin’ on the Shanghai scene. From new players to pro, everyone is welcome. In fact, it’s become so popular that this past April, they hosted their first International Table Soccer Federation (ITSF) tourney with 90 players from 18 countries. It’s usually an RMB20 table fee to play with the money redistributed amongst the winners. Women and non-regular players often get to play for free or half price. Train and play casual games Thursdays at Skyline, on Fridays head to Harley’s for singles and doubles matches and Saturday meet at The Beaver for table trash talking, drinks and fun. Visit their website for more locations around the city where you can practice and play. Starts:Year-round with two international tournaments in December and April.
Get involved: Visit www.shanghaifoosball.com for locations, times and online rankings or email info@shanghaifoosball.com.

Pool
Cue up for one of the most popular pub sports known to man by joining in on the Southside 8Ball Pool League racket. These ballers have amassed nearly 50 teams, five divisions and three leagues spanning from Jinqiao to Hongmei Lu. During game play, venues offer happy hour drink prices for participating players and complimentary bites on match day. The bars go bonkers for billiards during tournament play, which is held at a variety of league venues throughout the week. It’s RMB500 per team per season.
Starts: September. Get your big break 8pm Thursday nights during league play.
Get involved: Visit www.southside8ball.leaguerepublic.com for more info and to sign up.