The objective of the new International Flipper Pinball Association (IFPA) is to encourage and support the establishment of worldwide player rankings, endorsed tournaments, leagues and a variety of promotional activities. In all, the primary goal is to elevate the awareness and visibility of pinball across the globe and generate media coverage and corporate backing to bring the sport of competitive pinball back into the spotlight.

The sport of pinball has been dormant for far too long. Although there is only a single manufacturer currently producing new machines, the IFPA fervently believes that pinball can once again be viewed as a legitimate form of competition as well as leisure time entertainment for both skilled and novice players.

There exists a very dedicated base of players and event organizers. The IFPA is ready to reach out and work closely with location owners, operators, distributors and the entire coin machine industry to maximize the exposure and accessibility of competitive pinball.

The IFPA has created the World Pinball Player Rankings (WPPR) to establish the first official rankings system of pinball players throughout the world. Through these endorsed tournaments and leagues, the IFPA will crown the World’s Greatest Pinball Player at the end of each calendar year. IFPA endorsed leagues will give players a chance to prepare for tournaments and qualify for the League Champion’s division at the next major IFPA tournament. IFPA endorsed tournaments will give players a chance to earn WPPR points to increase their rankings.

Some operators and players may remember the original IFPA from the early 1990s. Utilizing the support from the AMOA, manufacturers and operators, the original IFPA promoted pinball playing through tournament and league play. It hosted four world class pinball competitions and helped promote over 30 pinball leagues before becoming inactive in 1995.

The new IFPA begins life as an organization eager to provide assistance, direction and proven methodologies to insure the success of competitive pinball. Welcome to the IFPA.

The President and Vice President of the new IFPA are Joshua and Zachary Sharpe.

Joshua Sharpe

Joshua Sharpe’s contributions to competitive pinball started with the creation of the Illini Pinball Association in 1998 on the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign campus. From there Joshua created the PinBrawl World Team Pinball Championships, held at Pinball Expo in Chicago each year since 1999. This was the first competitive pinball event to feature 4 player teams, which still continues to this day. In the Spring of 2006, with the help of many players and enthusiasts, Joshua created the World Pinball Player Rankings and resurrected the defunct International Flipper Pinball Association.

Zachary Sharpe

Zachary Sharpe took over the Illini Pinball Association in 2002, and has overseen its continuance even after he has left the campus. Since 1999, Zachary has been the lead contributing writer for Play Meter Magazine’s column, Critic’s Corner Too! He has been an integral part in the continuing promotion of competitive pinball to the player community.

The Commissioner of the new IFPA is Brian Woodard.

Brian Woodard

Brian Woodard took over the Illini Pinball Association in 2005, and continues to serve as the association’s President. As IFPA Commissioner, Brian is responsible for implementing the policies set forth by the IFPA, recommending policy changes and action to the President and Vice President as appropriate, and acting as a liason between the player base and IFPA staff. Brian is also the ultimate authority in handling all rulings and malfunctions at any tournament directly run by the IFPA, including the IFPA World Pinball Championship.

The co-Directors of the new IFPA are Steven Epstein and Roger Sharpe.

Steven Epstein (left) and Roger Sharpe (right)

Roger Sharpe

Roger Sharpe’s contributions and impact on the coin-operated amusement game industry have been evident for over 30 years from his acclaimed book on pinball machines, testifying in New York City to help legalize the games and, for 12½ years, the Director of Marketing and Licensing for Williams Bally/Midway. He has also spent time designing games, and contributing to many of the coin-op industry trade magazines.

Steven Epstein

Steven Epstein’s accomplishments are no less impressive as the owner/operator of the world famous Broadway Arcade in New York City for more than thirty five years. Epstein also worked with Stern Pinball to promote the company’s TOPS tournament pinball system.

History

Sharpe and Epstein co-founded the Professional and Amateur Pinball Association (PAPA) back in the late 1970’s. Together, they created leagues and successfully ran 6 World Pinball Championships. Through these 6 tournaments, they raised over $100,000 for different charities, brought together players from around the world and raised the awareness of competitive pinball by creating over 1 million media impressions through world wide media coverage highlighted by news features on such networks as CNN, NBC, ABC, CBS, ESPN and MTV. Many of those news features are available HERE. After passing the reigns of the PAPA World Pinball Championships to Kevin Martin (link), Sharpe and Epstein stand ready to increase the public’s interest and accessibility to competitive pinball. Sharpe and Epstein believe that the coming together of all the existing pinball competitions under one umbrella is needed to give pinball a greater presence throughout the world. It is with this that the IFPA was formed.