IFPA9 Overview

The IFPA is pleased to announce the 9th annual IFPA World Pinball Championship. It will be held June 8-10, 2011 just outside of Seattle, WA.

Below you will find important information about the tournament including how to qualify, tournament format, hotel accomodations, prize breakdown and more! Any questions please contact the IFPA at ifpapinball@gmail.com.

WHERE IS IFPA9 GOING TO BE HELD?

8734 NE Triple Crown Dr.
Bainbridge Island, WA 98110

The IFPA has secured a block of rooms at the Island Country Inn. Group rate is $77.00 per night, using the group code "IFPA"

Island Country Inn
920 Hildebrand Lane NE
Bainbridge Island, WA. 98110
Tel: 206-842-6861 Fax: 206-842-9808

HOW DO YOU QUALIFY TO PLAY IN IFPA9?

Automatic Bid Qualification

Unlike most tournaments where the qualification process takes place over a couple of days, qualifying for the IFPA World Championship takes place all year. Utilizing it's World Pinball Player Rankings, the IFPA will use the January 1st, 2012 rankings to determine most of the qualifiers for IFPA9. The tournament field will consist of 64 players in total. The top 2 ranked players from each eligible country as of 1/1/2012 will receive an automatic qualifying spot into the tournament. Should either of the top 2 players not be able to attend, that country exemption will move down the country ranking list until it is filled. The rest of the field will be made up of the most highly ranked players from the WPPR list, until we have filled 63 spots. For players that cannot attend, spots will be filled by going down the rankings list.

2012 Northwest Pinball and Gameroom Show Satellite Qualification (June 1-3, in Seattle, WA)

The 2012 Northwest Pinball and Gameroom Show will serve as a satellite event for players not yet qualified for IFPA9. One spot will be up for grabs in the A division of the 2012 NW Pinball Championships. This satellite event will be open for any player ranked in the World Pinball Player Rankings as of the end of 2011, but did not qualify for IFPA9 through the automatic bid process. Details on the 2012 NW Pinball Championships can be found HERE.

WHAT GAMES WILL BE USED IN THE TOURNAMENT?

Tournament games will consist of games spanning all eras (Electromechanical through the latest Dot Matrix Display games). These games will be divided into three groups for tournament play (OLD/MID/NEW). The game list will be published prior to the tournament so participants have plenty of time to get familiar with game rules and develop a strategy beforehand.

FIRST ROUND OF PLAY

The first round will consist of 8 sessions. Players will be divided into groups of 4 and will play one machine chosen at random from each era. First grouping will be 1/32/33/64, etc. Scoring will be 7-5-3-1 for all matches. Following each session players will be put into new groups based off of the most up to date standings.

Starting with session #2 through session #8, groups will be divided by the following:

Session 2: same as round 1
Session 3: 1-16-17-32, 2-15-18-31, etc, also 33-48-49-64, 34-47-50-63, etc.
Session 4: same as round 3
Session 5: 1-8-9-16, 2-7-10-15, etc, also 17-24-25-32, 18-23-26-31, etc.
Session 6: same as round 5
Session 7: 1-4-5-8, 2-3-6-7, 9-12-13-16, 10-11-14-15, etc.
Session 8: 1-2-3-4, 5-6-7-8, etc.

At the conclusion of the 8th session, 32 players will advance to the final round.

MATCH PLAY MADNESS

The top 32 players from the First Round will be seeded based on their 8 session point total, and put into a bracket. Players seeded 1-8 will receive 2 byes, while players seeded 9-16 will receive 1 bye through the initial match play round. Players seeded 17 through 32 will battle in the initial round to see who advances to play those players seeded 9 through 16. Final rounds will be a best 4 out of 7 single elimination tournament. Each player will choose an EM, SS and DMD machine. Should the match be tied after these 6 games, the match will move to ‘Sudden Death’. This will be a best of 3 match where any of the remaining machines are available to be chosen. The higher seeded player will have choice of machine or position for the 1st game, with the loser of each subsequent game having choice of machine or order. Winner advances to the next round, while the loser is eliminated.

HOW MUCH DOES IT COST?

Entry fee is US$250 per player, which would be prepaid prior to the event. There is a discount of US$20 for early registration. Players may purchase a t-shirt as well for an additional US$20. US$50 from each entry fee will be put towards helping pay tournament expenses, while the remaining entry fees will be paid back in cash prizes.

PRIZE PACKAGE (based on a full field)

1st place – US$1000 + NIB Stern game + title of IFPA World Champion(approx $5000)
2nd place – US$2500
3rd place – US$1500
4th place – US$1000
5th place – US$900
6th place – US$800
7th place – US$700
8th place – US$600
9th through 16th place – US$300 each
Top Qualifier will receive additional US$200

PRELIMINARY SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

Friday
9am – 9:30am –> check in for players
9:30am – 10am –> Announcements/group picture/getting things started
10am – Noon –> Session #1
Noon – 2pm –> Session #2
2pm – 3pm –> Lunch
3pm – 5pm –> Session #3 (this will start 1 hour after the last group finishes Session #2)
5pm – 7pm –> Session #4
7pm – 8pm –> Dinner
8pm – 10pm –> Session #5 (this will start 1 hour after the last group finishes Session #4)
10pm – Midnight –> Session #6

Saturday
9:30am – 10am –> check in for players
10am – Noon –> Session #7
Noon – 2pm –> Session #8
2pm – 3pm –> Lunch
3pm – 5pm –> First Round (seeds 17 through 32 play)
5pm – 7pm –> Second Round (Seeds 9-16 play the winners of the first round)
7pm – 8pm –> Dinner
8pm – 10pm –> Third Round (Seeds 1-8 play the winners of the second round)

Sunday
9:30am – 10am –> check in for players
10am – Noon –> Elite 8
Noon – 2pm –> Final 4 and 5th through 8th match
2pm – 3pm –> Lunch
3pm – 5pm –> Championship, Consolation final
5pm – 5:30pm –> Awards and wrap up

Rounds will always start as soon as possible in an attempt to keep ahead of the above schedule.

QUESTIONS/COMMENTS

Please contact the IFPA at ifpapinball@gmail.com with any questions or comments you may have.