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SILVERBALL SENSATIONS
The World's Elite Pinball Players To Show Off Their Flipper Skills
This year marks the 65th anniversary of a revolutionary design that forever changed the landscape of pinball. In 1947, D. Gottlieb & Company introduced Humpty Dumpty, the first pinball to feature flippers. Suddenly, the game of pinball became the test of mastering a 2.6 ounce silver ball by the skillful manipulation of pressing the side cabinet flipper buttons at precise moments in time.
Now, over seven decades later, what was once the simple game of pinball has been elevated into a pure art form of man versus machine. And nowhere will this be on greater display than at The International Flipper Pinball Association’s IFPA 9 World Pinball Championship taking place in Bainbridge Island, Washington June 8th-10th.
The top 64 of the world’s most talented pinball wizards from 12 countries across the globe, will assemble in a marathon competition that will test not just endurance but the ability to master the nuance of each flipper stroke. Representing Belgium, Japan, Finland, Canada, Australia, Italy, Germany, France, Switzerland, Sweden, the United Kingdom and United States, the best of the best will face off with no other tournament in competitive history featuring so many World Champions under one roof.
Will former NBA star, Todd MacCulloch have home court advantage? Can Cayle George repeat from his sensational IFPA8 victory in Sweden? Or can PAPA Champion, Andrei Massenkoff, claim the crown? And, for what has previously been viewed as a male dominated sport, can Helena Walter of Sweden or Julie Gray from the United States, capture the gold as the first female World Pinball Champion? Or will someone else step up proving their prowess over a grueling 2 ½ days of non-stop competition.
Today's state-of-the-art technological wonders feature all the ingredients emblematic of pinball–flippers, bumpers, targets, spinners and so much more to test our mettle and reflexes. But there are those who have been able to take playing pinball to a totally different level where the controlled focus and concentration result in spectacular performances that have to be seen to be believed. It is the fascinating sport of competitive pinball where wonders never end and surprises loom with each and every press of the flipper buttons.
The stage is set with a prize package of over $16,000, including a brand new pinball machine from Stern Pinball, IFPA9 promises to deliver non-stop memorable moments of pinball playing artistry in a competition unlike any other in the world.
The International Flipper Pinball Association (IFPA) was created with the express purpose of encouraging, supporting and endorsing competitive pinball throughout the world. The organization provides oversight and assistance to not only establishing pinball leagues, but also tournaments (over 350 events are being held annually) and other promotional activities.
“The staggering and explosive growth of the entire worldwide community of pinball players and enthusiasts has been nothing short of remarkable since we re-launched the IFPA just a few short years ago. And with this year being the 55th Anniversary of the flipper; the future has never looked brighter for pinball with tournaments and leagues taking place around the world on an almost weekly basis,” states Roger Sharpe, Co-Director of the organization.
The World Pinball Tour features over $350,000 in cash and prizes given away each year. With twenty-three international country directors, the IFPA has additionally created the first official player ranking system, which awards points based upon player performance. The World Pinball Player Rankings (WPPR) includes over 13,000 players from 33 different countries. And these numbers keep increasing with the revered entertainment attraction—pinball—continuing to draw in men, women, boys and girls—all looking to embrace the timeless battle of man versus machine.
Stern Pinball, headed by the legendary pinball scion Gary Stern, and one of the IFPA9 World Pinball Championship sponsors, produces 2 to 3 models each year and will be showcasing their latest release at this World Championship event. For more information regarding Stern Pinball, Inc. please call (708) 345-7700, email to info@sternpinball.com or check the company website: www.sternpinball.com. Other corporate sponsors include the leading video game manufacturer in the world, Raw Thrills as well as Farsight Studios, Betson Enterprises, Jersey Jack Pinball, Marco Specialties, Planetary Pinball Supply, Play Meter Magazine, GameWorks, Zen Studios, Pinball Center, Pinball Life, the Amusement and Music Operators Association, and the American Amusement Manufacturers Association.
And, for more information regarding the IFPA or any of its participants, please contact International Flipper Pinball Association co-directors, Roger Sharpe (rogsharpe@aol.com 773-961-1562 or 847-506-9903) or Steven Epstein (epstein4@aol.com 908-754-0934) or check the organization website: www.ifpapinball.com.
