The IFPA will be introducing a new class of the Best Game qualifying format called HYBRID Best Game in 2025. To be eligible for this class of format, the tournament must allow a specific number of limited entries which will be based on the number of machines available for qualifying at the tournament. This entry number must be 4X the number of machines available to be played. For example, if the tournament utilizes 10 machines in qualifying, players must be limited to 40 entries to be eligible. This number of entries is regardless of how many games count towards the qualifying standings.

Tournaments that run a HYBRID Best Game qualifying format will have those qualifying games counted at 3X value (12% increase to TGP for each game included in the qualifying standings). Tournaments that include a minimum 20 hours of qualifying time, will be eligible for Certified status.

HYBRID Best Game is meant to combat players ‘buying their way’ into finals. We feel qualifying under these HYBRID Best Game conditions is a better test of skill than UNLIMITED Best Game while also helping to address the advantages players get through their increased opportunity/privilege at these UNLIMITED Best Game events.

For purposes of Certified rules for 2025 we will be adding HYBRID Best Game to the eligible format list, along with updating the requirements for LIMITED Best Game:

• LIMITED → Minimum 5 games count, 20 hours of qualifying, entry total must be at least 2X the amount of machines being used (4% TGP per game played)
• HYBRID → Minimum 5 games count, 20 hours of qualifying, entry total must be exactly 4X the amount of machines being used (12% TGP per game played)

These changes will be included in the WPPR v6.1 update that is planned for the 2025 season.

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PLEASE SHARE — Level 256 Classic Arcade Bar in Asheville, NC is closed for an undetermined amount of time due to Hurricane Helene. Water restoration might take 3-4 weeks. They are raffling off a Batman ‘66 Premium (signed by Adam West) pinball machine that is in gorgeous condition. 100% of the raffle sales will go to their three staff members to further assist in their Hurricane Helene relief aid. The raffle will take place live on Instagram once they have hit at least $10,000 in ticket sales. Level 256 will post regular status updates. Purchase raffles tickets here:

https://www.level256arcade.com/batman66-raffle

You are welcome to donate separately if you do not care about a pinball machine. 100% of donations will go to our three staff members. Use the same link to donate.

Matthew Casey from The Spinoff wrote about his venture into the world of competitive pinball. Check out the article HERE.

Please allow me to fact check Matthew on this as he is now the 189th best pinballed in New Zealand.

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Get ready to rumble! Winter Slam 2024 is coming to Port City Pinball in New Hampshire! Starting on November 21st, the best pinball players will gather to play across four tournaments on Classics and Moderns to take home cash and the coveted Super Famicon cartridge trophy! Do you have what it takes?!?

Limited spots available in the tournament, click here to see all the details and sign up today: https://portcitypin.com/calendar/winter-slam-2024/

Winter Slam 2024 is sponsored by Scorbit – the connected pinball platform.
Download Scorbit for iOS or Android to keep track of your scores, challenge friends and more.
Connect your pinball machine with the Scorbitron, now back in stock and available for purchase! Learn more at https://scorbit.io

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Here for your consideration is what could be one of the most unique weekends of pinball that we have seen in a long time!! 

October 3rd-6th @ Tilt Amusements

3087 Russell Rd, Ostrander, OH 43061

Let’s start with the highlights!

• 2 IFPA Certified Tournaments (Classics, Main)
• Free bonus strikes tournament on the Thursday before
• 2 streams broadcasting simultaneously to allow players who don’t typically get on stream to have that chance as well 
• Over 75% of the entry fees will go to prizes!
  • Cash prizes for top tournament finishers
  • Bounties (Further explained in full event details)
    • Game Achievements
    • Round Bounties
  • Lots of small raffles including Tilt merch, translites, and a playfield or 2
  • AND PINBALL MACHINE GIVEAWAYS!!!

**Johnny Mnemonic is guaranteed to be raffled off, but with a full field of players, up to 10 machines will be raffled off at random throughout the weekend!!**

Regardless of your ability to smack a steel ball around inside of a big wooden box, the weekend will have plenty of excitement for all players! Can’t wait to see everyone there!

Please sign up as soon as possible so raffle games can be purchased and prepped in time for the tournaments! Spots are limited so don’t wait!

Full-Event Details:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1TYDr-LXYrcA05oEXnAzi9sKTXOc3pkKF8Hpy-6nGlJk/edit?usp=sharing

Registration: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/wppr-farm-harvest-festival-tickets-924870280907

Facebook Event:

 https://www.facebook.com/events/1592211224984268

Feel free to reach out to me (Jack Nebraska) on Facebook or email (nebraska.9@osu.edu) with any questions or if you are interested in sponsoring the event.

We are excited to announce that all 2024-25 IFPA Women’s State/Provincial/District Championships will be held on Sunday, January 19, 2025. Additional details will be provided when we get closer to the end of the season. Players are encouraged to reach out to their IFPA Women’s State/Provincial/District Representative with any questions regarding your specific Championship. If a representative is not listed for your region and you are interested in organizing a women’s championship, please reach out to the IFPA.

The IFPA’s Women’s Championship Weekend for the 2024-2025 season will be Friday, March 28, through Sunday, March 30, at Port City Pinball in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. The full schedule is as follows:

• Friday, March 28: 2024-2025 Women’s North American Pinball Championship
• Saturday, March 29: 2025 Women’s World Pinball Championship qualifying sessions
• Sunday, March 30: 2025 Women’s World Pinball Championship finals

Satellite events hosted by members of the New England pinball community are planned for Thursday, March 27; Friday, March 28; and Sunday, March 30. More details will be available closer to the weekend.

The prize pools for the Women’s State/Provincial/District Championships and the Women’s North American Championship will be funded by a combination of a $20 player entry fee and the money from the IFPA sanctioning fee for women’s events. For the 2024-25 season, IFPA sanctioning funds will be distributed as follows:

• 65% of funds collected will be allocated to the prize pool for that state/province district;
• 25% of funds collected will be allocated to the prize pool for the Women’s North American Championship;
• 10% of funds will be withheld to cover processing fees related to these payments.

Running totals for the North American Championship prize pool and each individual state championship’s prize pool will be added to the Women’s North American Championship Series Standings page shortly.

This distribution model aligns with the open North American Championship Series distribution model, with slight adjustments based on input from our women’s player base and state/provincial/district representatives. Please reach out to your women’s representative or the IFPA Women’s Board with any feedback or questions about the sanctioning fee, as it is new for the 2024-25 season and future distribution is subject to change.