Seven Days newspaper out in Vermont wrote a piece covering the Vermont chapter of the New England Pinball League. Featured in the article is [player]Matt Barewicz[/player] (ranked 2113th in the world), [player]Todd Baumeister[/player] (ranked 9279th in the world) and [player]Steve Daniels[/player] (ranked 621st in the world). Click HERE to read the article.

The IFPA is excited to announce that the following players have been now qualified for the $tern Rewards Program based on their July 2014 IFPA endorsed tournament performance! These players have until August 15th, 2015 to exercise their reward option.

PLAYER OF THE MONTH AWARD – [player]Chris Tabaka[/player]
Chris earned a total of 139.72 WPPR points in July. This included victories in the Lansing Pinball League, Pinbowl Tournament and National Baby Food Festival Open Pinball Tournament. Chris is currently the top ranked player for the Michigan SCS, and is also currently qualified for Georgia(12th) and Wisconsin(13th).

BIGGEST MOVER AWARD – [player]Bobbi Douthitt[/player]
Bobbi moved up 10,376 spots by finishing in the top 20 of both the IFPA Project Pinball Fundraiser tournaments in Ft Myers and St. Petersburg (both Main and Side events). This netted Bobbi 2.80 WPPR points and moved her up to a rank of 5553rd in the world. Bobbi also sits in 53rd place in the Florida SCS.

BIGGEST MOVER AWARD – [player]Mike Pantoliano[/player]
Mike moved up 6205 spots from his victory at the Flip Flip Ding Ding Periodic Tournament and 11th place finish at the Seattle Pinball Rally Tournament. In total, Mike earned 2.90 WPPR points which moved him up to a rank of 4889th in the world. Mike also sits in 127th place in the Washington SCS.

BIGGEST MOVER AWARD – [player]David Cohen US[/player]
David moved up 5745 spots from his performance at the IFPA Project PInball Fundraiser in Washington DC. David finished in 24th place in the Main Tournament, along with 14th and 20th place in each of the Side Tournaments. These results netted David 2.08 WPPR points for June, which moved him up to a rank of 4210th in the world. David also sits in 118th place in the New York SCS.

Detailed rules for the $tern Rewards Program, including an updated list of qualifiers, and updated list of rewards available can be found HERE.

The IFPA is pleased to announce that the following players saw the biggest jump in their world ranking based on their July 2014 tournament performance. 

The biggest movers for July 2014 included [player]Bobbi Douthitt[/player] from Gulfport, FL, who moved up 10,376 spots by finishing in the top 20 of both the IFPA Project Pinball Fundraiser tournaments in Ft Myers and St. Petersburg (both Main and Side events). This netted Bobbi 2.80 WPPR points and moved her up to a rank of 5553rd in the world. Bobbi also sits in 53rd place in the Florida SCS.

[player]Mike Pantoliano[/player] from Seattle, WA moved up 6205 spots from his victory at the Flip Flip Ding Ding Periodic Tournament and 11th place finish at the Seattle Pinball Rally Tournament. In total, Mike earned 2.90 WPPR points which moved him up to a rank of 4889th in the world. Mike also sits in 127th place in the Washington SCS.

[player]David Cohen US[/player] from Syracuse, NY moved up 5745 spots from his performance at the IFPA Project PInball Fundraiser in Washington DC. David finished in 24th place in the Main Tournament, along with 14th and 20th place in each of the Side Tournaments. These results netted David 2.08 WPPR points for June, which moved him up to a rank of 4210th in the world. David also sits in 118th place in the New York SCS.

Congratulations to Bobbi, Mike and David, as well as the other players that saw a jump in their ranking from their July tournament performance!

The IFPA is pleased to announce that our Player of the Month for July 2014 is [player]Chris Tabaka[/player] from Jackson, MI. CHris earned a total of 139.72 WPPR points in July. This included victories in the Lansing Pinball League, Pinbowl Tournament and National Baby Food Festival Open Pinball Tournament. Chris is currently the top ranked player for the Michigan SCS, and is also currently qualified for Georgia(12th) and Wisconsin(13th).

The rest of the top 5 for the month of July included [player]Kevin Birrell[/player] from Seattle, WA with 98.81 WPPR points, [player]Frank Romero[/player] from Rockland County, NY with 87.09 WPPR points, [player]Martin Ayub[/player] from London with 82.94 WPPR points, and [player]Steve Zahler[/player] from New York with 82.58 WPPR points.

Congratulations to Chris and the other top WPPR point earners of the month!

The Franklin County News in New Zealand released an article on #3 ranked New Zealand player [player]Danielle Peck[/player]. Click HERE to read the article.

blog post courtesy of Norbert Snicer

Video from the Pinball HQ Marathon at Coogee Diggers in Australia – Click HERE to watch.

Pinball HQ Marathon, August 9, 2014, IFPA endorsed tournament
Duration: SAT 11AM to SUN 1:15AM
Number of players: 52
Number of competition machines: 11
Game's List: Elvis, Metallica, 24, Mustang, Star Trek, Getaway, Fun House, Dirty Harry, Who Dunnit, Creature From the Black Lagoon, Revenge From Mars
Number of games played in qualifying rounds: 572
Number of games played in final rounds: 64
Interstate participation: NSW, VIC, S.A. QLD, ACT
Prize Pool: $1000
Winner: Richard Rhodes (RGR)

The Flippin' With the Greats League, preseason Week 4 winner is Curtis Baker (playing for the Patriots). Curtis will be receiving an autographed photo of Coach Ditka, a Bronze Ditka "Hall of Fame" Medallion, and a congratulatory letter from the Gridiron Greats Assistance Fund, naming him the "Honorary Captain"  of the 2014 Flippin' With the Greats competitive Pinball campaign.

Now that the NFL season is officially underway, we are stepping up the prize packages!
 

This time around, we will be awarding a Vintage Casino Slot Machine (courtesy of Peters Billiards) to one lucky player selected from the fastest growing division, beginning now and ending Thursday Sept 18th at 9pm CST.

Starting right now, we will be tallying new entrants into each division. All players within the fastest growing division will be eligible to win the Vintage Slot Machine! Winning player will be responsible any shipping charges (we will help line up a wholesale carrier), or the machine can be available for pick in the Minneapolis or Chicago areas. As an alternative prize, Gridiron Support is offering a set of 5 GGAF medallions with matching numbers if the winner declines the slot machine as their prize.

We currently have 22 members of the FWTG League. Updated standings are available HERE.

For details on the FWTG LEAGUE, including how to register, format, prizes and more, click HERE.

The Gridiron Greats Assistance Fund (GGAF) is a non-stock, non-profit 501(c)(3) organization providing financial grants and ‘pro bono’ medical assistance to retired NFL players in dire need. The organization focuses on the humanitarian side of post-football related issues, which include coordination of social services to retired players who are in need due to a variety of reasons including inadequate disability and/or pensions.

Get behind Coach Ditka's Gridiron Greats Assistance Fund and "LIKE" Gridiron Support on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/gridironsupport.org.

With the kickoff of the NFL regular season last night, the FWTG League is excited to announce the Preseason MVP's for 2014.

The player that was leading each division as of last night's cutoff won the Preseason MVP award. These MVP's each have earned a spot into the Grand Final to be held early next year, and will be playing for a chance to win a NIB pinball machine.

Congratulations to the following MVP's:

AFC North – [player]Trent Augenstein[/player] (Bengals)
AFC South – [player]Zach Sharpe[/player] (Titans)
AFC West – [player]Brian Shepherd[/player] (Chiefs)
AFC East – [player]Chris Basler[/player] (Dolphins)
NFC West – [player]Kevin Birrell[/player] (Seahawks)
NFC North – [player]Josh Sharpe[/player] (Bears)
NFC South – [player]Damien Charlety[/player] (Saints)
NFC East – [player]Jon Drew[/player] (Cowboys)

The FWTG League will continue through the rest of 2014, and we have some pretty great raffle prizes lined up during the course of the season, including a few actual pinball machines that will be given away.

Updated FWTG standings are available HERE. For details on the FWTG LEAGUE, including how to register, format, prizes and more, click HERE.

Gridiron Support is currently offering a Preseason 10% discount on "Tier 1" and "Tier 2" IFPA/FWTG personalized League Medallions. In addition, Gridiron Support is offering special "group" sales discounts on Medallion orders of 3 or more. Call Vicki (Gridiron Support) at  612-999-FWTG (3984) for more information!

The Gridiron Greats Assistance Fund (GGAF) is a non-stock, non-profit 501(c)(3) organization providing financial grants and ‘pro bono’ medical assistance to retired NFL players in dire need. The organization focuses on the humanitarian side of post-football related issues, which include coordination of social services to retired players who are in need due to a variety of reasons including inadequate disability and/or pensions.

Get behind Coach Ditka's Gridiron Greats Assistance Fund and "LIKE" Gridiron Support on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/gridironsupport.org.

The Flippin' With the Greats League raffled off the third prize of the preseason, with [player]Jon Drew[/player] winning a limited "proof" (stamped in coin) struck Rich Gannon 2002 MVP Medallion with color fill trim, along with an autographed action photo.

To cap off our final week of preseason FWTG recruiting we will be giving away a Super prize combination from Da Coach himself!

The winner of this week's drawing will receive an autographed photo of Coach Ditka, a Ditka Hall of Fame Medallion, and a "Thank you" letter from Ditka's Gridiron Greats Assistance Fund naming the winner the "Honorary Captain" of the 2014 Flippin With the Greats / IFPA pinball campaign.

The week #4 prize will be raffled off on September 4th at 9pm CST. All FWTG League members at that time will be eligible for the prize.

A reminder also that the player leading each division at the end of the preseason will win the "Preseason MVP award" and earn a spot into the Grand Final and play for a NIB Pinball Machine. Currently Andrei Massenkoff leads the NFC West, Damien Charlety leads the NFC South, Jon Drew leads the NFC East, Zach Sharpe leads the AFC South, Josh Sharpe leads the NFL North, Rob Ferullo leads the AFC East and Trent Augenstein leads the AFC North. The AFC West is still up for grabs. Updated FWTG standings are available HERE.

For details on the FWTG LEAGUE, including how to register, format, prizes and more, click HERE.

Gridiron Support is currently offering a Preseason 10% discount on "Tier 1" and "Tier 2" IFPA/FWTG personalized League Medallions. In addition, Gridiron Support is offering special "group" sales discounts on Medallion orders of 3 or more. Call Vicki (Gridiron Support) at  612-999-FWTG (3984) for more information!

The Gridiron Greats Assistance Fund (GGAF) is a non-stock, non-profit 501(c)(3) organization providing financial grants and ‘pro bono’ medical assistance to retired NFL players in dire need. The organization focuses on the humanitarian side of post-football related issues, which include coordination of social services to retired players who are in need due to a variety of reasons including inadequate disability and/or pensions.

Get behind Coach Ditka's Gridiron Greats Assistance Fund and "LIKE" Gridiron Support on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/gridironsupport.org.

​blog post courtesy of Nicole Anne Reik

IFPA and Pinball Outreach Project Team Up For Charity Tournaments

Pinball Outreach Project (POP) is pleased to announce that October will be POP month at the International Flipper Pinball Association (IFPA)! Tournament directors around the country will be holding events to benefit POP and its mission of sharing the joy of pinball with children in need. The funds raised in October will be used by POP to purchase games and bring them to as many children at as many locations around the country as possible.

IFPA charity events are worth full World Pinball Player Ranking (WPPR) points, with all money raised going directly back to the charity. These events can also have associated side tournaments worth half points. Typical restrictions on number or type of events at specific location will be waived for these charity tournaments. The 30 day rule is in effect for this campaign.

“POP is thrilled to be partnering with IFPA for these tournaments.” said Executive Director Nicole Anne Reik. “Having just coming off back to back children’s hospital visits in Southern California, this money will help us build on that success and take our organization to the next level.”

“After partnering with POP for our official Charity Challenge at this year's IFPA11 World Pinball Championship, we're excited to team up again by officially making October 2014 Pinball Outreach Project month.” said Josh Sharpe, President of the IFPA. “The ability to help improve the lives of children through our passion for competitive pinball was something we couldn't help but want to support.”

If you would like to run a tournament in your area, you can submit the details to the IFPA at http://www.ifpapinball.com/calendar/submit.php. If you have never run a tournament before, or are interested in assistance promoting your event, we are happy to help in whatever ways possible. We understand that these events can be somewhat intimidating, but we have run a very large number of tournaments and we’ll do everything we can to make yours a success. We are also happy to answer any questions about our organization, our mission, and how we are going to use the money we raise.

About Pinball Outreach Project (POP)

Pinball Outreach Project is a 501(c)3 charity that was created to improve the lives of children by sharing the history and excitement of the game of pinball. We do this by bringing the game of pinball directly to children in hospitals, schools and community centers. We also spread awareness of our mission by hosting fundraisers and tournaments. To learn more visit http://www.pinballoutreach.org, find us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/PinballOutreachProject, or call us at (415) 857-1POP.