On June 24 and 25, 2023, the Titan Pinball Southwest Regional Pin-Masters returned to the North Texas. The event returned to Free Play Arcade in Arlington, Texas and was streamed live by Try to Tilt Pinball on Twitch.

On Saturday, 86 players competed on an 18 “hole” pin-golf course to qualify for the finals. The top 24 players competed in the ‘A’ division finals on Sunday. A total of $4400 was awarded to players in both the ‘A’ and ‘B’ divisions.

Titan Pinball contributed $2000 of that prize pool. Titan Pinball also paid $500 for the trophies that were awarded. With Titan Pinball paying for the trophies, that limited expenses and thus, more money went into the prize pool.

This event was won by 17-year-old Jack Revnew of Conroe, Texas. As an official qualifier for the 2024 IFPA Pin-Masters: World Pin-Golf Championships, Jack earned $1000 in cash and a discount on entry to that event, which will be held in early 2024.

There were also trophies Hole in One trophies for the qualifiers and for the finals. Garrett Shahan won the Hole in One trophies for the qualifiers and Jack Revnew won the Hole in One trophy for the Finals.

For more information about the IFPA Pin-Masters, go to https://www.ifpapinball.com/tournament_pages/pinmasters/

Here are the May 2023 IFPA winners for Player of the Month and Biggest Movers:

Player of the Month:
Julio Vicario Soriano from Valencia, Spain (599.92 WPPR’s – MAIN)
Alice Young from San Antonio, TX (87.64 WPPR’s – WOMEN’S)

Biggest Movers:
Ryan Heath from Munster, IN (+19,042 spots)
Meredith Morgan from Acworth, GA (+14,377 spots)
Cat Hills from Lincoln, NE (+13,908 spots)

These players have now all qualified for the Stern Rewards Program for 2023. Congrats to everyone!

CTV News in Winnipeg Canada published a piece on IFPA18 participant Jack Tadman. Click HERE to watch the piece.

Ilta-Sanomat news in Finland published a piece on IFPA18 runner-up Markus Virtanen. Click HERE to read the article.

Louis Marx is back with the fourth interview in the IFPA Tournament Director Stories series. This time he meets with Lewis Bevans out of Pittsburgh.

To read the interview, click HERE.

In the history of competitive pinball, very few (34 in fact) have had the chance to call themselves a Major Champion, with even fewer having won multiple Major Championships (12 players in history going into IFPA18). Like professional golf or tennis, the opportunity to join this elite club now only happens three times a year. The IFPA18 World Pinball Championship came down to IFPA16 World Champion Johannes Ostermeier and Markus Virtanen from Finland. In a match that went all 9 games, Johannes emerged victorious with an impressive performance on Corvette in Game #9 to become the 13th player in history to win 2 Major Championships.

With his 2nd place finish, Markus Virtanen reached his 1st top 4 finish in Major Championships. Jason Zahler reached his 3rd top 4 finish in Major Championships with his 3rd place finish. 4th place went to Markus Stix who earned his 2nd top 4 finish in Major Championships.

To view the most current list of Major Championship stats, click HERE.

Bracket for finals available HERE.

WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL
Johannes Ostermeier vs. Markus Virtanen (5-4)
Johannes won on Dark Rider, The Shadow, Road Kings, Indianapolis 500, Corvette
Markus won on The Addams Family, Paragon, Space Station, Godzilla

CONSOLATION FINAL
Jason Zahler d. Markus Stix (2-1)
Jason won on Avengers, Dolly Parton
Markus won on Space Station

QUALIFYING STANDINGS:
https://next.matchplay.events/tournaments/101543

STREAM:
https://www.twitch.tv/jdl_pinball

GAME LIST:
https://www.ifpapinball.com/ifpa18/games/

Bracket for finals available HERE.

Johannes Ostermeier d. Jason Zahler (4-1)
Johannes won on Dark Rider, Harlem Globetrotters, The Shadow, Space Station
Jason won on Avengers

Markus Virtanen d. Markus Stix (4-2)
Markus V. won on Space Station, The Addams Family, Paragon, Road Kings
Markus S. won on Avengers, Dolly Parton

5th through 8th place match
Arvid Flygare – 18 POINTS
Paul Englert – 12 POINTS
Eric Stone – 6 POINTS
Keith Elwin – 0 POINTS

QUALIFYING STANDINGS:
https://next.matchplay.events/tournaments/101543

STREAM:
https://www.twitch.tv/jdl_pinball

GAME LIST:
https://www.ifpapinball.com/ifpa18/games/

Bracket for finals available HERE.

Johannes Ostermeier d. Paul Englert (5-3)
Johannes won on Dark Rider, The Shadow, Skateball, Indianapolis 500, Star Trek
Paul won on Corvette, Space Station, Centaur

Markus Virtanen d. Arvid Flygare (4-2)
Markus won on Tron, Paragon, Alien Poker, Road Kings
Arvid won on The Addams Family, Cyclone

Markus Stix d. Eric Stone (5-4)
Markus won on Space Station, Champ, Dolly Parton, Indianapolis 500, Deadpool
Eric won on Godzilla, Fire, Rush, Corvette

Jason Zahler d. Keith Elwin (5-3)
Jason won on Harlem Globetrotters, Elektra, Avengers, Lady Luck, Godzilla
Keith won on Fireball, Cyclone, The Shadow

QUALIFYING STANDINGS:
https://next.matchplay.events/tournaments/101543

STREAM:
https://www.twitch.tv/jdl_pinball

GAME LIST:
https://www.ifpapinball.com/ifpa18/games/

Bracket for finals available HERE.

Johannes Ostermeier d. Robert Sutter (4-2)
Johannes won on Dark Rider, Avatar, Medusa, Pin*Bot
Robert won on Harlem Globetrotters, Deadpool

Markus Virtanen d. Escher Lefkoff (5-3)
Markus won on The Addams Family, Indianapolis 500, Road Kings, Jurassic Park, Corvette
Escher won on Paragon, Grand Lizard, Alien Poker

Eric Stone d. Viggo Löwgren (4-1)
Eric won on Avengers, Champ, Alien Poker, Firepower
Viggo won on Fire

Keith Elwin d. Carlos Delaserda (4-1)
Keith won on Firepower, Godzilla, Fireball, Harlem Globetrotters
Carlos won on Avengers

Jason Zahler d. Zach Sharpe (4-0)
Jason won on The Shadow, Harlem Globetrotters, Pool Sharks, Avengers

Markus Stix d. Daniele Celestino Acciari (4-2)
Daniele won on Sorcerer, Alien Poker
Markus won on Space Station, Godzilla, Avengers, Dolly Parton

Arvid Flygare d. Mark Pearson (4-0)
Arvid won on Champ, Tron, Lady Luck, Cyclone

Paul Englert d. Josh Sharpe (4-2)
Paul won on F-14 Tomcat, The Shadow, Skateball, Harlem Globetrotters
Josh won on Indianapolis 500, Road Kings

QUALIFYING STANDINGS:
https://next.matchplay.events/tournaments/101543

STREAM:
https://www.twitch.tv/jdl_pinball

GAME LIST:
https://www.ifpapinball.com/ifpa18/games/