Want to win free registration into the World Pinball Championship at the World Pinball Championship?

The IFPA is excited to announce that the top 8 finishers at the IFPA8 World Pinball Championship will receive full registration packages into the PAPA14 World Pinball Championship.

Want to play in the two most competitive pinball tournaments the sport has to offer? There’s still time!

IFPA8 – Two spots remain to be filled for the field of 64. These are available through the IFPA Satellite tournaments coming up this Spring.

2011 European Pinball Championship Satellite Qualification (March 18-20, 2011 in Le Treport, France)
The 2011 European Pinball Championship will serve as a satellite event for players not yet qualified for IFPA8. One spot will be up for grabs in the Individual tournament at the 2011 EPC. This satellite event will be open for any player ranked in the World Pinball Player Rankings as of the end of 2010, but did not qualify for IFPA8 through the automatic bid process. Details on the 2011 EPC can be found HERE.

2011 Michigan Pinball Expo Satellite Qualification (April 14-17, 2011 in Rochester, MI)
The 2011 Michigan Pinball Expo will serve as a satellite event for players not yet qualified for IFPA8. One spot will be up for grabs in the A-Division tournament at the 2011 Michigan Pinball Expo. This satellite event will be open for any player ranked in the World Pinball Player Rankings as of the end of 2010, but did not qualify for IFPA8 through the automatic bid process. Details on the Michigan Pinball Expo can be found HERE.

PAPA14 – Details for the tournament can be found HERE. PAPA14 will be held August 11th-14th, 2011 outside of Pittsburgh, PA.

Is August too far away for you? Luckily PAPA HQ is hosting Pinburgh 2011, March 18th-20th, 2011. For more details, check it out HERE. Sign up today! The IFPA Staff will be there in full support, and so should you!

The AAMA and AMOA have teamed up to host the Amusement Expo. It will be held Tuesday , March 1 through Thursday, March 3, 2011 at the Las Vegas Convention Center. Details of the show can be found HERE. It’s the place to be to see the latest and greatest from not only Stern Pinball, but other coin operated amusement companies.

IFPA staff will be on hand to run a tournament out of the Stern booth. This will be a Pin-Golf format utilizing the machines within the Stern booth. Players that pre-register for the tournament will receive free entrance into the show (a $150 value). Contact the IFPA for additional details at ifpapinball@gmail.com.

The IFPA is proud to announce it will be teaming up with GameWorks once again for the 6th Chicago Pinball Tournament of Champions the weekend of February 25th through 27th at the Schaumburg location (Streets of Woodfield). Over $1600 in Cash and prizes!

Qualifying Schedule:
Friday February 25, 2011 from 6pm to 11pm
Saturday February 26, 2011 from Noon to 11pm
Sunday February 27, 2011 from 10am to 12pm

Cost to Play:
Players will purchase game tickets to play in the tournament at the tournament location.
Each ticket will let you play (1) one game of your choice.
1 Ticket = $4.00
3 Tickets = $10.00 (value price)
** Tickets are Non-Transferable, and may not be used outside of Tournament **
Ticket sales will stop approximately 45 minutes before the end of Open Tournament Play on Sunday to ensure all players holding tickets will have time to use them in the tournament.

Prizes:
1st Place = $560 + 4 2Hr Free Play Cards
2nd Place = $320 + 2 2Hr Free Play Cards
3rd Place = $240 + 2 1Hr Free Play Cards
4th Place = $160 + 2 1Hr Free Play Cards
5th Place = $80 + 1Hr Free Play Card
6th Place =$80 + 1Hr Free Play Card
7th Place =$80 + 1Hr Free Play Card
8th Place = $80 + 1Hr Free Play Card
9th Place thru 16 Place will get a 1Hr Free Play Card

Also, every player who enters will get a $5 off entry coupon to the Midwest Gaming Expo 3/26-3/27.

In addition to serving as an official IFPA8 Satellite tournament, the Michigan Pinball Expo will be sponsoring a player for IFPA8.

The highest finisher of the A division will have their IFPA8 registration paid in FULL on behalf of the MPE.

This sponsorship is open to all players, including those that have already registered for IFPA8.

For those players that have not qualified for IFPA8 through the Country Exemption or At-Large Bid process, The IFPA is proud to announce two Satellite Qualification Tournaments for the IFPA8 World Pinball Championship. Each of these tournament have one spot available for purchase to the highest finisher that has not already qualified for IFPA8.

2011 European Pinball Championship Satellite Qualification (March 18-20, 2011 in Le Treport, France)

The 2011 European Pinball Championship will serve as a satellite event for players not yet qualified for IFPA8. One spot will be up for grabs in the Individual tournament at the 2011 EPC. This satellite event will be open for any player ranked in the World Pinball Player Rankings as of the end of 2010, but did not qualify for IFPA8 through the automatic bid process. Details on the 2011 EPC can be found HERE.

2011 Michigan Pinball Expo Satellite Qualification (April 14-17, 2011 in Rochester, MI)

The 2011 Michigan Pinball Expo will serve as a satellite event for players not yet qualified for IFPA8. One spot will be up for grabs in the A-Division tournament at the 2011 Michigan Pinball Expo. This satellite event will be open for any player ranked in the World Pinball Player Rankings as of the end of 2010, but did not qualify for IFPA8 through the automatic bid process. Details on the Michigan Pinball Expo can be found HERE.

If anyone is interested in helping us continue to raise some funds, we put together the “World Pinball Tour” list of events for 2010.

Number of distinct tournaments went up from 52 in 2006, to 74 in 2007, to 102 in 2008, to 182 in 2009, to 228 in 2010. Number of players has also just passed 9000!

$3 from each t-shirt sale goes into the IFPA funds, so help us raise some funds and get a t-shirt or two.

Click HERE to visit our online store.

The IFPA is proud to announce that registration for the 8th Annual IFPA World Pinball Championship is now open! For more details check it out HERE!

The initial invite list is for the top 150 players as of 1/1/2011. Based on the interest of the top 150, we may extend the invite list additional spots so please monitor the registration page at your leisure. Should you be interested, please send payment to the IFPA as your way of committing to attending the tournament. Should you not be interested, it is equally important that we know, so please send an email to the IFPA stating you will not be available to participate.

Should you have any questions about our qualifying process or to find out more information about the tournament, please contact the IFPA at ifpapinball@gmail.com.

IFPA8 is sponsored by Stern Pinball, Betson, Raw Thrills, Planetary Pinball Supply, Prilosec OTC, Play Meter Magazine and Gameworks.

The IFPA is proud to announce that Keith Elwin has finished at #1 on the World Pinball Player Rankings, thus earning IFPA’s top honor as the 2010 “World’s Greatest Pinball Player”. No single tournament victory will ever secure this title for a given year. Only consistent play at the highest level over the course of multiple years leads to players reaching the pinnacle of the World Pinball Player Rankings. During 2010, Keith posted his 3rd consecutive PAPA A division victory. He also won the Pin Pin 101 Tournament, Lyons Pinball Spring Classic, California Extreme, and a sweep at the NW Pinball Show in Seattle. Overall, Keith won 32% of the events he played in, while placing in the top 4 at 64% of his 2010 events, a truly remarkable achievement. Keith will be given his award at the IFPA8 World Pinball Championship, scheduled for May 27-29, 2011 in Sweden. Congratulations to Keith, and best of luck to everyone on the upcoming 2011 season.

2-time PAPA World Champion and 2-time IFPA World Champion Bowen Kerins, with the help of PAPA Headquarters has created some video tutorials on how to play some games that are sure to pop up at a tournament near you.

Visit PAPA’s blog to watch the videos, and keep checking the site as Bowen is just getting started in tackling many of the games that will surely be featured at the upcoming Pinburgh 2011 tournament.

Speaking of Pinburgh 2011, don’t forget to sign up! Those looking for a ton of competitive pinball action, this tournament is a CAN’T MISS! Details can be found HERE.

With the presence of over one hundred and eighty people, an exhibition of the decade of EMs 60.70. An event marking the National Pinball. The tournament featured 40 players who made a thrilling final at Shrek pinball machine. We estimate an event for next year to four hundred people and a tournament bout one hundred players. (Source ABC Pinball Club) (Richard Thomas)