In an event to raise money for Talk About Curing Autism, players that donated $40 to enter the tournament had a chance to walk away with a World Cup Soccer pinball machine. 18 players competed by qualifying on 10 different machines (Medieval Madness, Godzilla, Volley, Whirlwind, Indiana Jones, Monster Bash, Tommy, Varkon, Family Guy and Joust). A head-to-head double elimination bracket was held the following day with Keith Elwin making it a sweep on the weekend and taking 1st place (he also won the AMOA tournament held that same week). Other finalists included Josh Sharpe (2nd place), Jim Belsito (3rd place) and Zach Sharpe (4th place). For more details of the show, check out:

http://www.retrogameconnection.com/

Stern Pinball and the IFPA teamed up once again to host a tournament at this year’s AMOA show. 22 players competed by qualifying on either the Family Guy or Shrek machine, and then playing out a single elimination head-to-head bracket. Keith Elwin emerged victorious, surviving a near comeback from Zach Sharpe (2nd place) in the final game played on Family Guy. Other finalists included Trent Augenstein (3rd place) and Dean St. Antoine (4th place). For more details on the AMOA show, check out:

http://www.amoa-show.com

Mike Parkins defeated 31 other players on his way to victory at this year’s Inaugural Welsh Classic Pinball Open. Other finalists included Terry Sullivan (2nd place), Greg Mott (3rd place) and Martin Ayub (4th place). For more details on the event, check out:

http://pinballnews.com/shows/welshclassic2008/index.html

It isn’t often when a PAPA final comes down to the last player, last ball, but that’s exactly what happened. Entering the final game on The Addams Family, there were a variety of ways for PAPA to end in a tie, or for all 3 of the former champions to win the title outright. Keith Elwin emerged victorious, surviving two tie-breakers, and an epic third ball on The Addams Family where he came from 130 million points down to capture the crown. Other finalists included Bowen Kerins (2nd), Lyman Sheats (3rd) and Josh Sharpe (4th).

Reidar Spets defeated 66 other players to capture the 2008 Lidkoping Pinball Masters Open in Sweden. Other finalists included Per Ahlenius (2nd), Johan Genberg (3rd) and Per Holknekt (4th).

Over 60 players competed within the three different divisions (Modern, Solid State and Electro-Mechanical), with the winner of each getting a chance to play in the Championship match. After winning the Modern and Solid State divisions, Keith Elwin (right) defeated Neil Shatz (winner of the EM division – left) in the Championship match. Other finalists within those three divisions included Trent Augenstein, Andrei Massenkoff, Neil Inn, Jim Belsito, Mike Mahaffey and Gene Lewin.

The Saturday portion of Pin Maine-ia 2 featured the 2nd annual New England Pinball Championship out in Saco, Maine. 55 players competed in 6 rounds of head-to-head matchups over 10 straight hours of play. The 4 players with the best record after all sessions would advance to the finals. Josh Sharpe came out on top, defeating Bowen Kerins (3rd place) in the semifinals two games to one, and then Mark Ross (2nd place) in the finals two games to one. Bowen defeated Trent Augenstein who finished in fourth place.

Keith Elwin (inside right) defeated 79 other players to win the first NW Pinball Show tournament in Seattle. All four finalists entered the final game on Stern’s Spider-Man with a chance to win the tournament. Cayle George (left) took second with 33 million points, Eden Stamm (inside left) finished in third place with 13.9 million points and James Furdell (right) took fourth with 7.3 million points in the final game. Keith did not have to play his last ball, finishing with 70.8 million points to win the tournament.

Fresh off his World Championship victory last month, Bowen Kerins (left) captured another victory besting out Jory Rabinovitz (middle) in the finals of the P3 Tournament at Allentown. Other finalists included Steve Bowden (right – 3rd) and Ed Zeltmann (4th).