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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The 2023 Stern Pro Circuit Championship kicks off at 9:30am CST today at Enterrium in Schaumburg.

The top 32 qualifiers will be playing for over $23,000 in cash and prizes!

Follow the action on Stern’s YouTube channel HERE.

Follow the bracket HERE.

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For many years, the Texas Pinball Festival’s Wizards Tournament has been one of the premier IFPA sanctioned pinball tournaments. For 2025, we are thrilled to announce that we have changed the format to give the players exactly what they have been asking for!

The 2025 Texas Pinball Festival Wizards Tournament will be a “Group Matchplay” style tournament split into two groups, an early group and a late group.
This gives four unique benefits that players have wanted and asked for:

1. No time wasted waiting in lines
2. Direct “Social” play in group setting
3. Being split into two groups, early and late, all players will have time to see the rest of the Texas Pinball Festival.
4. Minimizes impact when/if machine malfunctions occur

Tournament entries for the Texas Wizards Tournament must be purchased in advance of the show in our online store. TICKETS WILL GO ON SALE ON NOVEMBER 2, 2024 AT NOON.

In addition to being a Stern Pro Circuit event, the Texas Wizards Tournament qualifies as an “IFPA Certified PLUS” tournament, meaning that its WPPR values will receive a 50% boost over normal points earned.  Because the base TGP value of TPF Wizards in 2025 will be 200%, the boosted total value will be 300%, more than EVER before! Get ready for some Texas-Sized WPPRs.

Thank you for you continued support and feedback.

Your tournament officials:
Elizabeth Dronet
Ken Kemp
Kevin Stone
Louis Marx

We announced back in August the opportunity for tournament organizers to add themselves to the eligibility list for inclusion on the Stern Pro Circuit for the 2025 season. Organizers have until October 31, 2024 to apply. Click HERE for those details.

This will be the last warning to organizers to get your application into the IFPA before the end of the month.

Currently here is the top 5 list as it stands at the moment for events to be added to the Stern Pro Circuit next season:

1 D82 Summer Pinball Classic (139.89 WPPR average)
2 PAPA World Championship (121.60 WPPR average)
3 Starfighters SPF (114.76 WPPR average)
4 Pinburgh (107.28 WPPR average)
5 Cactus Jack’s Silverball Showdown (99.24 WPPR average)

Please note this list can change based on events that apply before the deadline.

The 2025 IFPA Pin-Masters: World Pin-Golf Championships are scheduled for March 7th-9th, 2025 at the Rochester Pinball Collective in Rochester, New York.

Registration is now available HERE!

Please take this opportunity to solidify your spot in next year’s IFPA Pin-Masters, which is limited to 144 players.

Entry fee is $250 per player. Any refunds will be paid back at 50% of the registration fee. The additional funds will be added to the prize pool.

Please note spots will be RESERVED for any player that qualifies for the IFPA North American Pinball Championship. Do NOT register if you only intend to participate should you qualify for the IFPA North American Pinball Championship.

Full details of the event are available here:
https://www.ifpapinball.com/tournament_pages/pinmasters/

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.

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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.

The IFPA and Stern Army organized the John Wick Global Leaderboard for September 2024!

We’re happy to announce the winners from this contest! Please email ifpapinball@gmail.com for details on how to redeem your prize.