The amusement industry’s best pinball players in the world will be crowned at this year’s Amusement Showcase International (ASI) convention, taking place on March 28-30 in Las Vegas. The ASI and the International Flipper Pinball Association (IFPA) will sponsor the first annual championship competition.
The 2007 Industry Pinball Wizard Champion will be crowned during the “ASI Big Bar-Happy Hour on the Showfloor” on Thursday evening. The two-tiered competition features an Industry Challenge and an Open Division where everyone will have the chance to display their own pinball-playing skills. The Industry Challenge champion will receive an award proclaiming him or her as the Industry Pinball Wizard 2007. The Open Division should attract international pinball enthusiasts who will compete for cash prizes, award recognition and World Pinball Player Rankings (WPPR) points. Players will compete on selected machines from five different decades- the '60s, '70s, '80s, '90s and ‘00s. Tim Arnold, of the Las Vegas-based Pinball Hall of Fame, and Gary Stern. of Stern Pinball, will supply the games. A portion of all proceeds will go to benefit the AAMA Charitable Foundation and the Las Vegas Salvation Army. The new IFPA started in early 2006. The original IFPA was founded in 1990; Euroslot correspondent Sharon Harris served as the first president from 1990 to 1993. It remained active in the 1990s, but was then disbanded. The new organization aims to again create an international awareness and visibility of pinball machines by various promotional activities. It also will encourage and support worldwide player rankings- currently at more than 700 players from 18 countries-endorse tournaments, leagues and a variety of promotional activities. A main goal is to generate media coverage and corporate backing to bring the sport of competitive pinball back into the spotlight.
Will you be visiting the InterGame Expo?
