Belles & Chimes Phoenix 8-5-23: Where Pinball Dreams Take Flight!

It’s not every day you walk into Player 1 Arcade, and your ears are immediately graced by the beautiful cacophony of pinball machines and the cheers of avid fans. But on August 5th, 2023, the arcade was alive in a new, exciting way, thanks to the riveting Belles & Chimes Phoenix pinball tournament!

The Venue: More Than Just Machines

Nestled at 17239 N Litchfield Rd, Surprise, AZ, Player 1 Arcade isn’t just a hub for gaming. It’s a haven for pinball enthusiasts and arcade aficionados alike. Whether you’re 7 or 70, stepping into this arcade is like traveling back in time to the golden era of gaming. With an impressive lineup of vintage arcade games and a vast selection of drinks that cater to every palate, this place knows how to mix nostalgia with modern fun. Still skeptical? Drop by on a Saturday night, and you’ll be converted!

Godzilla Roars, and Players Respond!

Arguably the most intense game of the day was Round 6 on Godzilla (Premium). Lasting an astonishing 31 minutes and 18 seconds, it had everyone on the edge of their seats! Cara Eisinger from New River, AZ, showcased impeccable skills, clinching the top position. Kudos to Casey Halley and Terri Boyd for their thrilling gameplay, hailing from the legendary “Flippers’ Folly” and “Bumper Bay,” respectively. Not to forget, Bobbi Wambach, representing “Multiball Mountain,” for her fierce competition.

Pinball’s Glittering Line-Up

From Star Wars (Premium), evoking the memories of the galaxy far, far away, to The Mandalorian (Pro), bridging the gap between generations, the machines were the unsung heroes of this event. The recent addition, Foo Fighters (LE), stood out, proving that rock music and pinball is indeed a match made in heaven. For those craving more details, the Internet Pinball Database is your treasure trove!

Meet The Stars!

A standing ovation for Tracy Lindbergh! Not only did she organize this stellar event, but she also emerged victorious, proving why she’s one of Arizona’s pinball gems. With an impressive IFPA rank of 479 and 477 total IFPA events under her belt, she’s a force to be reckoned with. Mollie Stoltenberg secured the second position from the distant “Tilted Towers.” Cara Eisinger took the third spot, while the enigmatic Hailey Buhrman, hailing from the legendary “Arcade Abyss,” surprised us all by clinching the fourth position in her debut tournament.

In the realm of pinball, every tournament is a story, a blend of competition, camaraderie, and pure, unbridled fun. The Belles & Chimes Phoenix 8-5-23 was no different. We can’t wait to see what the next chapter holds. Until then, keep those flippers flipping and dreams soaring!

Flipping Fun at the Pinsomniacs Pinball Piins & Pints July Tournament

Glitz, Glamour, and Pinball

On July 23rd, 2023, the spirited clang of metal balls against glass echoed through Tepey’s Taps & Tacos, Jacksonville’s pinball hub. The Pinsomniacs Pinball Piins & Pints July Tournament was in full swing, offering competitors the kind of fiery, flippity fun only a classic arcade game can deliver. Organized by the ever-passionate Nick Byrd, the event saw 18 pinball wizards locked in a heated battle, their eyes glittering with competitive spirit.

The Tantalizing Twilight Zone Duel

The real drama of the day unfolded on the iconic Twilight Zone machine by Bally, which dates back to 1993. As the round began, onlookers knew they were in for a treat. Shannon Stafford, holding a respectable IFPA rank of 73, took first place. Meanwhile, Tristan Stafford, Dan Cone, and Connor McClure chased close behind. There’s nothing quite like the thrill of watching expert players battle on a classic machine. And in this case, Shannon proved their expertise with a decisive victory.

And the Pinball Crown Goes To…

The overall leaderboard held few surprises. Shannon Stafford, fresh from their Twilight Zone win, secured the top spot. Tristan Stafford, Jokton Strealy (our out-of-towner from Valdosta, GA), and Dan Cone rounded off the top four. Given Shannon’s track record in the IFPA Florida Pinball standings, many saw this victory as yet another feather in their cap.

Machines that Captured Hearts

Beyond Twilight Zone, the venue boasted a captivating range of pinball machines, from the retro allure of Creature from the Black Lagoon to the pop culture-driven thrill of Foo Fighters (Pro). Whether you’re a purist who longs for the feel of a vintage machine or someone chasing the latest Stern release, there was something for everyone.

A Venue with a Vibe

The pulsating energy of the games was perfectly complemented by the laid-back vibe of Tepey’s Taps & Tacos. With tantalizing tacos on the menu and an array of delightful drinks, the venue added a zesty flavor to the competition. Their happy hour is, without a doubt, the stuff of legends!

Florida’s Pinball Elite

Speaking of legends, the current IFPA Florida Pinball Top 10 Standings paints a riveting picture of the state’s best players:

RankPlayer NameCityWppr PointsEvents PlayedWins
1Shannon StaffordOrange Park314.732015
2Eric StoneFort Myers299.52023
3Vince GelormineFort Lauderdale259.63206
4Sebastian Bobbio212.61207
5Dan CoyleSt. Petersburg195.15174
6Dr. Frank SposaroLakeland151.48206
7Adam GrayTemple Terrace132.88205
8David Miller FLTampa121.18201
9Brayden DerazzaLake Mary109.29203
10John MoschellaWinter Springs105.91201

In conclusion, the Pinsomniacs Pinball Piins & Pints July Tournament was an affair to remember. Combining the thrill of the game with the zest of Tepey’s, the day was a testimony to why pinball will forever remain an iconic pastime.

Stay flippin’ and stay tuned for more updates from the realm of pinball!

Dyno-Mite Action at the Aero Club / Dyno Bar Monthly Pinball Tournament!

Underneath a few teasing clouds and with a temperature hovering around a comfortable 72°F, the heart of San Diego at Dyno Bar (Aero Club) transformed into a battlefield of flipper knights. As the sun began its descent on July 11, 2023, at precisely 6:30 PM, 14 pinball aficionados converged for a 10-hour-long saga, replete with drama, strategy, and the sweet chime of victory.

Dyno Bar: The Pinnacle of Pinball

Dyno Bar, renowned as the ultimate hangout for pinball enthusiasts in San Diego, served as the grand arena. The succinct review? “By far the best place to go in San Diego for pinball and a few pints.” Mark Schulz, the chief orchestrator, ensured each round echoed with excitement.

The Machines That Held the Field

Every knight needs a steed, and every pinball player, a machine. The tournament showcased a diverse range: Deadpool (Pro) carried the humor, The Mandalorian (Pro) brought the force, Stranger Things (Pro) introduced a dimension of suspense, and James Bond 007 (60th Anniversary LE) added the thrill of espionage. However, it was the freshly released Foo Fighters (Pro) by Stern that was the talk of the town, given its debut earlier in March 2023.

The Godzilla Face-off: A Round to Remember

The fourth round, however, was where legends were truly made. The Godzilla (Pro) by Stern was the chosen battlefield. All eyes were on Derek Price, with an IFPA rank of 96, and he didn’t disappoint, stomping through the competition. Brian Heath, Adrian Skibine, and Gaizah Wagschal may not have emerged victoriously but garnered respect with their gameplay.

When The Dust Settled: The Champions

While Derek Price’s Godzilla triumph was notable, it wasn’t his only victory. He championed the tournament, with Mark Maleko Schulz 👾, the organizer himself, clinching the second spot. Michael Kostolnik and Mark Bandong, with their impressive IFPA ranks and experience, secured the third and fourth spots respectively.

The Golden State’s Pinball Powerhouses

A glance at the IFPA California Pinball Top 10 Standings provides a perspective on the bigger picture:

RankPlayer NameCityWppr Points
1Tim HansenSunnyvale530.15
2Raymond AshbyLos Angeles518.06
3Gabe Da SilveiraOakland462.95
4Scott MaciasGlendora439.46
5Nic SteinDavis418.14
6Andrei MassenkoffSan Francisco415.04
7Escher Lefkoff411.53
8Keith ElwinCarlsbad409.63
9Johnny ModicaHacienda Heights362.92
10Leslie Ruckman361

From novices to the top brass, the Aero Club / Dyno Bar Monthly was a testament to the passionate pinball community in California. With flippers flipping and bells ringing, the realm of pinball is alive and kicking! Stay tuned for more such exhilarating tales.

ICE-BURGH Pinball Challenge

The first annual ICE-BURGH Pinball Challenge was held on 2/5/2023 at The Ice Box in Seattle Washington and it was a great success! 45 players came out to compete for the top spot in the tournament and there were 22 pinball machines available for play.

The tournament was organized by Germain Mariolle and the top five finishers were Trevor McDonald, Daniel Rone, Chris Chinn, Sean Irby, and Matthew Roggenkamp. Players were able to take part in an exciting pinball tournament with different styles of pinball machines ranging from classic Stern and Bally models to the latest releases from Stern.

The pinball machines featured in the tournament were The Mandalorian (Pro) released in 05-11-2021, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (Pro) released on 06-01-2020, Centaur released on 02-03-1981, Star Gazer released on 01-08-1980, Indianapolis 500 released on 06-01-1995, Jurassic Park (Pro) released on 07-26-2019, Stranger Things (Pro) released on 12-23-2019, and Big Game released on 03-01-1980.

Overall, the tournament was a great success and we look forward to many more ICE-BURGH Pinball Challenges in the future. If you’re interested in finding out more about the tournament or keeping up to date with future events, you can find us on our website at https://www.facebook.com/seattlepinballsuperleague

The top 10 standings in the IFPA North America Championship Series Washington are an impressive display of pinball prowess. Currently leading the pack is Chris Chinn of Seattle, WA with 130.69 points and a current WPPR rank of 82. Sean Irby of Seattle follows with 102.94 points and a rank of 121. Following him is Dave Stewart of Carnation, WA, who has 95.07 points and a current rank of 3. The remainder of the top 10 include Maka Honig of Seattle, WA, Daniel Rone of Portland, OR, Jaran Jones of Seattle, WA, Raymond Davidson of Elk Grove Village, IL, Lonnie Langford of Seattle, WA, John Robinson of WA Bothell, and Michael Rausch of Seattle, WA. These individuals are clearly dedicated to the sport, and it will be interesting to see how these rankings progress as the tournament continues.

Santa Fe Monthly

The Santa Fe Monthly Pinball Tournament took place on February 5th at the Rooftop Pizzeria and Draft Station, and was organized by Nick Schademann. With 23 total players and seven total pinballs, the competition was fierce! The tournament featured several classic pinball machines, including Batman 66 (Premium) manufactured by Stern, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (Pro) by Stern, Rush (Pro) by Stern, Iron Maiden: Legacy of the Beast by Stern, Phoenix by Williams, Monster Bash (Remake Special) by Chicago Gaming, and Cactus Canyon (Remake Special) by Chicago Gaming.

Nick Schademann ultimately came out on top of the competition, followed by Larry McDonald, Erik Skogen, Kyle Gray, and Will Irace. It was a thrilling tournament that showcased the skill of the 23 competitors, and everyone had a great time.

For more information about this tournament and other pinball tournaments in New Mexico, be sure to check out https://www.newmexicopinball.com/. This website has the most up to date information on all upcoming pinball tournaments in the state. Whether you’re a novice or a pro, there’s a tournament out there for everyone!

The pinball scene in New Mexico is heating up as the IFPA North America Championship Series is underway. At the top of the rankings is Ben Cressy from Albuquerque, who has a commanding lead with 13.19 points and a current WPPR rank of 1453. Nick Schademann, also from Albuquerque, is in second place with 8.55 points and a current WPPR rank of 2591. Larry McDonald follows in third with 7.7 points and a WPPR rank of 3486. Meanwhile, Santa Fe’s Kyle Gray and Lance Bell round out the top 10 with 2.08 points and 1.39 points, respectively, and current WPPR ranks of 5212 and 9305. It is clear that New Mexico has some serious talent in the pinball world, and it will be interesting to see how the standings shake out over the course of the tournament.

First Sunday Strikeout (February) at Parkade

The First Sunday Strikeout at the Benton Parkade and Cafe Piazza in St Louis, MO was an exciting and competitive event. With 38 players and 11 pinballs competing in the tournament, the competition was heated and there were some close calls! Adam McKinnie was the champion, followed by John Miller MO in second place, Stephen Chappell in third, Kendell Holder in fourth, and Marq Quiller in fifth.

The tournament featured a variety of pinball machines, ranging from Rush (Premium) by Stern released in January of 2022 to the classic Attack From Mars (Remake) by Chicago Gaming released in June of 2017. Players had the opportunity to play on a wide selection of games, such as Monster Bash (Remake Special) by Chicago Gaming, Avengers: Infinity Quest (Pro) by Stern, Jurassic Park (Premium) by Stern, Guardians of the Galaxy by Stern, Aerosmith by Stern, and Godzilla (Premium) by Stern.

It was a great event and everyone had a lot of fun. Congratulations to Adam McKinnie for taking first place and a big thanks to Dan Sexauer for organizing the tournament. We look forward to the next tournament and you can find out more information by visiting the event page on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/8436571153083811.

The IFPA North America Championship Series Missouri is heating up, with the current top 10 standings led by John Miller of St. Louis, MO. With 54.82 points and a current WPPR rank of 54, Miller is a force to be reckoned with. Not far behind him is Steve Hill of Kansas City, MO with 52.96 points and a current WPPR rank of 141. Further down the line, Adam McKinnie of Columbia, MO is making a statement with 36.58 points and a WPPR rank of 397. As we can see, the top 10 pinballers of the IFPA North America Championship Series Missouri have impressive scores and rankings. It’s sure to be an exciting tournament as the competition progresses.

RLM Amusements Weekly Pinball Tournament

On February 2nd, RLM Amusements hosted their weekly pinball tournament in Grand Rapids, Michigan. With a total of 34 players and 19 pinballs, the competition was fierce. Rodney Minch took the top spot, followed closely by Tim Mayhew, Matthew Stacks, Nate Timperley, and Dominic Labella.

The pinball machines in the tournament included classics such as Genesis, Meteor, Nitro Ground Shaker, and Space Shuttle, as well as more recent releases like Avengers: Infinity Quest (Premium), Total Nuclear Annihilation, Bram Stoker’s Dracula, and Iron Maiden: Legacy of the Beast. Players had to utilize skill, strategy, and luck to make it to the top of the leaderboard.

This was the second tournament that RLM Amusements hosted and it was a huge success. Organizer Rodney Minch said, “I’m really excited with how the tournament went. Everyone had a great time and we got to see some amazing pinball shots.” With events like this, RLM Amusements is quickly becoming a pinball hub in Grand Rapids.

If you are interested in participating in the next tournament at RLM Amusements, you can check out the website for more information. For the latest updates and results, follow the official RLM Amusements tournament page at https://rlmamusements.com/tournaments. We look forward to seeing you at the next tournament!

The current standings in the IFPA North America Championship Series Michigan is extremely competitive with Matthew Stacks of Grand Rapids coming in at number one with an impressive 87.2 points. Closely behind is Sterling Mitoska of Brooklyn with 64.41 points and Rodney Minch from Grand Rapids in third place with 61.44 points. Mike Schudel of Kalamazoo, Mike Stewart Jr from Grand Blanc, and Allen Robertson from Sour Lake are all within striking distance of the podium and vying for the championship title. With less than ten points separating the top ten competitors, the competition is sure to be exciting as the season progresses!

Zanzabrawl

On February 2nd, 2023, the Zanzabrawl pinball tournament took place in Louisville, Kentucky at Zanzabar. This was the latest iteration of the tournament, which was organized by Whayne Rouse.

The tournament was open to both beginner and advanced players, and a total of 29 players competed in the tournament. There were a total of 7 pinballs set up for the tournament, including Disney TRON: Legacy, Wheel of Fortune, The Beatles, Led Zeppelin (LE), Paragon, The Mandalorian (LE), and James Bond 007 (LE).

The tournament had some exciting matches, and in the end, Kalyn Smith from California came out on top. The other top four finishers included Sean Davis, Jason Gwin, Chris Dewitt, and Christopher Dewitt Jr.

The tournament was a great success and provided a lot of fun for the participants. To find out more information about upcoming tournaments or to follow results from past tournaments, visit the Kentucky International Free Pinball Association page on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KYIFPAREP

The IFPA North America Championship Series Kentucky top 10 standings are proving to be an exciting competition. Sean Davis from Louisville KY is leading the pack with 46.58 points and a current WPPR rank of 476. Kalyn Smith from CA Louisville KY is close behind at 44.68 points and a WPPR rank of 404. Whayne T Rouse from New Albany KY is in third with 37.74 points and a WPPR rank of 427. Elizabeth Gieske is in fourth with 35.27 points and a WPPR rank of 802. Robert Cecil Sellersburg IN is in fifth with 28.36 points and a WPPR rank of 116. Tim Ellis from New Albany IN is in sixth with 28.33 points and a WPPR rank of 891. Joe Embry from Louisville KY is in seventh with 21.81 points and a WPPR rank of 1338. Greg Knight from Louisville KY is in eighth with 19.88 points and a WPPR rank of 213. Erik Wurtenberger from Independence KY is in ninth with 17.21 points and a WPPR rank of 603. Finally, Jason Gwin from Louisville KY is in tenth with 15.39 points and a WPPR rank of 736. The competition is sure to heat up as the championship series continues.

EinStein’s Drainiacs

On Saturday, January 8th, EinStein’s Drainiacs Pinball Tournament was held at Einstein’s Pub in Katy, Texas. The tournament was organized by Space City Pinball, who supplied a variety of 19 pinball machines to play on throughout the day. The tournament attracted 31 players from all over the area.

Chris Geist took first place in the tournament, followed by Jim Mueller in second, Elizabeth Dronet in third, Wesley Johnson in fourth and Andrew Garcia in fifth. The tournament featured games such as Rush (Pro) manufactured by Stern released 01-01-2022, Godzilla (Pro) manufactured by Stern released 09-14-2021, AC/DC (Premium Vault Edition) manufactured by Stern released 07-01-2017, James Bond 007 (Pro) manufactured by Stern released 09-01-2022, Game of Thrones (LE) manufactured by Stern released 11-01-2015, Total Nuclear Annihilation manufactured by Spooky Pinball released 01-01-2017, Iron Maiden: Legacy of the Beast (Premium) manufactured by Stern released 04-01-2018 and Avengers: Infinity Quest (LE) manufactured by Stern released 09-01-2020.

The tournament was a great success and many participants were excited to join the next one. To find out more about the tournament, upcoming events and more, visit the Space City Pinball website at https://www.spacecitypinball.com/einsteins/.

The current pinball standings in the IFPA North America Championship Series Texas are incredibly competitive. Wesley Johnson of College Station is at the top of the leaderboard with a staggering 35.63 points and a current WPPR rank of 280. Jack Revnew of The Woodlands is close behind with 31.62 points and a current WPPR rank of 395. Lee Balusek of Conroe is in third with 28.11 points and a current WPPR rank of 684. Other noteworthy players in the top 10 include David Pollock of Conroe, currently ranked 317 with 17.46 points, Chris Little of San Antonio, currently ranked 135 with 16.14 points, and Tony Chbeir of San Antonio, currently ranked 2564 with 11.83 points. It is an exciting time for pinball players in Texas and fans are excited to see who will come out on top!