When it Drains it Emporiums!

Novice Playoffs:

Open Playoffs:

Hey Folks!  Come on out to the new Emporium in fabulous downtown Oakland for some pinball fun and competition, and of course, beer.  You get two tournaments for the price of one with Open and Novice divisions, and a side tournament!  The main tournament is Pin Golf and the side tournament is to play one-handed (beer in the other hand?).  The main event will qualify for World Pinball Player Ranking Points  Open and Novice divisions for different skill levels means even if you’re a flipperless wonder you still have a chance at some prize loot.

When: February 9 2019.  Signup and side tournament start @ 11AM.  Pin Golf starts @ 1 PM.    Pin Golf participants can enter as late as 2 PM and still be eligible to play. If you make the cut, Finals @ 5 PM (but dependent on attendance).

Where: Emporium Oakland, 1805 Telegraph Ave. If you’re taking BART get off at 19th street and walk 2 blocks.

Entry: $10 + quarters to play. All entry money paid back to winners.

Eligibility: Entry is open to everyone 21+ and all skill levels.

Format: Pin Golf

Prizes: Cash prizes and plaques for top 3 in Open and cash prize for 4th (40/30/20/10). Prizes and plaques for top 3 novice.  Plaque for top woman player.  Free pinball swag courtesy of STERN Pinball and the Pacific Pinball Museum.

Side Challenge:  There will be a FREE side event (just pay quarters for the game) for beginners and up-and-comers only.  Enter as many times as you like to improve your score.  The top two overall players at the end of qualifying will then face off to decide the winner.  Limit: WPPR 2000 rank.

How it Works:

This is the rules part.  The most important rule is to have fun and don’t be a douchebag.

The main tournament is Pin Golf.  In Pin Golf a score or goal is posted on each of 6 games.  Your job is to beat the score with the fewest number of pinballs as you can.  Just like strokes in golf.  For example, “Score 10 Million in Addams Family” or “Score 1.5 Million on Iron Man”, or collect 2 dead ends on Twilight Zone.  If you want advice on what you should aim for, just ask.

Don’t worry.  The scores and goals are very attainable.  Whether it takes you one ball or many more to get it?  Well, that’s up to you. :-)

You only get one try per game (6 games), but afterward, you get to replay one game of your choice to try and improve your score.

The max (i.e. worst) score is 6 for each game, meaning, if you don’t get the goal by the end of your 5th ball, you get an automatic 6 and move on.

The top 8 – 12 players will play in the Open Finals depending on attendance.  The next 8-12 novice players will play in the novice finals. This means first timers and novices have two chances to qualify.  If you’re a closet pinball wizard who thinks he’s a novice but do great, you’ll play in the Finals against the big dogs.  If you’re ehhh not so good but good enough, you might still qualify for the novice final.

How do you know if you’re a novice?  If you’re not ranked in the IFPA (International Flipper Pinball Association), then you qualify as a novice.  If you are ranked, but you’ve never held a rank above 2000, then you also qualify.

Side Tournament:

For the side tournament you play one-handed and try to rack up as many points as you can.  You can use both flippers but only one hand.  Use the other hand to hold your beer.  Or gesture emphatically.  Or sign language beatnik poetry.  Up to you.

Try as many times as you like to improve your score.  The top 2 will play off at the end of qualifying.

Got questions?  Email me at jonnynacho@gmail.com.  That’s it!  See you on Feb 9!