Location
Format Details
Event Name : | Main Tournament |
Qualifying Format : | Matchplay Qualifying |
Finals Format : | Single Elimination |
Player Limit : | 64 |
Unlimited Qualifying? : | No |
Tournament Overview
Start Date: March 21, 2026
End Date: March 22, 2026
There are two ways to qualify for the IFPA Australian Championship. The main way is to be one of the Top 4 or 6 finalists after the completion of an IFPA State Pinball Championship, depending on eligibility.
The other way to qualify is to be one of the remaining top WPPR point earners (best 20 results) over the calendar year after State Championships have been completed.
Once all State Championship finalists have been determined, and the remaining players based on WPPR points have also been finalised, the 2025-26 IFPA Australian Championship will run with a field of 64 players.
Once all participants are finalized, the players will be seeded based on their WPPR rank at the end of the 2025 calendar year.
QUALIFYING : Saturday 21st March, time TBC
The qualifying stage will consist of 4-player matches. 7-5-3-1 scoring in each match.
Players will be split into four pools, according to the final WPPR standings from 2025:
Pool A: 1,8,9,16,17,24,25,32,33,40,41,48,49,56,57,64.
Pool B: 2,7,10,15,18,23,26,31,34,39,42,47,50,55,58,63.
Pool C: 3,6,11,14,19,22,27,30,35,38,43,46,51,54,59,62.
Pool D: 4,5,12,13,20,21,28,29,36,37,44,45,52,53,60,61.
There will be 5 rounds with 3 matches per round. Each player will be grouped with each other player in their pool exactly once.
The top 6 players from each pool will advance to the elimination stage.
Players will be ranked by most pool stage points, then by original ACS seeding. Ties for meaningful qualifying positions, such as a bye or 24th spot will be resolved by a one game playoff.
FINALS : Sunday 22nd March, time TBC
Players are expected to arrive no later than the advertised check-in time. Anyone failing to arrive in time will be ineligible to compete and the next available reserve will be called.
The Top 8 seeds will receive a first-round bye.
The elimination stage will be played as a best-of-seven head to head elimination bracket (or race to 4 wins). Players will be ranked by most pool stage points, then by original ACS seed.
***NEW FOR 2025-26***
At the start of the match each player will choose an ‘OLD’, ’MID’ and ’NEW’ machine. The lower seeded player will choose the first machine, followed by the higher seeded player choosing the second machine. This picking order will continue until all 6 games have been chosen. A machine may not be picked more than once in the same match. Once a player verbally makes any choice regarding machine or position, they are locked into that decision.
The higher seed will first choose whether they want to start on one of their own choices, or one of the lower seed’s choices. Position will be based on who originally selected the machine before the match started. The player that did not have the machine as a part of their three choices will have choice of position on that particular machine. The match will alternate between machines chosen by each player, until all 6 games are completed. Should a player reach 4 wins before all 6 games are completed, no further games should be played. If the higher seeded player chooses to start on one of their machine choices, they will choose game number 1, 3 and 5 in the match (from their 3 picks). The lower seeded player would then be choosing game number 2, 4 and 6 in the match (from their 3 picks).
Each player will have the opportunity for 20 seconds of practice time before starting every game of every match. This is to ensure that both players have a chance to get familiar with the machine.
A 3rd & 4th place consolation final will be played in a best-of-three match.
This process will continue until there is one remaining player in the tournament, who will be declared the 2025 IFPA Australian Pinball Champion.
PRIZES :
The prize package will be determined based on the endorsement fees collected PLUS any funds left after expenses have been paid. All participants who make the final 24 in the IFPA Australian Pinball Championship will be paid out. Here is the prize pool breakdown:
*1st place – 22% of the prize pool + Trophy + Title of “IFPA Australian Pinball Champion” + 1 of 2 Country Exemption spots for the IFPA21 World Championship
*2nd place – 15% of the prize pool + Trophy
*3rd place – 11% of the prize pool + Trophy
*4th place – 8% of the prize pool + Trophy
*5th through 8th place – 5% of the prize pool each
*9th through 16th place – 2% of the prize pool each
*17th through 24th place – 1% of the prize pool each
The other way to qualify is to be one of the remaining top WPPR point earners (best 20 results) over the calendar year after State Championships have been completed.
Once all State Championship finalists have been determined, and the remaining players based on WPPR points have also been finalised, the 2025-26 IFPA Australian Championship will run with a field of 64 players.
Once all participants are finalized, the players will be seeded based on their WPPR rank at the end of the 2025 calendar year.
QUALIFYING : Saturday 21st March, time TBC
The qualifying stage will consist of 4-player matches. 7-5-3-1 scoring in each match.
Players will be split into four pools, according to the final WPPR standings from 2025:
Pool A: 1,8,9,16,17,24,25,32,33,40,41,48,49,56,57,64.
Pool B: 2,7,10,15,18,23,26,31,34,39,42,47,50,55,58,63.
Pool C: 3,6,11,14,19,22,27,30,35,38,43,46,51,54,59,62.
Pool D: 4,5,12,13,20,21,28,29,36,37,44,45,52,53,60,61.
There will be 5 rounds with 3 matches per round. Each player will be grouped with each other player in their pool exactly once.
The top 6 players from each pool will advance to the elimination stage.
Players will be ranked by most pool stage points, then by original ACS seeding. Ties for meaningful qualifying positions, such as a bye or 24th spot will be resolved by a one game playoff.
FINALS : Sunday 22nd March, time TBC
Players are expected to arrive no later than the advertised check-in time. Anyone failing to arrive in time will be ineligible to compete and the next available reserve will be called.
The Top 8 seeds will receive a first-round bye.
The elimination stage will be played as a best-of-seven head to head elimination bracket (or race to 4 wins). Players will be ranked by most pool stage points, then by original ACS seed.
***NEW FOR 2025-26***
At the start of the match each player will choose an ‘OLD’, ’MID’ and ’NEW’ machine. The lower seeded player will choose the first machine, followed by the higher seeded player choosing the second machine. This picking order will continue until all 6 games have been chosen. A machine may not be picked more than once in the same match. Once a player verbally makes any choice regarding machine or position, they are locked into that decision.
The higher seed will first choose whether they want to start on one of their own choices, or one of the lower seed’s choices. Position will be based on who originally selected the machine before the match started. The player that did not have the machine as a part of their three choices will have choice of position on that particular machine. The match will alternate between machines chosen by each player, until all 6 games are completed. Should a player reach 4 wins before all 6 games are completed, no further games should be played. If the higher seeded player chooses to start on one of their machine choices, they will choose game number 1, 3 and 5 in the match (from their 3 picks). The lower seeded player would then be choosing game number 2, 4 and 6 in the match (from their 3 picks).
Each player will have the opportunity for 20 seconds of practice time before starting every game of every match. This is to ensure that both players have a chance to get familiar with the machine.
A 3rd & 4th place consolation final will be played in a best-of-three match.
This process will continue until there is one remaining player in the tournament, who will be declared the 2025 IFPA Australian Pinball Champion.
PRIZES :
The prize package will be determined based on the endorsement fees collected PLUS any funds left after expenses have been paid. All participants who make the final 24 in the IFPA Australian Pinball Championship will be paid out. Here is the prize pool breakdown:
*1st place – 22% of the prize pool + Trophy + Title of “IFPA Australian Pinball Champion” + 1 of 2 Country Exemption spots for the IFPA21 World Championship
*2nd place – 15% of the prize pool + Trophy
*3rd place – 11% of the prize pool + Trophy
*4th place – 8% of the prize pool + Trophy
*5th through 8th place – 5% of the prize pool each
*9th through 16th place – 2% of the prize pool each
*17th through 24th place – 1% of the prize pool each