PAPA World Pinball Championships

PAPA 21
PAPA 20
PAPA 19
PAPA 18

PAPA 17
PAPA 16
PAPA 15
PAPA 14

PAPA 13
PAPA 12
PAPA 11
PAPA 10

PAPA 9
PAPA 8
PAPA 7
PAPA 1-6

Photographs
Artwork
Photographs

How to Qualify:

In Divisions A, B, and C, competitors will play five of the ten available machines to complete each qualifying entry. In all other divisions, competitors will play four of the eight machines available. Qualifying attempts for Divisions A, B, and C may be made any time the facility is open between Thursday morning and closing time on Saturday. All games in each entry count equally toward a player's qualifying total, meaning the system is intended to reward consistently good play, rather than a mixture of good and poor play. Therefore, it is virtually impossible for a player to buy his or her way into the final rounds.

Scores from each game in each qualifying attempt are ranked against all other players, yielding a qualifying point total. Only a player's single best multi-game qualifying total will determine his or her qualifying position for the final rounds.

Divisions of Play

Division A:  The main division of the PAPA World Pinball Championships is the most renowned event in all of competitive pinball, annually deciding the title of PAPA World Pinball Champion. All players of any skill level are welcome to compete in Division A and challenge for the title!

Division B:  While Division B is frequently labeled as an intermediate division, this designation is relative to the rest of the PAPA World Championships. The level of skill exhibited in this division is higher than the main divisions of the vast majority of tournaments throughout the world. Players with higher than average league or tournament experience who are not yet capable of competing in the main division at the PAPA World Championships play in Division B. Please note that some restrictions will be applied to help determine who can and cannot enter Division B.

Division C:  Division C at the PAPA World Championships is designed for players with below average league or tournament experience, or anyone who does not feel confidant competing in Divisions A or B. Please note that some restrictions will be applied to help determine who can and cannot enter Division C.

Classics: PAPA offers three separate Classics events at the World Pinball Championships, featuring machines created prior to 1990. The Classics divisions function as their own self-contained daily tournaments and do not prohibit any player from also competing in any other division.

Juniors: Only players 15 years old or younger are permitted to play in Juniors. This division offers plaques to the winners and is intended to encourage younger players by providing them experience in the PAPA tournament setting. In order to ensure each player has a chance to experience the pressure of a final rounds format, all Juniors players will be entered into the final rounds.

Seniors: Only players 50 years of age or older are permitted to compete in the Seniors division.

New Divisions: We are developing criteria for creating new divisions by public demand. Our goal is to run the events and divisions players will enjoy most. More information will be coming soon.

Division Restrictions

Divisions A, B, & C are considered major divisions. Competitors may only play in one major division at a time. A player may choose to move to a higher major division, with Division A being the highest and Division C being the lowest, automatically voiding all entries in lower divisions (no refunds are provided), but no player may move to a lower division without special permission from tournament directors. Players are not permitted to change divisions after noon on Saturday.

The following restrictions are designed to discourage any player from intentionally competing beneath his or her level of skill:

  • Any player who has placed in the top four of Division B or C at the finals of any previous PAPA tournament must enter the next higher division in their next PAPA tournament. If they fail to qualify in the higher division, they may return to the original lower division in the following year.
  • Any player who has qualified in the Division A or B of any previous PAPA tournament may not enter a lower division in subsequent tournaments except at the discretion of tournament officials.
  • At the discretion of the tournament officials, any player may be required to move to a higher division based on his or her performance or past league or tournament standings.
  • Any player who plays in more than one major division will not be allowed to void their first entry in the higher division. Non-voided entries are used by the automated scoring system to establish which division is valid for each player.
  • Players ranked between 1 and 199 in the World Pinball Player Rankings are restricted to Division A.
  • Players ranked between 200 and 599 in the World Pinball Player Rankings are restricted to Division B or higher.
  • Only unranked players, or players ranked higher than 7500 in the World Pinball Player Rankings are permitted to compete in Division D.
COMPETITION RULES

PREVIOUS CHAMPIONS

Pinburgh Match-Play Championship

  • Pinburgh 2011 - Keith Elwin (Carlsbad, CA, USA) - (3/20/2011 - PAPA World Headquarters, Scott Township, PA)
  • Pinburgh 2012 - Adam Becker (Keswick, ON, CAN) - (4/1/2012 - PAPA World Headquarters, Scott Township, PA)
  • Pinburgh 2013 - Keith Elwin (Carlsbad, CA, USA) - (4/11/2013 - PAPA World Headquarters, Scott Township, PA)
  • Pinburgh 2014 - Jim Belsito (Temecula, CA, USA) - (3/30/2014 - PAPA World Headquarters, Scott Township, PA)
  • Pinburgh 2015 - Zach Sharpe (Chicago, IL, USA) - (8/2/2015 - David L. Lawrence Convention Center, Pittsburgh, PA)
  • Pinburgh 2016 - Keith Elwin (Carlsbad, CA, USA) - (7/30/2016 - David L. Lawrence Convention Center, Pittsburgh, PA)
  • Pinburgh 2017 - Colin MacAlpine (Austin, TX, USA) - (7/29/2017 - David L. Lawrence Convention Center, Pittsburgh, PA)
  • Pinburgh 2018 - Keith Elwin (Chicago, IL, USA) - (7/28/2018 - David L. Lawrence Convention Center, Pittsburgh, PA)
  • Pinburgh 2019 - Keith Elwin (Chicago, IL, USA) - (8/3/2019 - David L. Lawrence Convention Center, Pittsburgh, PA)

PAPA World Championships: Division A

  • PAPA 1 - Joey Cartagena (New York, NY, USA) - (2/2/1991 - Lone Star Roadhouse, New York, NY)
  • PAPA 2 - Rick Stetta (Sunnyvale, CA, USA) - (2/2/1992 - Lone Star Roadhouse, New York, NY)
  • PAPA 3 - Lyman Sheats (Rolling Meadows, IL, USA) - (2/13/1993 - Omni Park Central Hotel, New York, NY)
  • PAPA 4 - Bowen Kerins (Salem, MA, USA) - (2/8/1994 - Omni Park Central Hotel, New York, NY)
  • PAPA 5 - Paul Madison (Minneapolis, MN, USA) - (2/5/1995 - Omni Park Central Hotel, New York, NY)
  • PAPA 6 - Keith Elwin (Carlsbad, CA, USA) - (2/8/1998 - Sahara Hotel, Las Vegas, NV)
  • PAPA 7 - Lyman Sheats (Rolling Meadows, IL, USA) - (9/12/2004 - PAPA World Headquarters, Scott Township, PA)
  • PAPA 8 - Bowen Kerins (Salem, MA, USA) - (8/14/2005 - PAPA World Headquarters, Scott Township, PA)
  • PAPA 9 - Lyman Sheats (Rolling Meadows, IL, USA) - (8/20/2006 - PAPA World Headquarters, Scott Township, PA)
  • PAPA 10 - Jorian Engelbrektsson (Stockholm, SWE) - (10/14/2007 - PAPA World Headquarters, Scott Township, PA)
  • PAPA 11 - Keith Elwin (Carlsbad, CA, USA) - (8/17/2008 - PAPA World Headquarters, Scott Township, PA)
  • PAPA 12 - Keith Elwin (Carlsbad, CA, USA) - (8/16/2009 - PAPA World Headquarters, Scott Township, PA)
  • PAPA 13 - Keith Elwin (Carlsbad, CA, USA) - (8/15/2010 - PAPA World Headquarters, Scott Township, PA)
  • PAPA 14 - Andrei Massenkoff (San Francisco, CA, USA) - (8/14/2011 - PAPA World Headquarters, Scott Township, PA)
  • PAPA 15 - Keith Elwin (Carlsbad, CA, USA) - (8/12/2012 - PAPA World Headquarters, Scott Township, PA)
  • PAPA 16 - Bowen Kerins (Salem, MA, USA) - (8/11/2013 - PAPA World Headquarters, Scott Township, PA)
  • PAPA 17 - Cayle George (Bellevue, WA, USA) - (8/17/2014 - PAPA World Headquarters, Scott Township, PA)
  • PAPA 18 - Keith Elwin (Carlsbad, CA, USA) - (3/15/2015 - PAPA World Headquarters, Scott Township, PA)
  • PAPA 19 - Robert Gagno (Burnaby, BC, CAN) - (4/10/2016 - PAPA World Headquarters, Scott Township, PA)
  • PAPA 20 - Escher Lefkoff (Longmont, CO, USA) - (4/9/2017 - PAPA World Headquarters, Scott Township, PA)

PAPA World Championships: Division B

  • PAPA 3 - A.J. Fried (USA) - (2/13/1993 - Omni Park Central Hotel, New York, NY)
  • PAPA 4 - Kevin Kulek (USA) - (2/8/1994 - Omni Park Central Hotel, New York, NY)
  • PAPA 5 - Dominic Nardini (USA) - (February 3–5, 1995 - Omni Park Central Hotel, New York, NY)
  • PAPA 6 - Tim Morse (USA) - (2/8/1998 - Sahara Hotel, Las Vegas, NV)
  • PAPA 7 - Andrei Massenkoff (USA) - (9/12/2004 - PAPA World Headquarters, Scott Township, PA)
  • PAPA 8 - Helena Walter (SWE) - (8/14/2005 - PAPA World Headquarters, Scott Township, PA)
  • PAPA 9 - Darren Kamnitzer (USA) - (8/20/2006 - PAPA World Headquarters, Scott Township, PA)
  • PAPA 10 - Adam Becker (CAN) - (10/14/2007 - PAPA World Headquarters, Scott Township, PA)
  • PAPA 11 - Maurice Pelletier (CAN) - (8/17/2008 - PAPA World Headquarters, Scott Township, PA)
  • PAPA 12 - Ed Zeltmann (USA) - (8/16/2009 - PAPA World Headquarters, Scott Township, PA)
  • PAPA 13 - Joshua Henderson (USA) - (8/15/2010 - PAPA World Headquarters, Scott Township, PA)
  • PAPA 14 - Dave Hegge (USA) - (8/14/2011 - PAPA World Headquarters, Scott Township, PA)
  • PAPA 15 - Johnny Modica (USA) - (8/12/2012 - PAPA World Headquarters, Scott Township, PA)
  • PAPA 16 - John Flitton (CAN) - (8/11/2013 - PAPA World Headquarters, Scott Township, PA)
  • PAPA 17 - Rod Lawrence (USA) - (8/17/2014 - PAPA World Headquarters, Scott Township, PA)
  • PAPA 18 - Joseph Lemire (USA) - (3/15/2015 - PAPA World Headquarters, Scott Township, PA)
  • PAPA 19 - Steve Zumoff (USA) - (4/10/2016 - PAPA World Headquarters, Scott Township, PA)
  • PAPA 20 - Jordan Tredaway (AUS) - (4/9/2017 - PAPA World Headquarters, Scott Township, PA)

PAPA World Championships: Division C

  • PAPA 4 - Sam Ryan (USA) - (2/8/1994 - Omni Park Central Hotel, New York, NY)
  • PAPA 5 - Steve Walker (USA) - (February 3–5, 1995 - Omni Park Central Hotel, New York, NY)
  • PAPA 6 - Steve Marsh (USA) - (2/8/1998 - Sahara Hotel, Las Vegas, NV)
  • PAPA 7 - Russ Wallis (USA) - (9/12/2004 - PAPA World Headquarters, Scott Township, PA)
  • PAPA 8 - Jory Rabinovitz (USA) - (8/14/2005 - PAPA World Headquarters, Scott Township, PA)
  • PAPA 9 - Mark Salas (USA) - (8/20/2006 - PAPA World Headquarters, Scott Township, PA)
  • PAPA 10 - Johnny Modica (USA) - (10/14/2007 - PAPA World Headquarters, Scott Township, PA)
  • PAPA 11 - Mike Clinton (CAN) - (8/17/2008 - PAPA World Headquarters, Scott Township, PA)
  • PAPA 12 - Blair Love (USA) - (8/16/2009 - PAPA World Headquarters, Scott Township, PA)
  • PAPA 13 - Seth Lettofsky (USA) - (8/15/2010 - PAPA World Headquarters, Scott Township, PA)
  • PAPA 14 - Chuck Jackson (USA) - (8/14/2011 - PAPA World Headquarters, Scott Township, PA)
  • PAPA 15 - Jay Collins (USA) - (8/12/2012 - PAPA World Headquarters, Scott Township, PA)
  • PAPA 16 - Nick Campbell (USA) - (8/11/2013 - PAPA World Headquarters, Scott Township, PA)
  • PAPA 17 - Jack Benson (USA) - (8/17/2014 - PAPA World Headquarters, Scott Township, PA)
  • PAPA 18 - Levi Nayman (USA) - (3/15/2015 - PAPA World Headquarters, Scott Township, PA)
  • PAPA 19 - Lewis Bevans (USA) - (4/10/2016 - PAPA World Headquarters, Scott Township, PA)
  • PAPA 20 - Bayless Rutherford (USA) - (4/9/2017 - PAPA World Headquarters, Scott Township, PA)

PAPA World Championships: Division D

  • PAPA 18 - Mike Hovraluck (USA) - (3/15/2015 - PAPA World Headquarters, Scott Township, PA)
  • PAPA 19 - Alex Fruzynski (USA) - (4/10/2016 - PAPA World Headquarters, Scott Township, PA)
  • PAPA 20 - Blake Wood (CAN) - (4/9/2017 - PAPA World Headquarters, Scott Township, PA)

PAPA World Championships: Juniors Division

  • PAPA 6 - Zachary Sharpe (USA) - (2/8/1998 - Sahara Hotel, Las Vegas, NV)
  • PAPA 7 - Jake Prince (USA) - (9/12/2004 - PAPA World Headquarters, Scott Township, PA)
  • PAPA 8 - Matt Hogue (USA) - (8/14/2005 - PAPA World Headquarters, Scott Township, PA)
  • PAPA 9 - Ethan Blonder (USA) - (8/20/2006 - PAPA World Headquarters, Scott Township, PA)
  • PAPA 10 - Ethan Blonder (USA) - (10/14/2007 - PAPA World Headquarters, Scott Township, PA)
  • PAPA 11 - Ethan Blonder (USA) - (8/17/2008 - PAPA World Headquarters, Scott Township, PA)
  • PAPA 12 - Justin Ortscheid (USA) - (8/16/2009 - PAPA World Headquarters, Scott Township, PA)
  • PAPA 13 - Justin Ortscheid (USA) - (8/15/2010 - PAPA World Headquarters, Scott Township, PA)
  • PAPA 14 - Escher Lefkoff (USA) - (8/14/2011 - PAPA World Headquarters, Scott Township, PA)
  • PAPA 15 - Joshua Henderson (USA) - (8/12/2012 - PAPA World Headquarters, Scott Township, PA)
  • PAPA 16 - Escher Lefkoff (USA) - (8/11/2013 - PAPA World Headquarters, Scott Township, PA)
  • PAPA 17 - Juniors 1 - Escher Lefkoff (USA) - (8/14/2014 - PAPA World Headquarters, Scott Township, PA)
  • PAPA 17 - Juniors 2 - Escher Lefkoff (USA) - (8/15/2014 - PAPA World Headquarters, Scott Township, PA)
  • PAPA 17 - Juniors 3 - Escher Lefkoff (USA) - (8/16/2014 - PAPA World Headquarters, Scott Township, PA)
  • PAPA 18 - Juniors 1 - Jason Zahler (USA) - (3/12/2015 - PAPA World Headquarters, Scott Township, PA)
  • PAPA 18 - Juniors 2 - Escher Lefkoff (USA) - (3/13/2015 - PAPA World Headquarters, Scott Township, PA)
  • PAPA 18 - Juniors 3 - Jason Zahler (USA) - (3/14/2015 - PAPA World Headquarters, Scott Township, PA)
  • PAPA 19 - Juniors 1 - Aleksander Kaczmarczyk (USA) - (4/7/2016 - PAPA World Headquarters, Scott Township, PA)
  • PAPA 19 - Juniors 2 - Gregory Kennedy (USA) - (4/8/2016 - PAPA World Headquarters, Scott Township, PA)
  • PAPA 19 - Juniors 3 - Ciaran Bernard (USA) - (4/9/2016 - PAPA World Headquarters, Scott Township, PA)
  • PAPA 20 - Juniors 1 - Escher Lefkoff (USA) - (4/6/2017 - PAPA World Headquarters, Scott Township, PA)
  • PAPA 20 - Juniors 2 - Escher Lefkoff (USA) - (4/7/2017 - PAPA World Headquarters, Scott Township, PA)
  • PAPA 20 - Juniors 3 - Gregory Kennedy (USA) - (4/8/2017 - PAPA World Headquarters, Scott Township, PA)

PAPA World Championships: Senior Division

  • PAPA 7 - Ed Hershey (USA) - (9/12/2004 - PAPA World Headquarters, Scott Township, PA)
  • PAPA 8 - Ed Hershey (USA) - (8/14/2004 - PAPA World Headquarters, Scott Township, PA)
  • PAPA 9 - Rick Prince (USA) - (8/20/2006 - PAPA World Headquarters, Scott Township, PA)
  • PAPA 10 - John Reuter (USA) - (10/14/2007 - PAPA World Headquarters, Scott Township, PA)
  • PAPA 11 - Ed Hershey (USA) - (8/17/2008 - PAPA World Headquarters, Scott Township, PA)
  • PAPA 12 - Rick Prince (USA) - (8/16/2009 - PAPA World Headquarters, Scott Township, PA)
  • PAPA 13 - Rick Prince (USA) - (8/15/2010 - PAPA World Headquarters, Scott Township, PA)
  • PAPA 14 - Dave Hegge (USA) - (8/14/2011 - PAPA World Headquarters, Scott Township, PA)
  • PAPA 15 - Paul McGlone (USA) - (8/12/2012 - PAPA World Headquarters, Scott Township, PA)
  • PAPA 16 - Dave Hegge (USA) - (8/11/2013 - PAPA World Headquarters, Scott Township, PA)
  • PAPA 17 - Steve Walker (USA) - (8/16/2014 - PAPA World Headquarters, Scott Township, PA)
  • PAPA 18 - Robert Sutter (CHE) - (3/14/2015 - PAPA World Headquarters, Scott Township, PA)
  • PAPA 19 - Phil Harmon (USA) - (4/9/2016 - PAPA World Headquarters, Scott Township, PA)
  • PAPA 20 - Adam Lefkoff (USA) - (4/8/2017 - PAPA World Headquarters, Scott Township, PA)

PAPA World Championships: Womens Division

  • PAPA 19 - Sunshine Bon (USA) - (4/9/2016 - PAPA World Headquarters, Scott Township, PA)
  • PAPA 20 - Julie Dorssers (CAN) - (4/8/2017 - PAPA World Headquarters, Scott Township, PA)

PAPA World Championships: Classics Division

  • PAPA 7 - Classics 1 - Keith Elwin (USA) - (9/10/2004 - PAPA World Headquarters, Scott Township, PA)
  • PAPA 7 - Classics 2 - Steven Epstein (USA) - (9/11/2004 - PAPA World Headquarters, Scott Township, PA)
  • PAPA 8 - Classics 1 - Ed Hershey (USA) - (8/12/2005 - PAPA World Headquarters, Scott Township, PA)
  • PAPA 8 - Classics 2 - Keith Elwin (USA) - (8/13/2005 - PAPA World Headquarters, Scott Township, PA)
  • PAPA 9 - Classics 1 - Neil Shatz (USA) - (8/18/2006 - PAPA World Headquarters, Scott Township, PA)
  • PAPA 9 - Classics 2 - Keith Elwin (USA) - (8/19/2006 - PAPA World Headquarters, Scott Township, PA)
  • PAPA 10 - Classics 1 - Rick Prince (USA) - (10/12/2007 - PAPA World Headquarters, Scott Township, PA)
  • PAPA 10 - Classics 2 - Bowen Kerins (USA) - (10/13/2007 - PAPA World Headquarters, Scott Township, PA)
  • PAPA 11 - Classics 1 - Neil Shatz (USA) - (8/15/2008 - PAPA World Headquarters, Scott Township, PA)
  • PAPA 11 - Classics 2 - Adam Lefkoff (USA) - (8/16/2008 - PAPA World Headquarters, Scott Township, PA)
  • PAPA 12 - Classics 1 - Bowen Kerins (USA) - (8/14/2009 - PAPA World Headquarters, Scott Township, PA)
  • PAPA 12 - Classics 2 - Keith Johnson (USA) - (8/15/2009 - PAPA World Headquarters, Scott Township, PA)
  • PAPA 13 - Classics 1 - Dave Hegge (USA) - (8/13/2010 - PAPA World Headquarters, Scott Township, PA)
  • PAPA 13 - Classics 2 - Josh Sharpe (USA) - (8/14/2010 - PAPA World Headquarters, Scott Township, PA)
  • PAPA 14 - Classics 1 - Trent Augenstein (USA) - (8/12/2011 - PAPA World Headquarters, Scott Township, PA)
  • PAPA 14 - Classics 2 - Robert Gagno (CAN) - (8/13/2011 - PAPA World Headquarters, Scott Township, PA)
  • PAPA 14 - Classics 3 - Keith Elwin (USA) - (8/14/2011 - PAPA World Headquarters, Scott Township, PA)
  • PAPA 15 - Classics 1 - Zach Sharpe (USA) - (8/12/2012 - PAPA World Headquarters, Scott Township, PA)
  • PAPA 15 - Classics 2 - Lyman F Sheats Jr (USA) - (8/12/2012 - PAPA World Headquarters, Scott Township, PA)
  • PAPA 15 - Classics 3 - Zach Sharpe (USA) - (8/12/2012 - PAPA World Headquarters, Scott Township, PA)
  • PAPA 16 - Classics 1 - Frank Romero (USA) - (8/8/2013 - PAPA World Headquarters, Scott Township, PA)
  • PAPA 16 - Classics 2 - Daniele Acciari (ITA) - (8/9/2013 - PAPA World Headquarters, Scott Township, PA)
  • PAPA 16 - Classics 3 - Eden Stamm (CAN) - (8/10/2013 - PAPA World Headquarters, Scott Township, PA)
  • PAPA 17 - Classics 1 - Bowen Kerins (USA) - (8/14/2014 - PAPA World Headquarters, Scott Township, PA)
  • PAPA 17 - Classics 2 - Cayle George (USA) - (8/15/2014 - PAPA World Headquarters, Scott Township, PA)
  • PAPA 17 - Classics 3 - Keith Elwin (USA) - (8/16/2014 - PAPA World Headquarters, Scott Township, PA)
  • PAPA 18 - Classics 1 - Andy Rosa (USA) - (3/12/2015 - PAPA World Headquarters, Scott Township, PA)
  • PAPA 18 - Classics 2 - Mats Runsten (SWE) - (3/13/2015 - PAPA World Headquarters, Scott Township, PA)
  • PAPA 18 - Classics 3 - Jerry Bernard (USA) - (3/14/2015 - PAPA World Headquarters, Scott Township, PA)
  • PAPA 19 - Classics 1 - Bowen Kerins (USA) - (4/7/2016 - PAPA World Headquarters, Scott Township, PA)
  • PAPA 19 - Classics 2 - Keith Elwin (USA) - (4/8/2016 - PAPA World Headquarters, Scott Township, PA)
  • PAPA 19 - Classics 3 - Bowen Kerins (USA) - (4/9/2016 - PAPA World Headquarters, Scott Township, PA)
  • PAPA 20 - Classics 1 - Zach Sharpe (USA) - (4/6/2017 - PAPA World Headquarters, Scott Township, PA)
  • PAPA 20 - Classics 2 - Greg DeFeo (USA) - (4/7/2017 - PAPA World Headquarters, Scott Township, PA)
  • PAPA 20 - Classics 3 - David Riel (USA) - (4/8/2017 - PAPA World Headquarters, Scott Township, PA)