- Are you interested in playing some pinball at least every two weeks?
- Interested in playing with a group of people that share the same passion?
- Interested in competing at your skill level, a competitive and fun environment?
- Interested in qualifying and playing in the Alberta Provincial Pinball Championships or qualifying to play in the IFPA North American Championship Series in the US next year?
- Here is a great opportunity to do all these things and at the same time acquire IFPA world ranking points.
Past Champions:
| Year | Winner |
| 2022 | John Kottmann |
| 2021 | David Johnston |
| 2020 | Paul Sinclair |
| 2019 | Ryan James |
| 2018 | Paul Sinclair |
| 2017 | Derek Thomson |
| 2016 | Derek Thomson |
| 2015 | Derek Thomson |
League Commitments:
- Each player pays a league fee of $100 (IFPA <1000 or A/B division in previous year), $60 for all other players. $50 for brand new players without an IFPA ranking. Drop in players will pay $7.50 or $15 for IFPA < 1000
- There will be a total of 20 league events during the year, the schedule will be posted on www.arkadiumretroarcadegmail.com
- Only sixty four (64) players will be able to play the event on a league night
- The top fifteen (15) point totals will be counted to your overall standing, in other words you will be able to drop your five (5) league event lowest scores.
- The top 12 (<48 players), top 16 (48 or higher) in each league night will play in a (4,2,1,0) three game playoff to determine the winner for the night.
- A separate year end league playoff final will be played to determine the overall winner in each division.
- IFPA world ranking points will be given for each event.
League Dates for 2023 Season:
- The league will play at Arkadium Retro Arcade for all league nights.
- Check www.arkadiumretroarcade.com for schedule.
Prizes:
- A&B divisions will receive custom league winner plaques and the following prize monies:
- A Division: 1st: $750, 2nd: $600, 3rd: $450, 4th: $300, 5th-10th: $50 credit to next year
- B Division: 1st: $250, 2nd: $200, 3rd: $150, 4th: $100, 5th – 10th: $25 credit to next year
- Novice A-C Division will receive no cash prizes but will receive plaques for 1-4th place.
League Structure:
- There will be twenty (20) league events in the calendar year.
- Each event, players will play six (6) total games each night in four (4) player or less groups.
- We will use IFPA scoring 7 points for first, 5 points for second, 3 points for third, and 1 point for fourth place. If you are the winner in any of the 20 league events you automatically qualify for one of the top final spots in the A or B division.
- The top 12 (less than 48), top 16 (48 or more players) will advance to a playoff finals each night. The first tiebreaker is the number of 1st & 2nd place finishes and the second tiebreaker is Strength of Schedule, the last tiebreaker will be a 1 ball playoffs on a random machine picked by Tournament Director.
- Note if there are more than 10 different playoff winners in a season, the players with the least amount of wins and points will play in the B division.
- All of your league points accumulate during all DHPL league events, the top 15 events will be counted and included to determine your final playoff seed for the DHPL Championship Series.
- IFPA results will be submitted based the placement of each night including playoffs, world ranking points will be given for each submitted event.
Playoff Rounds
- As stated above, each night there will be a playoff round, you must be in the top 12 (less than 48) or top 16 (48 or more) in order to qualify. Each round will be a three machine final with 4,2,1,0 PAPA scoring, the top 2 players will advance to the next round until there are four players remaining. Note: In the playoff round no tiebreakers will be broken, and it is determined by whomever had the best initial seed in qualifying for the night.
League Standings:
- The league standings will be posted on google drive and added to the DHPL website after every event.
- All of the points accumulated in a league night for qualifying and playoffs will be used to calculate DHPL league points on any given league night.
- The standings will be counted for wins first and then the total number of points accumulated. Tie will be broken by the highest league night score.
- If every one of the 15 scores is the same (which it won’t then we will use IFPA rank to break the tie).
Attendance
There are no subs in this format, come to whatever events you want, the more accumulated points you have the better placement you have for the DHP Championship Series. If you only show up to the
DHP Championship Series then you will be placed as the worst seed in a division assigned by organizers.
DHPL Championship Series Final
The DHPL Championship Series Final will feature a group of pinball machines selected by officials and located on the second floor of Arkadium Retro Arcade.
- Machines outside this group may not be selected for play. Officials may make machine substitutions as they deem necessary.
- Final league standings will be determined promptly after the last league event.
- There is no entry fee for the league final for DHPL members, a $7.50 fee for non members, $50 for players that haven’t played all year. The year end DHPL League Finals is open to all players even if they have not attended any of our previous events.
Playoff Seeding
Everyone who plays, or wants to play in the final can. It depends on how many players register for the DHPL Championship Series throughout the year.
0-10 players: 1 division
11-20 players: 2 divisions
21-36 players: 3 divisions
37-52 players: 4 divisions
52-68 players: 5 divisions
69+ players: we will cross that bridge if it gets any bigger lol…
Division Restrictions
- Players will be restricted depending on their IFPA ranking at the time of the registration.
IFPA Ranking < 1500 – Restricted to novice A division or higher. No other restrictions apply.
Playoff Rounds:
The DHPL Championship League Final will be played on the same machine that has been used for the league throughout the year. Officials may make machine substitutions as they deem necessary throughout the year. Final league standings will be determined promptly after the last league event. There is no entry fee for the league final, and it is open to any player. New players that wish to play must pay a fee of $60 or $100 (if IFPA less than 1,000).
Playoff Seeding
Everyone who plays, or wants to play in the final can. It depends on how many players register for the DHPL Championship Series throughout the year.
0-10 players: 1 division
11-20 players: 2 divisions
21-36 players: 3 divisions
37-52 players: 4 divisions
52-68 players: 5 divisions
69+ players: we will cross that bridge if it gets any bigger lol…
Qualified Players: will be notified promptly by league coordinators. There will be no substitutions, and entries to the league final are non-transferable. At this point there will be 5 divisions of play in the playoffs. A, B, Novice A, Novice B, Novice C.
A/B Divisions – Endurance Phase: the top player during regular season play will automatically receive a bye to the final phase. 7-10 places will start to play a survivor group play. The winner of the first, second and third game will advance to the next round. The top seed gets the pick of the machine or position. If all players defer to position then the top seed must pick the machine. No player throughout survivor match play can pick the same machine twice. The survivor group play will continue through to 6th – 2nd seed until the 4 top finalists are determined.
A/B Division – Final Phase: Once the matches are down to the final two players they will play in a head to head best of 5 match to determine the winner. The top seed will get the choice of machine or position. For the future matches the players will play the next four or less machines in succession. The player can pick a machine that has already been chosen in this round. The loser of the match gets the choice of position for any future games that are played.
Novice Divisions: All divisions will have 16 or less players in them, a double knockout best of 5 match will commence. The top seed will be able to choose a machine or position, once a machine is chosen the players will play the next 4 machines or less in succession. The winner will advance to the winner bracket and the loser of the match will go to the loser’s bracket. Once in the loser’s bracket if you lose another match you are eliminated. In the loser’s bracket the player must beat the person in the winner bracket twice in order to beat the player. In other words it is a true double knockout format.
- The winner of the DHPL Championship Series will be presented with the DHPL League belt.
General Playing Rules:
Our league follows the rules and guidelines pertaining to the league these can reviewed: www.diehardpinball.ca
Code of Conduct:
If you are noticeably drunk and slurring words, having trouble walking, etc you will be asked to leave the premises. I have no issues with those that would like to have a drink or two, just keep it under control.
If you are caught cheating in any way shape or form you will be banned from not just that event but the league without having any money returned, remember we are here for fun!
Misconduct will be dealt with on a per incident basis and includes:
- Intimidation both verbal and physical.
- Threatening actions or behavior both verbal and physical.
Arbitration:
In the event of any dispute on the rules, a league organizer who is not involved in the game will rule on the dispute. Their decision is final.