Star Chamber Summer Pinball Tournament Schedule
We've got a summer full of pinball tournaments scheduled at Star Chamber, and our first tournament takes place tonight. We'll be using this summer to try out several new formats as well, and to vary what night of the week we meet to accomodate different schedules.
Each tournament starts at 6:30 (registration opens at 6:00). Instead of the normal half-hourly rate for the arcade, tournament particiants pay a $10 venue fee which covers the time from 6:00 pm until the end of the tournament. Additionally participants pay a $10 tournament entry fee, all of which goes to the prize pool to award cash prizes to the top 3 players. Please bring cash for the tournament entry fee (state laws regarding tournaments vs gambling are very specific)
The tournaments will have different formats, but in general we play in small groups on a machine for each round, with your head to head performance affecting your standings overall in the tournament. Groups and games change with each round. Some formats you earn strikes and are eliminated after 3 strikes, some formats have us earn points in each round to add to a running total. During Brew week we're even going to try out a Split Flipper tournament where teams of 2 will play at the same time (one player on each flipper), leaving each player with a hand free to hold their brew.
The $10 tournament entry fee gets added to the prize pool, which will be split 60%/30%/10% among first second and third place. So far we've only had one repeat winner, and several winners have been playing in their first tournament.
Competitive pinball is pretty new to Athens, so most of the people showing up are new to the hobby and all experience levels are welcome. Pinball has been a really fun hobby for me, and I'm excited to be playing again and building a community of Pinheads around tournaments and leagues here in Athens.
We have a tournament tonight at 6:30. It will be a timed-matchplay tournament. That means we'll play in groups of 4 on a machine, and earn points each round based on how we finish. First place gets 7 points, then 5 for second, 3 and 1. Points are totaled across the rounds. Instead of having a set number of rounds, this is a time-capped tournament. Our final round must start before 8:30, and the standings at the end of that round are the final standings for the turnament (excepting tie breakers for top 3).
I'm happy to answer any and all questins about pinball and the tournaments.
P.S. If you remember playing Addams Family at the Union back in the day, they have one at Star Chamber now