Houston Arcade & Pinball Expo Main Tournament

H.A.P.E. Main Event

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The 2015 Main Event for the Houston Arcade & Pinball Expo will be a full value IFPA Event.

This year, 2015, we will have a bank of games that will determine the playoff participants for the Main Event. The bank will represent different eras of Pinball.

How to Qualify For Main Event

A player must record the score on each machine in every Bank in order to have a realistic chance to earn a spot in the Main Event. The highest recorded score will be used for the purpose of calculating the player’s final Bank Score.

A player’s Bank Score will be calculated using a ranking system. The player’s individual game score will be ranked against all other participants and assigned a ranking. Based on this ranking, the player will be assigned a score. The top ranked will be worth 100 points. The second ranked score will be worth 90 points. The third ranked score will be worth 85 points. The fourth ranked score will be worth 84 points. Starting with the fifth ranked score, each subsequent rank will be one less than the previous one. The minimum score for each machine will be 10 points.

This process will occur for each machine in the Bank. Then we will add all points from each machine to come up with a grand total for the Bank Points. Players will then be ranked in order based on points. Points for each player will then be accumulated and this will be their bank score.

Who Qualifies For The Main Event Playoffs?

The top 20 (or 50% if less than 40 players) qualify for the Main Event Playoffs.

These players will use their total bank points from all 4 banks to qualify.

Who Earns a First Round Bye in The Main Event Playoffs?

Beginning with Bank 1, the top ranked qualified player in Bank 1 will earn a bye.

The top ranked qualified player in Bank 2 will earn a bye. If this player is the same as Bank 1, then the next highest player within Bank 2 will earn the bye.

The top ranked qualified player in Bank 3 will earn a bye. If this player is the same as the player who earned the Bank 1 or Bank 2 bye, then the bye will be awarded to the next ranked player within Bank 3.

Finally, the top ranked qualified player in Bank 4 will earn a bye. If this player already earned a bye, then the next highest ranked player within Bank 4 who has not yet earned a bye will be awarded the bye.

Their actual seed will be determined by their cumulative Bank Points.

The remaining 16 players will be seeded #5 – #20 based on their cumulative Bank Points.

Main Event Playoff Format

20 players will be selected for the Main Event. The Top 4 players from the Bank Qualification willrepresent the top half of the “A” Division.

The remaining players will participate in 4 player games to determine the last 4 spots of the “A” Divisionand 8 spots in the “B” Division.

The Top Seeded player will select game or position. Each subsequent seeded player will then select from the available positions.

“A” Playoffs Round One:

Players will be placed into four player groups based on seed.

Group #1 – Seeds 5,20,12,13

Group #2 – Seeds 6,19,11,14

Group #3 – Seeds 7,18,10,15

Group #4 – Seeds 8,17,9,16

The top seed of each group will have choice of game or position. The next highest seed will choose the remaining option. Once a machine is selected, only games within the same bank can be selected later in the round.

The lowest scoring player in Game One will join “C” Division Playoffs.

The lowest scoring players in Game Two and Three will join “B” Division Playoffs

Game One: This will be a four player game. The top scoring player in Game One will get to choose game or position for Game Two. The game used in Game One is ineligible to be chosen again this round.

Game Two: This will be a three player game. The top scoring player in Game Two will get to choose game or position for Game Three. The game used in Game Two is ineligible to be chosen again this round.

Game Three : This is a two player game. The winner will join the “A” Division playoff. .

“A” Playoffs Round Two:

Each division will break off into 4 player groups based on seeds. Seeds #1,4,5,8 will be one group. Seeds #2,3,6,7 will play in a second group. The top seed of each group will have choice of game or position. The next highest seed will choose the remaining option. Once a machine is selected, only games within the same bank can be selected later in the round.

Game One: This will be a four player game. The lowest scoring player will join the Consolation Round. The top scoring player in Game One will get to choose game or position for Game Two. The game used in Game One is ineligible to be chosen again this round.

Game Two: This will be a three player game. The lowest scoring player will join the Consolation Round.

The four remaining players advance to the Championship round. The four losing players will advance to the Consolation round.

Championship Round:

Game One will be a four player game. The top seed will choose game or position. The lowest scoring player is eliminated and is 4th Place in the Main Event. The top scoring player in Game One will get to choose game or position for Game Two. The game used in Game One is ineligible to be chosen again.

Game Two will be a three player game. The lowest scoring playing is eliminated and is 3rd Place in the Main Event. The top scoring player in Game Two will get to choose game or position for Game Three. The game used in Game Two is ineligible to be chosen again.

Game Three is the championship game. The winner is champion of the Main Event. The loser is 2nd.

Consolation Round:

The Four Players in the consolation round will play one round to determine 5th-8th place.

Cost & Prizes

Each qualifying game will cost 1 ticket. Tickets can be purchased for $3.00 or two for $5.00

The minimum guaranteed cash payout for the “A” Division Main Event.

1st Place will earn $100 + 30% of prize pool and a trophy.

2nd place will earn $90 + 20% of prize pool and a trophy.

3rd place will earn $80 + 10% of prize pool and a trophy.

4th place will earn $70 + 9% of prize pool.

5th Place will earn $65 + 8% of prize pool.

6th Place will earn $60 + 7% of prize pool.

7th Place will earn $55 + 6% of prize pool.

8th Place will earn $50 + 5% of prize pool.

The minimum guaranteed cash payout for “B” Division Main Event.

1st Place will earn $40 + 6% of the prize pool and a trophy.

2nd Place will earn $35 + 5% of the prize pool and a trophy.

3rd Place will earn $30 + 4% of the prize pool and a trophy.

1st Place Ladies wins $40. 2nd Place wins $30. 3rd Place wins $20. All earn trophies.

1st Place Kid aged 12 or younger wins $40. 2nd Place wins $30. 3rd Place wins $20. All earn trophies.

Prize Pool: Additional money may be added based on tournament entries.