# Just for the Record **Source:** Pinball News Website **Type:** article **Published:** 2006-05-08 **Beat:** Pinball **URL:** https://www.pinballnews.com/news/record2.html --- ## Analysis This May 2006 article documents the official launch of the IFPA and WPPR system for tracking competitive pinball, established by Roger Sharpe and Steve Epstein to promote worldwide tournament play. Simultaneously, Guinness World Records accepted pinball scores for the first time, with Twin Galaxies organizing an inaugural record-setting event at the Pinball Hall of Fame featuring ten classic games. ### Key Claims - [HIGH] The IFPA was officially unveiled in early April 2006, jointly run by Roger Sharpe and Steve Epstein. — _Direct statement in article dated May 8, 2006_ - [HIGH] Roger Sharpe and Steve Epstein established PAPA (Professional and Amateur Pinball Association) in the late 1970s. — _Article states both men 'established the Professional and Amateur Pinball Association (PAPA) in the late 1970s'_ - [HIGH] PAPA is now run by Kevin Martin and is acknowledged as the world's premier competitive pinball event. — _Direct statement describing PAPA's current status_ - [HIGH] WPPR points are valid for three years but reduce in value each year, making current performances most relevant. — _Explicit rule stated in article_ - [HIGH] Guinness World Records accepted pinball scores for the first time around May 2006. — _Article states 'the Guinness World Records book - is to accept pinball scores for the first time'_ - [HIGH] Twin Galaxies organized an inaugural Guinness record-setting event at the Pinball Hall of Fame in late April 2006. — _Article states event occurred 'last weekend' from May 8 publication date_ ### Notable Quotes > "The IFPA is jointly run by Roger Sharpe and Steve Epstein with the aim of increasing the amount of competitive pinball playing both by supporting existing tournaments but also by fostering the introduction of competitions in new and existing shows and leagues." > — **Article/Pinball News**, May 8, 2006 > _Describes the founding mission and leadership structure of the IFPA_ > "Points are valid for three years but reduce in value each year, making the most current performances the most relevant." > — **Article/Pinball News**, May 8, 2006 > _Explains the WPPR point decay mechanism designed to keep rankings relevant_ > "To mark pinball's inclusion, pinball record keeper Twin Galaxies organised an inaugural event at the Pinball Hall Of Fame last weekend." > — **Article/Pinball News**, May 8, 2006 > _Documents the historic moment of pinball's inclusion in Guinness World Records_ ### Entities | Name | Type | Context | |------|------|---------| | IFPA | organization | International Flipper Pinball Association, officially launched April 2006 to promote competitive pinball worldwide, jointly run by Roger Sharpe and Steve Epstein | | WPPR | system/organization | World Pinball Player Rankings website launched April 2006, run by Josh Sharpe, records tournament scores and provides player rankings with three-year validity window | | Roger Sharpe | person | Co-founder and joint runner of IFPA (2006), co-founder of PAPA in late 1970s, competitive pinball player and industry figure | | Steve Epstein | person | Co-founder and joint runner of IFPA (2006), co-founder of PAPA in late 1970s, competitive pinball player | | Josh Sharpe | person | Operator of WPPR website, manages monthly updates and tournament affiliations | | Kevin Martin | person | Current runner of PAPA (Professional and Amateur Pinball Association), acknowledged as world's premier competitive pinball event | | Twin Galaxies | organization | Pinball record keeper organization that organized inaugural Guinness World Records event at Pinball Hall of Fame in April 2006 | | Pinball Hall of Fame | organization | Las Vegas-based venue that hosted inaugural Guinness World Records pinball event in late April 2006 | | PAPA | organization | Professional and Amateur Pinball Association, established late 1970s by Sharpe and Epstein, now run by Kevin Martin, recognized as world's premier competitive pinball event | | Guinness World Records | organization | Record book that officially accepted pinball scores for the first time circa May 2006, tracking highest scores on ten classic games | | Jim Belsito | person | Competitive pinball player, set Guinness records on Addams Family, Twilight Zone, and Creature from Black Lagoon in April 2006 event | | Tony Moore | person | Competitive pinball player, set Guinness records on South Park and Taxi in April 2006 event | | Craig Sengstock | person | Competitive pinball player, set Guinness record on Scared Stiff in April 2006 event | | Pinball News | organization | Independent pinball media outlet that published this article and marks WPPR-affiliated events in their event calendar | ### Topics - **Primary:** IFPA founding and competitive pinball infrastructure, WPPR system and player ranking mechanics, Guinness World Records acceptance of pinball - **Secondary:** Tournament organization and affiliation, Pinball history (PAPA founding, industry legitimacy) ### Sentiment **Positive** (0.85) — Article celebrates major industry milestones: formalization of competitive infrastructure through IFPA/WPPR and mainstream legitimacy through Guinness World Records acceptance. Tone is factual and professional with clear enthusiasm for these developments. ### Signals - **[business_signal]** WPPR system launched with monthly update cycle and three-year point decay mechanism to maintain ranking relevance. (confidence: high) — Article describes: 'WPPR website is updated on the first of each month' with points 'valid for three years but reduce in value each year' - **[business_signal]** Major institutional legitimacy milestone: Guinness World Records officially accepts pinball as record-worthy competitive pursuit for first time. (confidence: high) — Direct statement: 'the Guinness World Records book - is to accept pinball scores for the first time' with inclusion in 2007 edition - **[event_signal]** Twin Galaxies and Pinball Hall of Fame hosted inaugural Guinness World Records pinball event in late April 2006, marking first official Guinness acceptance of pinball scores. (confidence: high) — Article states: 'pinball record keeper Twin Galaxies organised an inaugural event at the Pinball Hall Of Fame last weekend' with specific scores recorded for ten classic games - **[event_signal]** IFPA officially unveiled in early April 2006 as new governing body for competitive pinball with Roger Sharpe and Steve Epstein as co-founders. (confidence: high) — Direct statement: 'The start of April saw the official unveiling of the revamped International Flipper Pinball Association (IFPA)' --- ## Transcript Story dated May 8, 2006 . Two recently launched ventures are aiming to record pinball playing excellence, both in book form and on the web. The start of April saw the official unveiling of the revamped International Flipper Pinball Association (IFPA) to promote competitive pinball playing around the world. Coupled with that was the World Pinball Player Rankings website to record players' scores and award them points. The IFPA is jointly run by Roger Sharpe and Steve Epstein with the aim of increasing the amount of competitive pinball playing both by supporting existing tournaments but also by fostering the introduction of competitions in new and existing shows and leagues. Neither man is any stranger to pinball competition. Besides being talented players, they established the Professional and Amateur Pinball Association (PAPA) in the late 1970s, an organisation now run by Kevin Martin and acknowledged as the world's premier competitive pinball event. Alongside the IFPA is the World Pinball Player Rankings (WPPR) - a website to record all the points scored in affiliated tournaments and provide player rankings. Run by Josh Sharpe, the WPPR website is updated on the first of each month with the points scores from the previous month and lists all those players with qualifying points. Many pinball shows around the world are now affiliated with the IFPA and award WPPR points for their tournaments. Points are valid for three years but reduce in value each year, making the most current performances the most relevant. People organising tournaments should get in touch with Josh to see if, and how, their event can be included in the WPPR calendar of points-scoring competitions. We have made it easier to identify those events with WPPR points scoring status in the Pinball News Diary section by marking them with a symbol. Meanwhile, that other documenter of achievement - the Guinness World Records book - is to accept pinball scores for the first time. To mark pinball's inclusion, pinball record keeper Twin Galaxies organised an inaugural event at the Pinball Hall Of Fame last weekend. The book will show the highest scores achieved on ten different games - The Addams Family, Twilight Zone, South Park, Taxi, Creature From The Black Lagoon, Scared Stiff, Kings And Queens, Captain Fantastic, Wizard and Lawman. The scores achieved at the event were: The Addams Family 1,591,573,470 Jim Belsito Twilight Zone 1,726,330,320 Jim Belsito South Park 456,968,070 Tony Moore Taxi 19,507,390 Tony Moore Creature from Black Lagoon 1,015,433,710 Jim Belsito Scared Stiff 69,895,370 Craig Sengstock Kings and Queens 2,243 Michael Frankovich Captain Fantastic 245,240 Tom Neighbors Wizard 190,240 Tom Neighbors Lawman 159,530 Brian Weilbacher It is expected that further recorded events will be played at the Hall of Fame to give other players a shot at the record. This one was arranged to set the records before the book Editors' deadline for entries of 1st May 2006 to get into the 2007 edition. Back to the news index Back to the front page _(Acquisition: raw_text, Enrichment: v1)_ --- *Exported from Journalist Tool on 2026-04-13 | Item ID: 00a37b5e-5d74-46f1-893f-51aa4fc4bce7*