# CANADIAN NATIONAL EXHIBITION PINBALL CHAMPIONSHIP 2017 **Source:** Pinball News Website **Type:** article **Published:** 2017-09-22 **Beat:** Pinball **URL:** https://www.pinballnews.com/site/2017/09/22/canadian-national-exhibition-pinball-championship-2017 --- ## Analysis The Canadian National Exhibition (CNE) in Toronto hosted its first pinball championship August 25-27, 2017, as part of a new 'Gaming Garage' attraction. The free-to-enter tournament used a limited Herb-style format with 155+ qualifiers competing for prizes, attracting many new players alongside ranked competitors. The event successfully introduced pinball to thousands of CNE guests and achieved its goal of promoting the game to the general public. ### Key Claims - [HIGH] The Canadian National Exhibition has been operating since 1879 and is the largest fair in Canada and one of the largest in North America — _Article opening establishes CNE history and scale_ - [HIGH] Over 200 people registered for the tournament with 155 qualifying by Saturday night — _Direct statement: 'By Saturday night 155 people had qualified by playing a minimum six games (over 200 registered)'_ - [HIGH] Fifty of the qualifiers were ranked players, while the majority were new to competitive pinball — _Article states: 'Fifty were ranked players. While the majority were new to competitive pinball'_ - [HIGH] The tournament was free for all CNE guests with admission — _Article emphasizes: 'Best of all, the tournament was free with admission for all CNE guests'_ - [HIGH] Ian Harrower won the championship despite being seeded 22nd, narrowly avoiding elimination in round one when another player tilted — _Article details: 'Ian Harrower started seeded in 22nd place but worked his way through each round to take the title... he was saved when another player tilted their bonus away'_ ### Notable Quotes > "With thousands of people passing through the Gaming Garage, we had the chance to show people that pinball is alive!" > — **Event organizers (attributed to article narrative)** > _Captures the core mission of the event—public outreach and normalizing pinball_ > "It was very rewarding to see kids getting to play pinball for the first time. Parents had commented that the kids had been drawn into the hall for the video games, but after they gave pinball a try, they couldn't stop at just one game!" > — **Event organizers (attributed to article narrative)** > _Demonstrates successful conversion of casual/younger audiences to pinball enthusiasts_ > "The crowds were quite enthusiastic and were asking for us to return again next year." > — **Event organizers (attributed to article narrative)** > _Indicates strong community interest in recurring event_ ### Entities | Name | Type | Context | |------|------|---------| | Canadian National Exhibition (CNE) | event | Annual summer fair in Toronto, Ontario established 1879; largest fair in Canada; hosted inaugural pinball championship in 2017 | | Steve Martin | person | City Pinball; co-organizer of the CNE pinball tournament | | Eddie D'Orazio | person | Durham Amateur Pinball League; co-organizer of the CNE pinball tournament | | Ian Harrower | person | Champion of CNE Pinball Championship 2017; started 22nd seed and won despite near-elimination in round one | | Jack Tadman | person | 2nd place finisher at CNE Pinball Championship 2017 | | Jeff Teolis | person | 3rd place finisher at CNE Pinball Championship 2017 | | Robyn Harrison | person | Machine supplier for CNE tournament (Cabin Fever) | | Dan Beeson | person | Machine supplier for CNE tournament; also finished 19th in competition | | Jerry Power | person | Player One Amusement Group; machine supplier for CNE tournament | | Durham Amateur Pinball League | organization | Pinball league/community organization in Ontario; co-organized CNE event | | City Pinball | organization | Pinball organization/venue associated with Steve Martin | | Stern | company | Pinball manufacturer; donated prizes including new Star Wars machine used in tournament | | Pinball Life | company | Pinball retailer/supplier; donated prizes | | Enercare Center | organization | Venue in Toronto hosting the Gaming Garage and pinball championship | | Gaming Garage | event | 2017 CNE attraction featuring e-sports tournament, tabletop games, free play pinball, and pinball championship | ### Topics - **Primary:** Tournament organization and format, Public outreach and player recruitment, Competitive pinball results - **Secondary:** Free-to-play tournament accessibility, Pinball machine diversity across eras, Integration of pinball into mainstream entertainment venues, Community enthusiasm and participation ### Sentiment **Positive** (0.88) — Article is celebratory about event success, community engagement, and public reception. Emphasis on inclusivity, free admission, and successful conversion of new players creates uniformly positive tone. No criticism or negative commentary present. ### Signals - **[community_signal]** Successful public outreach initiative converting casual players (especially children) into pinball enthusiasts through free-to-play demonstration and tournament (confidence: high) — Multiple testimonials about kids being drawn in and returning repeatedly; community asking for event to recur annually - **[community_signal]** Toronto/Ontario area showing active pinball community infrastructure including Durham Amateur Pinball League and multiple machine suppliers/operators (confidence: high) — Multiple local organizations coordinated event; significant operator and league presence contributing machines and expertise - **[event_signal]** Canadian National Exhibition hosts inaugural pinball championship as part of new Gaming Garage attraction, successfully attracting 200+ registrants and introducing pinball to thousands of casual fairgoers (confidence: high) — Article extensively documents event execution, attendance, and community response - **[announcement]** New Stern Star Wars pinball machine prominently featured in tournament game selection, indicating recent release timing (2017) (confidence: high) — Star Wars listed among ten tournament games as 'new Stern'; game was early-2017 release --- ## Transcript **Date:** 25th - 27th August, 2017 **Location:** Hall F, Enercare Center, 100 Princes' Blvd #1, Toronto, ON M6K 3C3, Canada **Photos:** Joe Ciaravino, Steve Martin & CNE **Pinball At The Ex!** Since 1879 the Canadian National Exhibition (CNE, or just ‘The Ex’) has been entertaining Canadians young and old.  The annual summer fair is held in Toronto on the Exhibition grounds, and it has grown to become the largest fair in Canada and one of the largest in North America. Attendance for the 18-day fair is approximately 1.5 million guests. [![The 90th anniversary of the CNE gates](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/cnepc-2017/01-cnepc-2017.jpg)](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/01-cnepc-2017/) The 90th anniversary of the CNE gates Over the years the fair has played host to countless competitions.  Everything from speed typing in the 1930s to Best Tea Cozy (1935), to a Mend-Your-Sock competition in 1949. It was inevitable that one day a pinball competition would come to The Ex. [![The event was held in Hall F of the Enercare Center (large building on left)](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/cnepc-2017/15-cnepc-2017-1024x768.jpg)](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/15-cnepc-2017/) The event was held in Hall F of the Enercare Center (large building on left) There has been a history of pinball at The CNE over the years – for many years there were arcades set-up on the midway among the rides.  Unfortunately, for the last few years it’s been hard to find a single machine at the CNE. For the 2017 edition of the Canadian National Exhibition they added a new attraction: The Gaming Garage. The Gaming Garage featured an e-Sport tournament, tabletop games, gaming demonstrations, free play pinball and a pinball tournament. [![The trophies](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/cnepc-2017/10-cnepc-2017-768x1024.jpg)](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/10-cnepc-2017/) The trophies The tournament was organized on behalf of the CNE by Steve Martin (City Pinball) and Eddie D’Orazio (Durham Amateur Pinball League).  The games were supplied by: Robyn Harrison and Cabin Fever; Dan Beeson; Eddie D’Orazio and The Durham Amateur Pinball League; and Jerry Power and Player One Amusement Group. Best of all, the tournament was free with admission for all CNE guests. You read that correctly – FREE! [![The entrance to The Gaming Garage](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/cnepc-2017/09-cnepc-2017.jpg)](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/09-cnepc-2017/) The entrance to The Gaming Garage [![The free play area](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/cnepc-2017/04-cnepc-2017.jpg)](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/04-cnepc-2017/) The free play area [![Tournament games](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/cnepc-2017/05-cnepc-2017.jpg)](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/05-cnepc-2017/) Tournament games [![E-sports, vendors and more free play pinball](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/cnepc-2017/06-cnepc-2017.jpg)](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/06-cnepc-2017/) E-sports, vendors and more free play pinball A $19 (US$15.50/€12.90/£11.40) admission to the CNE buys a lot of fun.  There were multiple live music stages (Steppenwolf played the night of the playoffs!), an Aerial Acrobatics & Ice Show, Parkour demonstrations, a Wakeboard Championship, celebrity chefs, a Mardi Gras parade and more. [![Trampo Wall performance just outside the building](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/cnepc-2017/16-cnepc-2017-1024x683.jpg)](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/16-cnepc-2017/) Trampo Wall performance just outside the building Every pinball event needs food, and there is no shortage of it at the CNE.  Not only is there a whole building just for food, there were vendors throughout the building, a ‘Ribfest’ by the Bandshell and out on the midway there was the usual assortment of carnival foods.  Luckily for us, the pinball event was on the same weekend as Food Truck Frenzy & Craft Beer Fest! [![Food Truck Frenzy](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/cnepc-2017/12-cnepc-2017-1024x726.jpg)](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/12-cnepc-2017/) Food Truck Frenzy [![Food Truck Frenzy](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/cnepc-2017/13-cnepc-2017-1024x768.jpg)](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/13-cnepc-2017/) Food Truck Frenzy The format for the pinball tournament was a limited ‘Herb’ style format.  Each player received 20 entries, with each entry representing one game on a qualifying machine. Players were not able to purchase additional tickets. The available qualifying bank consisted of ten pinball machines drawn from all eras. The sum of the points from the player’s best scores on six games were used to rank players throughout the qualifying portion of the tournament. The qualifying period took place on Friday and Saturday.  The top 24 won free admission to return to the CNE on Sunday to compete for the championship.  At stake was a top prize of $750 (US$610/€510/£450), second prize of $250 (US$204/€170/£150), plus other items donated by Stern, Pinball Life, Pinball Arcade, Cabin Fever and Drop Target. By Saturday night 155 people had qualified by playing a minimum six games (over 200 registered).  Fifty were ranked players. While the majority were new to competitive pinball, we saw some good players and it was great to see their enthusiasm and effort. Many expressed interest in doing this again. [![The top 24 as the playoffs started](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/cnepc-2017/02-cnepc-2017.jpg)](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/02-cnepc-2017/) The top 24 as the playoffs started The playoffs were action-packed.  It was great to watch as Ian Ian Harrower started seeded in 22nd place but worked his way through each round to take the title!  Amazingly it could have been over for Ian in the first round, but he was saved when another player tilted their bonus away. [![Champion, Ian Ian Harrower](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/cnepc-2017/08-cnepc-2017.jpg)](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/08-cnepc-2017/) Champion, Ian Ian Harrower [![The winners: Jeff Teolis (3rd), Ian Ian Harrower (1st), Jack Tadman ](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/cnepc-2017/07-cnepc-2017.jpg)](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/07-cnepc-2017/) The winners: Jeff Teolis (3rd), Ian Ian Harrower (1st), Jack Tadman (2nd) & Brian Trenholm (4th) The final standings: | | | --- | | 1 Ian Ian Harrower 2 Jack Tadman 3 Jeff Teolis 4 Brian Trenholm 5 Eddie D’Orazio 6 Pete Nicholls 7 Michael Savage 8 Barry Brdar 9 Zeus Manolis 10 John Zaharatos 11 Joe Ciaravino 11 Tyson Asher 13 Jeff Borg 14 Matt Faulkner 14 Walt Morose 16 Jason McKay 17 D’Arcy Mosher 18 Maurice Pelletier 19 Dan Beeson 19 Les Kowal 21 Alex Harrison 21 Stefan Pyndiura 21 Shawn Lee 24 Steve Martin | One of the main goals of this event was to promote pinball to the public at large.  With thousands of people passing through the Gaming Garage, we had the chance to show people that pinball is alive!  New machines were on display and guests got to see a real pinball tournament in action.  We had the chance to talk to people about leagues and give out information on where to play pinball in the city. It was very rewarding to see kids getting to play pinball for the first time.  Parents had commented that the kids had been drawn into the hall for the video games, but after they gave pinball a try, they couldn’t stop at just one game!  The free play area was busy all day long and there were always more guests lining-up to play. [![The machines were busy non-stop](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/cnepc-2017/17-cnepc-2017-1024x665.jpg)](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/17-cnepc-2017/) The machines were busy non-stop Hopefully we’ve turned on a new generation to the world of pinball. The crowds were quite enthusiastic and were asking for us to return again next year. Thanks to Michael Strathmore and the whole team at the CNE who gave us a great space to play.  And of course a special thanks to all the volunteers who helped keep the tournament running and the machines humming. [![Eddie, Kim and Barry tuning up early in the morning](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/cnepc-2017/11-cnepc-2017-1024x682.jpg)](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/11-cnepc-2017/) Eddie, Kim and Barry tuning up early in the morning The ten tournament games were: * Dialed In * Wizard of Oz * Batman 66 * Jungle Queen * Aerosmith * Star Wars (new Stern) * F-14 * Ghostbusters * Volcano * Corvette [![Tournament games](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/cnepc-2017/03-cnepc-2017.jpg)](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/03-cnepc-2017/) Tournament games The machines in the Free Play Area were: * Six Million Dollar Man * Terminator 2 * World Cup Soccer * Roller Coaster Tycoon * Baywatch * Socerer * The Shadow * Austin Powers * Metallica * Checkpoint * Robo-War * Whirlwind * Attack From Mars * Big Buck Hunter * AC/DC * Evel Knievel And finally, no trip to the CNE is complete without these: [![Tiny Tom donuts … a CNE tradition!](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/cnepc-2017/14-cnepc-2017-1024x768.jpg)](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/14-cnepc-2017-2/) Tiny Tom donuts … a CNE tradition! _(Acquisition: raw_text, Enrichment: v1)_ --- *Exported from Journalist Tool on 2026-04-13 | Item ID: 0a392630-16c6-45d0-8cb1-46aeccb81f49*