I think what's frustrating about the ranking system is that since many of the big tournaments are some form of a pump and dump format, meaning you can continue to pay for more entires to try and improve your score, those that are great players but can't afford to put $200 into entries at these type of tournaments don't show well in the rankings.

It'd be interesting to know what the average money that is spent to qualify in A's or B's at some of these bigger tournaments are, as I bet it's higher than most people think.

For instance, we have a guy here in Atlanta that is probably one of the best players in the area, but he doesn't play much in these bigger tourneys since the cost is so high to do so to stay competitive. And at least in the past, the bigger the tournament, the more points it's worth, etc.

I don't really have a solution to offer though. Wish I did. I understand that bigger pots attract bigger players, etc. So I see the draw of that. But I think the way most tournaments are structured some to alienate the more casual players, some of which are super skilled.

About the only idea I have is to make multiple entry tournaments worth less points than say a single entry tournament, but I'm sure that has plenty of pitfalls itself.

So to me, if one of the purposes of the IFPA is to help bring new people into pinball, which is a great goal BTW, the costs to be competitive in the rankings seems to work against that goal.

I'm actually part of two leagues here in Atlanta. I love them.

A benefit tournament this weekend is a pingolf single entry tourney, which I love too.

It's mainly the pump and dump tourneys, which nearly all of the big ones and circuit events seem to be, that leave a bad taste in my mouth.

Overall I think it's any tournament is a good thing.

At the pump and dump style tourney's, I go and drop $20-$60 bucks in play if i know the director just to be supportive, but that's the only reason I go to that style of tourney.