Hundreds of players expected to hit the buttons for inaugural Sharpy’s Shootout Pinball Tournament in Albany

Albany will play host to an exciting new pinball tournament, designed to introduce a new generation of younger players to the silver ball action, with more than $6000 in prizes up for grabs. The idea has been brought to life by pinball diehard Greg Sharp, who has the largest collection of pinball machines in WA. Sharpy’s Shootout Pinball Tournament will run over three days starting on Friday at Retravision Stadium with hundreds expected to participate and watch the unique event featuring more than 20 of the rarest and most popular Bally and Williams pinball machines. Mr Sharp has been collecting pinball machines for more than two decades and now has 50, most of which will be used on Friday, Saturday and Sunday in the tournament that has $3000 in prizemoney on offer. “Pinball is everything to me, something I’ve loved,” Mr Sharp said. “It has become an obsession to have these machines. “I’ve been collecting them for 25 years, so it’s about two machines a year.” Mr Sharp said the tournament was about letting those older people revive their childhood years and for the younger generation, give them a chance to experience a game that many wouldn’t have grown up enjoying the fun. “It has helped me relive my youth and I’m trying to bring younger people into the world of pinball,” he said. “I expected a couple of hundred people to take part. “I don’t want it to be all about me, this is just the start of it and the idea is to get as many people to play and enjoy pinball as we can. “You are going to get about four hours of pinball for your $25 so it’s not just knockout, you get to keep playing.” There is more than $6000 in prizemoney, trophies and other prizes up for grabs this weekend. The tournament will feature junior, women’s and open divisions. Open competitions will be held on Friday night, Saturday and Saturday night and Sunday with the grand finals on Sunday. Each winner and runner-up from the four open competitions makes it through to the top eight playoffs to decide the overall winner. The tournament winner will receive $1000 and runner-up $500 in cash, along with free entry to next year’s West Coast Pinball Festival in Perth. It starts at 7pm on Friday with the Friday Flip Frenzy before the junior competitions begin at 10am on Saturday followed by the women’s competition at 11am. At noon, the Saturday Showdown at High Noon will be held before the Saturday night Saloon Shootout at 6pm. On Sunday the Target Shootout competition will conclude the qualifying rounds before finals start. Registrations for each event open one hour before play starts and players of any skill or age are welcome.