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UKCS finals - 21-22nd February 2026
- Thread starter Lecari
- Start date
I think people may be waiting to see if they have reached the desired criteria before confirming. Some confusion regarding events that count towards the finals.
Conrad is down twice
will remove
Here is the updated qualifying list with players under 5 results removed and points removed for over 20 events. I already know of some non-attendees but will be sending emails out over the next day or two.
The cut line is currently at Chris Poyntz
The cut line is currently at Chris Poyntz
I don’t like to criticise Matt as he does so much for pinball (or anyone else involved), but in my opinion, the organisation for the UKCS this year leaves a LOT to be desired.
It’s a well-known annual competition, and following on from the very successful weekend last year, this year should have been a massive success.
Announcement of dates
Instead, despite regular chasing over many months, the dates for the UKCS were not announced until 14th December - giving only 2 months notice. This isn’t acceptable for such a large event. Quite a few people have work commitments/rotas/shifts/holidays booked etc.. which are agreed more than 2 months in advance, so giving only 2 months notice of the dates is extremely unhelpful. The official rules as published on the IFPA website actually state that the final should be arranged with AT LEAST 3 months notice!
I know of more than one player who is unable to attend who would otherwise have been able to, if given more notice.
It also leaves little notice for any players planning to attend from overseas (more on this later)...
Going forward, is there any reason that next year’s UKCS dates cannot be fixed and announced a MINIMUM of 6 months in advance, and ideally 12 months?
Announcement/Selection of Qualifiers
The selection criteria, as had been generally understood by most people, and as published on the official IFPA website here, states that:
“qualifying for the IFPA UK Championship Series is based on results from all of the IFPA endorsed tournaments held in the UK over the year. Utilizing the IFPA WPPR points system, the IFPA will be tracking results from all UK events, maintaining a custom ranking made up of the results.”
There is indeed also a custom ranking page so all can see who qualifies - it is here.
Whilst I understand that the final selection list cannot be produced until after the last IFPA ranked tournament of the year, it would be quite reasonable for many people to start planning to attend a couple of months before the end of the year if they were already in a strong qualifying position - particularly overseas players (this is, of course, if the dates had actually been announced).
So, we come to this Thursday, where this event thread is posted, and there is ensuing discussion about who will be attending based on the official IFPA qualifying rankings (see above).
2 days later, on Saturday 3rd January at 10:29pm, Matt posts up the “updated” qualifying list of players. This list is quite different to the official IFPA list, as it has been amended to remove:
All players who played less than 5 qualifying competitions.
All results obtained by players playing more than 20 competitions (only the top 20 count).
This has the effect of removing most overseas players (played less than 5 competitions), and at least 1 UK player - possibly more.
I don’t have an issue with the qualifying criteria per se. I understand it removes the need to chase many overseas players who would be unlikely to attend in any case (although some might - I believe last year’s competition was won by Ben Moser from Switzerland)
The issue is that qualifying has been running for the last 12 months, everyone has been aware of the criteria, and then less than 2 months before the UKCS Finals, and after the qualifying period has ended, suddenly the qualifying criteria are changed.
I’m aware of a discussion in one WhatsApp group where at least one individual (who is not on this forum) claims that they had known for months that this was going to be the qualifying criteria. Whether that is the case or not, the fact remains that THE UPDATED QUALIFYING CRITERIA WERE NEVER PUBLISHED, AND THE IFPA OFFICIAL PAGE WAS NEVER UPDATED (still hasn’t been)!
None of the above actually affects me, as I’d qualified either way, and am available in February so will be attending.
The points I’m trying to make, and hope that may be taken into account for next year are:
1. Agree and announce the date and venue of the UKCS Final AT LEAST 6 months in advance - more if possible.
2. Publish the qualifying criteria at the start of the year, AND DON’T CHANGE THEM.
Apologies for going on a bit, and no offence is intended,
Thanks.
It’s a well-known annual competition, and following on from the very successful weekend last year, this year should have been a massive success.
Announcement of dates
Instead, despite regular chasing over many months, the dates for the UKCS were not announced until 14th December - giving only 2 months notice. This isn’t acceptable for such a large event. Quite a few people have work commitments/rotas/shifts/holidays booked etc.. which are agreed more than 2 months in advance, so giving only 2 months notice of the dates is extremely unhelpful. The official rules as published on the IFPA website actually state that the final should be arranged with AT LEAST 3 months notice!
I know of more than one player who is unable to attend who would otherwise have been able to, if given more notice.
It also leaves little notice for any players planning to attend from overseas (more on this later)...
Going forward, is there any reason that next year’s UKCS dates cannot be fixed and announced a MINIMUM of 6 months in advance, and ideally 12 months?
Announcement/Selection of Qualifiers
The selection criteria, as had been generally understood by most people, and as published on the official IFPA website here, states that:
“qualifying for the IFPA UK Championship Series is based on results from all of the IFPA endorsed tournaments held in the UK over the year. Utilizing the IFPA WPPR points system, the IFPA will be tracking results from all UK events, maintaining a custom ranking made up of the results.”
There is indeed also a custom ranking page so all can see who qualifies - it is here.
Whilst I understand that the final selection list cannot be produced until after the last IFPA ranked tournament of the year, it would be quite reasonable for many people to start planning to attend a couple of months before the end of the year if they were already in a strong qualifying position - particularly overseas players (this is, of course, if the dates had actually been announced).
So, we come to this Thursday, where this event thread is posted, and there is ensuing discussion about who will be attending based on the official IFPA qualifying rankings (see above).
2 days later, on Saturday 3rd January at 10:29pm, Matt posts up the “updated” qualifying list of players. This list is quite different to the official IFPA list, as it has been amended to remove:
All players who played less than 5 qualifying competitions.
All results obtained by players playing more than 20 competitions (only the top 20 count).
This has the effect of removing most overseas players (played less than 5 competitions), and at least 1 UK player - possibly more.
I don’t have an issue with the qualifying criteria per se. I understand it removes the need to chase many overseas players who would be unlikely to attend in any case (although some might - I believe last year’s competition was won by Ben Moser from Switzerland)
The issue is that qualifying has been running for the last 12 months, everyone has been aware of the criteria, and then less than 2 months before the UKCS Finals, and after the qualifying period has ended, suddenly the qualifying criteria are changed.
I’m aware of a discussion in one WhatsApp group where at least one individual (who is not on this forum) claims that they had known for months that this was going to be the qualifying criteria. Whether that is the case or not, the fact remains that THE UPDATED QUALIFYING CRITERIA WERE NEVER PUBLISHED, AND THE IFPA OFFICIAL PAGE WAS NEVER UPDATED (still hasn’t been)!
None of the above actually affects me, as I’d qualified either way, and am available in February so will be attending.
The points I’m trying to make, and hope that may be taken into account for next year are:
1. Agree and announce the date and venue of the UKCS Final AT LEAST 6 months in advance - more if possible.
2. Publish the qualifying criteria at the start of the year, AND DON’T CHANGE THEM.
Apologies for going on a bit, and no offence is intended,
Thanks.
Last edited:
BradG
Registered
I'll be up for it if I stay above the cut line! 
Do we know if this will be streamed at all?
You’re 64th on the list so you’re definitely fineI'll be up for it if I stay above the cut line!
Hi Guys,
Ryan Pullen here, I’ve been following the standings on the ifpa website and figured after the European players had been removed I had done enough to qualify and play…I understand I’ve only attended 4 events that qualify. I played in the finals last year and it was a great event and I did well by my standards, but now it’s 5 events to be able to play, I didn’t know this and to my understanding it was never announced?
I would have attended further events knowing I wouldn’t have been able to attend this year to ensure that I had qualified for the UKCS finals, it was my goal for the year from the limited events that I can actually get to
Ryan Pullen here, I’ve been following the standings on the ifpa website and figured after the European players had been removed I had done enough to qualify and play…I understand I’ve only attended 4 events that qualify. I played in the finals last year and it was a great event and I did well by my standards, but now it’s 5 events to be able to play, I didn’t know this and to my understanding it was never announced?
I would have attended further events knowing I wouldn’t have been able to attend this year to ensure that I had qualified for the UKCS finals, it was my goal for the year from the limited events that I can actually get to
I take what is said on board. I should certainly have reiterated the revised qualification criteria (changed after consultation with players after last year's event). I spoke with Josh Sharpe and confirmed it which is why the standings on the IFPA website states not UKCS as they don't have the ability to set that criteria. I should also have ensured the description was updated, this will be done for this coming year.
As for the venue, I did reach out to try and move the finals around the country and left it as late as I could before accepting PBR's offer to host again. The finals needed to be when the club could accommodate and be early enough to ensure the winner has a chance to accept/make plans for the world championships in Wisconsin.
I have no doubt the finals will be a great event once again and I take it as a sign of success that so many of you are engaged and passionate about qualifying for it.
As for the venue, I did reach out to try and move the finals around the country and left it as late as I could before accepting PBR's offer to host again. The finals needed to be when the club could accommodate and be early enough to ensure the winner has a chance to accept/make plans for the world championships in Wisconsin.
I have no doubt the finals will be a great event once again and I take it as a sign of success that so many of you are engaged and passionate about qualifying for it.
I should have put in my comment above, that the UKCS finals was my goal for the year because of the spot for IFPA worlds that’s up for grabs. I know it’s very unlikely, but the chance that I might be able to play in the World Championships is something I would love to do, so to not qualify based on a rule I didn't know about and wasn't published anywhere, is a real shame.
Sorry to push this @Matt Vince , but when you say that you should have reiterated the revised qualification criteria, this implies that the qualification criteria were originally publicised in the first place. They would have to be published initially, in order for them to be reiterated (i.e. repeated).
To the best of my knowledge, the revised qualification criteria were never published in the first place, so would never be able to be reiterated (I'm happy to be corrected and happy to apologise if you can point me to where this information was originally made available). The only publicised information about qualifying for the UKCS I'm aware of was on the IFPA website which made it clear that "qualifying for the IFPA UK Championship Series is based on results from all of the IFPA endorsed tournaments held in the UK over the year."
There is no mention of a requirement to compete in a minimum of 5 events.
Please understand that I'm not having a go at you personally, BUT there is at least one very talented pinball player (@Bigpulanski - Ryan) who has been very hard done by as a result of the "minimum 5 comps" rule which has seemingly been introduced after qualifying has finished. Had he known about this requirement, as he says, he'd have made the effort to enter one more event - even if he'd have come last (unlikely) that would still mean he'd have qualified.
This is one person who we are aware of.
Whilst there seems to be an assumption that overseas players generally would not be interested in competing in the UKCS, I actually wonder how many of them thought that they had qualified, and are/were planning on attending, despite the late notification of the dates. Afer all, they had previosuly made the effort to travel to the UK to play in qualifying tournaments during the year.
Pinball is a pretty small community, and potentially alienating overseas players (and Ryan) doesn't look good in the wider scheme of things.
Personally, I have very little chance of being successful in the UKCS given the standard of competition, but I do get a kick out of playing better players, and it's always a pleasure to play people from other countries, so think it's a shame that several who might have made the journey to Croydon are being excluded.
Again, apologies for going on about this, and I'll shut up for now (and happy to chat about it face to face at the next PBR league meet).
Cheers,
Conrad.
Unfortunately I won't be able to make it as I'm already away that weekend 
Please take Josh with you.Unfortunately I won't be able to make it as I'm already away that weekend
