Chicago Has Become the Nerve Center of Competitive Pinball

I’d done some research, so I thought I had a handle on the basics: Score as many points as possible by shooting the ball at the lit areas on the playfield, hit enough shots to complete the “mode” (the pinball version of a quest), and complete all the modes to achieve a “multiball” (when several balls shoot out over the playfield at once). He scored close to 178 million points on his previous ball—a monster game, considering the handicaps manufacturer Stern puts on the machines (shorter flippers, no extra balls) to make gameplay more difficult for the pros. Ranked #225 in the world according to the IFPA (International Flipper Pinball Association) standings, Parks was a dark horse in a group packed with top-50 players, including Belsito (#10) and 37-year-old vet Josh Sharpe (#8)—both now vying for the final spot in the next round.

Source: www.atlasobscura.com