Note from the organizers.
TPF2023 was the first year after the Covid show. A return to normalcy as we were no longer dealing with two years of cancelled shows and the issues that caused. It turned out to be a huge show for fans of new games. This year had the most brand new out of the box games ever and the crowds showed up to witness it.
We were excited to win the TWIPY for best show after being ineligible last year. The fans once again selected the TPF as the favorite show, something we don’t take lightly.
This year was also the last show for two of our organizers. Ed and Kim Vanderveen have retired and moved into the former organizer gallery, but their impact on the show will still be felt going forward. The growth of the show has been incredible the past 8 years and they along with Paul McKinney were the driving force.
They didn’t do it alone, the number of people who help put on this amazing show is more than we can list. It involves staff members, volunteers, judges, pinball enthusiasts who bring machines, vendors who fill the hall with pins and accessories, and of course the fans who support the show. We always point out that the Texas show is made due to its fans, and this year was no different.
This is your show!
Best In Show Winners
One of our favorite parts of the show is the Best In Show Awards. The ‘Best In’ Awards are intended to reward and recognize the incredible amount of work our Exhibitors put into bringing their best games to the Texas Pinball Festival. They spend countless hours repairing, restoring and polishing these machines until they become works of art you can play with. And though the prizes aren’t significant in themselves, the support the community shows for the Exhibitors is incredible.
Tournament Winners
TPF 2023 saw some of the best tournament players in the world playing in our tournaments. There were several top 10 players as well as others in the top 100. Our tournament directors Colin McAlpine, Phil Grimaldi, Liz Dronet and Dick Curtis along with an army of volunteers did an awesome job of running tournaments like they do every year. Congratulations to all our winners!
Wizards ‘A’ Winners – Karl DeAngelo 1st, Bowen Kerins 2nd, Donavan Stepp 3rd, and Travis Murie 4th
Wizards ‘B’ Winners were Ryan Altermatt 1st, Justin Rausch 2nd, Mike Polisky 3rd, and Collier Whitefield 4th.
Wizards Novice Winners were Michael Hew 1st, Laurie Abel 2nd, Dennis Moncla 3rd, and Jeffrey Porter 4th
Classics Tournament Winners – Escher Lefkoff 1st, Preston Moncla 2nd, Lora Streeter 3rd, and Neil Graf 4th
Texas Takedown Women’s Championship Winners – Meghan Shattuck 1st, Lee Ann Scardina 2nd, Deanna Scalf 3rd, and Dagmar Kenney 4th
Kids Bump ‘n Win Winners – Miles Bradley 1st, Liam Bradley 2nd, Gryffen Lauzon 3rd, and Brandon Chapman 4th
During Exhibitor check in, over 420 pinball machines and classic arcades came through the doors. We awarded over $20,000 in tournament money and trophies and over $1,500 in the Best In Show Award money. All in all, more than 4,800 people attended the 2023 Texas Pinball Festival.
For the best TPF2023 show coverage, head over to Pinball News to check out Martin Ayub’s wrap up. Jonathan Joosten at Pinball Magazine also wrote up a great article.
A lot of effort went into this production… William Oetting from This Week in Pinball, Imoto, Todd Tuckey, and their committee did an amazing job.