DFW Pinball League
Providing low cost and family friendly competitive pinball for Dallas, Fort Worth, and all of North Texas!
The original DFW Pinball League!
Started and operating since 2015, The DFW Pinball League serves all of North Texas
Louis Marx has been buying, selling, trading, playing pinball and involved in the Texas Pinball Festival since 2001.
Louis has been attending and participating in the Texas Pinball Festival every year since 2001 (through all five cities that have hosted the TPF event over the years)!
What Eventually became the DFW League actually was started by Marcus Trevino in 2013 at an arcade called Nicelrama in Garland, Texas. Louis officially started the DFW League in 2015, remaining at Nickelrama and partnering with Marcus while planning for 2016. In 2016 we were still at Nickelrama part of the time BUT also started hosting events in unique and rare PRIVATE pinball collections, in private homes. In 2017 we moved to the current model of having ALL events take place in some of the best North Texas game rooms and private pinball collections.
.... AND NOW: thanks to our efforts, there are now multiple tournament organizers and leagues in North Texas, running at multiple venues. So EVERYONE can have access to pinball tournaments and leagues! We support them all - to grow the game for everyone!
We ALWAYS encourage family participation and even have events specifically for kids with amazing prizes!
This league, the original DFW Pinball League, travels to some of the best North Texas game rooms and private pinball collections. For many events, you might pay as little as $10 for adults, but kids 16 and under play free. We are proud of the fact that we have 10-15 events each year that cost $20 or less per adult to play in (kids are free in most of these cases).
These funds cover the IFPA sanctioning fees and actual event costs. The officials make NO MONEY on the league - WE ARE ALL VOLUNTEERS. Generally, Louis will not turn anyone away over money at the events hosted at people's homes (private pinball collections). In normal events, if you can't pay, he will pay for you!
Sometimes there's an interesting twist added:
For example, at the "Hotter Than Mother's Pinball" tournament that was held in Keller, Texas in March 2024, the cost was a little higher because the host offered a 'bounty' for the best score on 7 different EM machines. It was a unique twist that had people talking.
Even so, this event was still less than $20 per person to play in.
Occasionally, there will be a charity component (ask) as well. When this happens, you must be able to pay this. Usually the charity asks are small. For example, the Toad Suck Shootout is a charity event that opens out league every year and the ask there has been for an a minimum of $25-30 in past years (which goes towards Education and College Scholarships for kids).
Starting in 2024, we also added some LARGER events, special events, and/or national events. Previously, we did have ONE national event. The change in 2024 is expanding this to allow more opportunity for DFW players to have access to the NACS Texas State Championship race. These events generally cost anywhere from $40-90. I know that's a wide range, because they can vary greatly depending on what's special about that particular event. Many of them pay out prize money and/or special prizes, and have something UNIQUE about them.
These tournaments are for ALL SKILL LEVELS. We have had players as young as 3 years old and as old as 81 in our leagues. So everyone is welcome - Just come, hang out, eat, drink, & play pinball! Its about having fun!
Most events are sanctioned by the International Flipper Pinball Association: https://www.ifpapinball.com/ and, while Louis Marx is the Head Tournament Director and League Official, all events are brought to you by and are the property of DFW Pinball League, LLC.
Find more details on our Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/groups/164360813769869/ or email marx.pinball@gmail.com for Louis Marx, DFW Pinball League Tournament Director.
2024 Local and Regional Event Details:
For all events: see the event page for SPECIFIC cost/pricing details please!(For a Google Calendar page that you can link to, go to the Events Tab on this website) :
EVENT 1: Saturday January 13 and Sunday January 14
The First Annual Polar Plunge at FUN! Billiards and Gameroom Superstore in Mesquite, Texas
Limited to 64 Players Total -- Two Day 200% TGP Event
Event Page: https://www.facebook.com/events/882156540071759/
Registration opens January 3, 2024 -- at that time PAYPAL $40 to marx.pinball@gmail.com to register.
REGIONAL: Saturday January 20 and Sunday January 21
Texas State Championship
Houston, Texas
EVENT 2: Saturday January 27 - hosted by Stephen Brown in Frisco, Texas
Limited to 36 Players Total
Event Page: https://www.facebook.com/events/369395825587648/
Registration opens January 18, 2024 at 12:01 PM -- https://next.matchplay.events/tournaments/125345/rsvp
EVENT 3: Saturday February 24 and Sunday February 25
2ND ANNUAL ABILENE SHOWDOWN Hosted by The Shahan's and Carpool Pinball - Abilene, Texas
Limited to 80 Players Total -- Two Day, 200% TGP, IFPA CERTIFIED Event
This event also has side tournaments on February 22, 23, and 25 - 3 Sanctioned and 1 "warmup".
Event Page: https://www.facebook.com/events/732478138493369/
Pre-registration is ONLY required for the Main Event - Prepayment required.
Registration opens February 7, 2024 at 12:01 PM -- https://www.eventbrite.com/e/799044984057
EVENT 4: Saturday March 2, 2024 - hosted by Rick Miller in Keller, Texas
Limited to 36 Players Total
Event Page: https://www.facebook.com/events/667527015459856/
Registration opens February 22, 2024 at 12:01 PM -- https://next.matchplay.events/tournaments/129159/rsvp
REGIONAL: Friday March 15 through Sunday March 17
Texas Pinball Festival Wizards Tournament
Frisco, Texas
EVENT 5: Sunday April 7, 2024
Ken Kemp's 12th Annual Toad Suck Shootout Charity Pinball Tournament in Collinsville, Texas
Limited to 50 Players Total
Event Page: https://sites.google.com/view/toad-suck-shootout-2024 or https://www.pinballrebel.com/toadsuck/spring2024.html
Registration opens March 6, 2024 at 12:01 PM -- https://next.matchplay.events/tournaments/130596/rsvp
EVENT 6: Saturday April 20, 2024 - hosted by Brandon Jones in Rhome, Texas
Limited to 50 Players Total
Event Page: https://www.facebook.com/events/667527015459856/
Registration opens April 12, 2024 at 7:00 PM -- https://next.matchplay.events/tournaments/135383/rsvp
REGIONAL: Friday May 3 through Sunday May 5
Cactus Jack's Silverball Showdown
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
EVENT 7: Saturday May 4, 2024 - hosted by Jorge Ramos in Grandview, Texas
Limited to 36 Players Total
Event Page: https://www.facebook.com/events/1068619567571207
Registration opens April 24, 2024 at 7:00 PM -- https://app.matchplay.events/tournaments/135388/rsvp
EVENT 8: Saturday June 1, 2024 - hosted by Stacy and Stephen Wylie Carrollton, Texas
Limited to 44 Players Total
Event Page: https://www.facebook.com/events/341275945228620
Registration opens May 24, 2024 at 7:00 PM -- https://next.matchplay.events/tournaments/140658/rsvp
NATIONAL Saturday June 29, 2024 and Sunday June 30, 2024
EVENT: The 2024 Titan Pinball Southwest Regional Pin-Masters
Limited to 110 Players Total -- Two Day, Estimated 180% TGP, Feeder for the 2025 IFPA Pin-Masters World Championship!
Event Page: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2024-titan-pinball-southwest-regional-pin-masters-tickets-814251256427
Prepayment required.
Registration opens March 1, 2024 at 12:00 PM -- https://www.eventbrite.com/e/814251256427
EVENT 9: Saturday August 24, 2024 - hosted by Mike Loeckle in Argyle, Texas
Limited to 44 Players Total
Event Page: https://www.facebook.com/events/364158413382719/
IFPA Site Event Page: https://www.ifpapinball.com/tournaments/view.php?t=81360
Registration opens August 15, 2024 at 7:00 PM -- https://app.matchplay.events/tournaments/150784/rsvp
EVENT 10: Sunday September 1, 2024 - hosted by Kevin Moore and Pinball ERS in Princeton, Texas
This has previously been known as the Labor Day Blowout and the "Barry Oursler Memorial" Labor Day Blowout in past years
THERE IS NO PLAYER LIMIT - Come and enjoy!
Event Page: https://www.facebook.com/events/1913372629111128/
IFPA Site Event Page: https://www.ifpapinball.com/tournaments/view.php?t=81641
Registration: DAY OF THE EVENT - NO HEAD COUNT LIMIT SO NO PRE-REGISTRATION
EVENT 11: Saturday September 14, 2024 and Sunday September 15, 2024
Bosque River Brawl at The Pinhouse in Stephenville, Texas
Player Limit not yet determined -- Two Day, 200% TGP, IFPA CERTIFIED Event
This event also has THREE sanctioned side tournaments, two on September 13 and one on September 15
Facebook Event Page: https://www.facebook.com/events/375917695132649
Matchplay Event Page: https://app.matchplay.events/events/130
IFPA Site Event Page (Main Event): https://www.ifpapinball.com/tournaments/view.php?t=81159
Registration opens August 11, 2024 at 2:00 PM -- https://www.eventbrite.com/e/943231770617
EVENT 12: Sunday September 29, 2024
The 11th Alan Marx Memorial IFPA Pinball Fundraiser in Rowlett, Texas
THERE IS NO PLAYER LIMIT - Come and enjoy!
Event Page: https://www.facebook.com/events/3819223288358786/
Matchplay Event Page: https://app.matchplay.events/tournaments/156205
IFPA Site Event Page: https://www.ifpapinball.com/tournaments/view.php?t=82656
Registration: DAY OF THE EVENT - NO HEAD COUNT LIMIT SO NO PRE-REGISTRATION
REGIONAL: Friday October 11 through Sunday October 13
Space City Open at the Houston Arcade Expo
Houston, Texas
EVENT 13: Sunday October 20, 2024 - hosted by Ken Kemp in Collinsville, Texas
Limited to 50 Players Total
Event Page: https://www.facebook.com/events/1165256197875107/
IFPA Site Event Page: https://www.ifpapinball.com/tournaments/view.php?t=83579
Registration opens October 9, 2024 at 7:00 PM -- https://app.matchplay.events/tournaments/156279/rsvp
EVENT 14: Saturday November 2 and Sunday November 3
The First Annual Big D Pinball Madness Tournament hosted by Free Play Dallas in Dallas, Texas
Player Limit not yet determined -- Two Day 200% TGP Event
Event Page: Coming Soon
IFPA Site Event Page:
Registration opens TBD -- Coming Soon
EVENT 15: Saturday November 9, 2024 - hosted by Rickie Carson in Carrollton, Texas
Player Limit not yet determined
Event Page: Coming Soon
IFPA Site Event Page:
Registration opens TBD -- Coming Soon
EVENT 16: Saturday December 7, 2024 - hosted by Scott Martin in Richardson, Texas
Player Limit not yet determined
Event Page: Coming Soon
IFPA Site Event Page:
Registration opens TBD -- Coming Soon
Change Log - Minimum last 5 changes will always be shown:
September 28, 2024
Updated the league standings page and added a line to show when the standings were last updated.
September 8, 2024
Added the October 20 event in Collinsville, Texas to the Google event calendar and added links to the schedule on this page for that event.
Updated text on the page that explains the Google Calendar.
September 1, 2024
Updated the league description with more accurate information
Added the Alan Marx Memorial charity event to the Google event calendar and added links to the schedule on this page for that event.
August 10-11, 2024
Added event data/links for FB, IFPA, and Pre-Registration for the events through September 15,2024 to this page
Updated the League Standings Tab to include all events played to date.
Updated the League Standings tab to indicate that Nelson's Fireworks has increased their commitment and is now matching / doubling the prize pool!
Fixed the Google Calendar display issues
Fixed the Google Calendar functionality issues
Added events through September 15, 2024 AND pre-registration for the two events that require it to the Google Calendar
April 21-28, 2024
Moved "Streamers" off front page to their own section
Finished primary development/setup of new web site (http://www.dfw-pinball-league.com/)
The new website went live 9:50 PM CDT on 4/212024
Migrated as much data from the old site that I could and made slight update to the league description.
Added current league standings as of April 23 to that tab on this webpage (race for the league championship) and updated that page in full
Built league calendar on the main page - Google calendar is still a WORK IN PROGRESS
Updated the sponsor's list
April 6, 2024 (old site - before migration)
Updated the list of league sponsors for 2024
Updated league descriptions at the top of the page for 2024