European Fireball Open, 29th-31st Oct, Manchester, ITSF MS

[Jonathan May]

European Fireball Open - ITSF Master Series

In association with Foosball UK

Facebook Event Page: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=153013878045965

Estimated prize fund of £6000

Registration

Please PRE-REGISTER here:

http://britfoos.com/registration/fireball2010

Venue

The Venue is the Ballroom at Owens Park:

http://www.accommodation.manchester.ac. ... owenspark/

Owens Park
Manchester
M14 6HD

This is a large ballroom in a student hall, with a viewing balcony overlooking the tournament room.

Accommodation

All of the below are within 300m of the tournament venue. Please book direct.

At the nicer end of the scale...


Best Western Willow Bank Hotel
340 Wilmslow Road, Manchester, Greater Manchester
M14 6AF

Twin/Double: £70 B&B
Single: £65 B&B

Ring Clare on 0161 2240461 and quote "Foosball".



Chancellors Hotel and Conference Centre, The University of Manchester, Chancellors Way, Moseley Road, Fallowfield, Manchester, M14 6ZT, UK

Single: £40 B&B
Double: £60 B&B (very limited availability)
Call: 0161 9077414
Quote: Reservation number 120749


At the much cheaper end of the scale...


Lansdowne Manchester
346 Wilmslow Rd
Fallowfield
Manchester
M14 6AB
Tel: 0161 2246244

Very cheap rooms, recommend you book through the website. I'm sure they won't mind me saying that their focus is on low prices...

http://www.lansdownemanchester.co.uk/


University Promotion

Any University, College or School Society that brings 20 or more members buying Play-All Packages will be entered into a special draw for a brand-new, free Fireball Tour table courtesy of Foosball UK! The draw will be made on Saturday evening.

(Conditions: all members must be current, registered, full-time or part-time students or staff as of October 29th 2010, and must bring proof of their student/staff status with them).

Tables and balls

At least 20 ITSF Fireball tables (up to 40 available tables if required, depending on turnout).

The ball will be a Fireball-endorsed high-control yellow competition ball very similar to those previously used in Warrior tournaments in the US.

Great pre-order deals are available if you want to purchase a table at this event:

viewtopic.php?f=5&t=8407

Optional Seeding Stage for Open Events

In the Open Singles event, the top 8 will be seeded by the ITSF rankings. There will be an optional Swiss-format seeding phase on Saturday morning. This will be split into two categories based on rank band (Pro and SP/Am/Nov). Those who play will be seeded according to their performance within their rank band. Those who do not play will be randomly seeded at the bottom of their rank band.

The same will be done for Open Doubles - with the top 4 teams seeded by ITSF rankings.

Rank Levels - New

New Fireball Rank Levels for this Tournament.

Beginner: First national tournament
Novice: UK-only, not Semi-Pro in any UK ranking
Amateur: UK-only, not Pro in any ranking
Semi-Pro: Anyone not a Pro-Master in any UK ranking
Pro: Pro-Master in any existing UK ranking, ITSF Top 50, Top Ranking Level in National Rankings, Travelling Players NOT covered here at Tournament Organiser's Discretion - please email jonathan@foosballuk.com

These rank levels will be fixed using the UK/ITSF rankings on 22nd August 2010.

Schedule

Thursday

6pm onwards: Freeplay + Demonstrations etc (Open to All)

Friday

11:00 Freeplay + Demonstrations
14:00 BYOB Singles (Bring your own ball), Double-Elimination (1-7) (£2 entry, 100% payout)
16:00 "Pro-Am" (Pro+Nov, SP+Am/Nov, Am+SP/Am/Nov, Nov+Any), Double-Elimination (1-7) (£5 entry per team, 100% payout)
19:00 Rollerball Goalie Wars (Swiss + Straight Knockout)
19:00 Rollerball Forward Shoot Out (Swiss + Straight Knockout)
21:00 Draw-Your-Partner (Double Elimination)

BYOB Rules: Standard except for the below. Each player must bring a ball of their choice (which cannot be the official tournament ball). It must be approximately round, roll, and fit comfortably inside the goal. At least 25mm diameter. It must not damage the tables. Any non-ITSF recognised balls must be shown to the tournament desk before you begin. Conceding team chooses the ball to use for the next point, and if a team takes a time-out whilst the ball is in play the other team may opt to swap the ball in play for the other.

Saturday

10:00 Open Doubles Optional Seeding (Swiss)
10:30 Open Singles Optional Seeding (Swiss)
11:30 Senior Singles (Double Elimination)
12:00 Open Doubles (Double Elimination)
12:30 Senior Doubles (Double Elimination)
13:00 Beginner Singles (Swiss + Straight Knockout)
13:00 Beginner Doubles (Swiss + Straight Knockout)
14:00 Semi-Pro Doubles (Swiss + Straight Knockout)
14:00 Amateur Doubles (Swiss + Straight Knockout)
15:00 Left-Handed Singles (Straight Knockout)
16:00 Mixed Doubles (Double Elimination)
18:00 2 Ball Rollerball (Swiss + Straight Knockout)
20:00 Pro Poker

Semi-Pro Doubles and Amateur Doubles are mutually exclusive.

Sunday

10:00 Open Singles (Double Elimination)
10:30 Junior Singles (Double Elimination)
10:30 Womens Singles (Double Elimination)
11:00 Junior Doubles (Double Elimination)
11:00 Womens Doubles (Double Elimination)
12:00 Semi-Pro Singles (Swiss + Straight Knockout)
12:00 Amateur Singles (Swiss + Straight Knockout)
13:30 Handicap Doubles (Straight Knockout)
14:00 Novice Singles (Swiss + Straight Knockout)
14:00 Novice Doubles (Swiss + Straight Knockout)
16:00 Handicap Singles (Straight Knockout)

Semi-Pro Singles and Amateur Singles are mutually exclusive.

Poker Event

Event - Texas Holdem No Limit (Re-buys for 3hr 30 mins), 50 - 80 players. Top seven places paid if 50 player top 9 if 80 players. Share of pot worked out on the night.

- Starts: 8pm
- Joining Buy-in allowed until 10:30pm (gives you a chance to finish up/get knocked out of foosball)
- If you're still in foosball, you can buy-in and we'll fold out your hands until you turn up.
- Re-buys until 11:30pm.
- Finish: when it finishes. We'll up the blinds fast if it's looking too slow.
- Once you lose your chips you must re-buy or leave - you can't leave and then buy back in later.
- Event to be held in the Coliseum Room at the Best Western, 200m walk away from the Owen's Park Foosball venue.

£25 initial buy in with an additional £10 (total initial buy-in £35) for which you will receive 4 drinks tokens for the Best Western Hotel bar (substantial discount), and a buffet provided by the hotel. Rebuys after initial buy-in are £20.

We have also secured this drinks deal for the players (4 drinks tokens for £10) throughout the tournament so everybody saves money.

This is a private gentlemens' game (not open to the public, just our community of Foosballers). The tournament will be run by Chris Herbert. House rules and blind info will be available on the night.

Registration will be simultaneous with foosball event registration; please bring cash.

For any queries please call Chris Herbert on 07817696528.

Note, due to lack of appropriate space, we are not running Poker on Friday.

Event Package Fees

Pro Play All: OD, OS, LHS, Mixed, 2-ball, HD, HS: £50
Semi-Pro Play All: OD, OS, SPD, LHS, Mixed, 2-ball, SPS, HD, HS: £45
Amateur Play All: OD, OS, AD, LHS, Mixed, 2-ball, AS, HD, HS: £40
Novice Play All: OD, OS, AD, LHS, Mixed, 2-ball, AS, HD, HS, NS, ND: £35
Beginner Play All: OD, OS, AD, LHS, Mixed, 2-ball, AS, HD, HS, NS, ND, BS, BD: £25

Standalone Entry Fees

Pro-Am (NEW not in package): £5 per team entry
BYOB Singles (NEW not in package): £2 per player entry
Junior Singles/Junior Doubles: Free entry
Senior Singles/Senior Doubles: £5 per player per event
Womens Singles/Womens Doubles: £5 per player per event
Beginner Singles/Beginner Doubles: Free entry
Novice Singles/Doubles: £5 per player per event
Open Doubles: Pro-team £30, Semi-Pro Team £20, Amateur-team £15, Novice-team £10, Beginner-Team £5
Open Singles: Pro £20, Semi-Pro £10, Amateur £8, Novice £5, Beginner £3
Rollerball Goalie Wars: £5
Rollerball Forward Shoot-Out: £5
DYP: £5
Left-Handed Singles: £5
Semi-Pro Doubles: £10 per team
Semi-Pro Singles: £5 per player
Amateur Singles: £10 per team
Amateur Doubles: £5 per player
Mixed Doubles: £10 per team
Handicap Doubles: £5 per team
Handicap Singles: £3 per player
2-ball: £5 per team

Prize Fund

Estimated £6000. This depends on sponsorship and turnout. We will post guaranteed breakdowns as soon as possible...

OS/OD will pay to 13th.

People

Tournament Director: Jonathan May
Tournament Organisers: Foosball UK
Head Official: Alex Shovelton

[brodie]

I can finally achieve my lifelong ambition of becoming European Fireball RPS champion


Everything else looks great too, loads of events, loads of tables, loads of fun (poker)

[Rytis Mitkus]

what the hell is rock paper scissors ? :D:D:D

[Jonathan May]

Ahem, no comment. Schedule typo.

[Graeme]

Looks terrific Jon. There are a LOT of events; I know you have lots of tables but I can see things being badly held up on the Sunday because of players (especially women) being in tons of events, which will cause problems no matter how many tables there are. Just hope people don't have to scratch from too many events because of having to go catch trains etc...

Anyway great to see stuff like left-handed singles and handicapped singles in there. Better get practicing that left-handed snake again .

[Rytis Mitkus]

oh and ye, how is left handed singles played? i have never seen that before, but it looks interesting and i would like to try to make it in lithuania

[Jonathan May]

Graeme, thanks. The schedule looks OK up to about 180 players with the normal gender breakdown.

We have a bit of flexibility in the schedule with the number of rounds of Swiss seeding qualifiers which will help if we get massively overinflated turnout numbers (200-250). I think there's enough room to make it work and help people leave to catch their trains, whatever the turnout.

I'd practice your 3-bar rolling bank shots too (Rollerball FSO!).

Just a reminder to everyone about our pre-purchase deals on tables for this tournament.

viewtopic.php?f=5&t=8407

Left-handed Singles is played with your left hand only.

[Zaku]

Is there any table fee?

PS1 this looks great!

PS2 is there any Fireball in Gloucestershire?

[leaks]

Left-handed Singles is played with your left hand only.

haha I can imagine this is exactly your kind of event Jon - sounds like a fix to me

Looks like an awesome tournament, I might even be dragged out of retirement for it... if work doesn't interfere :S

[Graeme]

The schedule looks OK up to about 180 players with the normal gender breakdown.

What finishing time do you expect on Sunday (with about 180 players)?

[matt price]

Event is up on the Keele Foos facebook page. I'll be able to confirm numbers etc once we start back at Uni. I'll definitely try to be there and I'm sure others will also.

[Mogwai]

Looks awesome, can't wait for this one! Massively looking forward to 2BRB. Tic-tacs, banks and choco-chips work like a dream on this table!

Also loving the left handed bank, feels like someone else is doing it.

[davez]

Yes Jon, this looks amazing! I think it will be a very popular tournament. Thank you.

Dave

[Jonathan May]

The schedule looks OK up to about 180 players with the normal gender breakdown.

What finishing time do you expect on Sunday (with about 180 players)?

I'm not making any promises, but finals around 7.30pm.

[Jonathan May]

Is there any table fee?

PS1 this looks great!

PS2 is there any Fireball in Gloucestershire?

I think there might be a few people near Gloucestershire with tables, but in fairness to them I'll wait and see if they post - it would be unfair of me to advertise them.

As far as I know there are no coin-op Fireball tables sited in Gloucestershire.

Table fee? Nah. Never works, crap idea.

[Jonathan May]

University Promotion

Any University, College or School Society that brings 20 or more members buying Play-All Packages will be entered into a special draw for a brand-new, free Fireball Tour table courtesy of Foosball UK! The draw will be made on Saturday evening.

(Conditions: all members must be current, registered, full-time or part-time students or staff as of October 29th 2010, and must bring proof of their student/staff status with them).

[matt price]

University Promotion

Any University, College or School Society that brings 20 or more members buying Play-All Packages will be entered into a special draw for a brand-new, free Fireball Tour table courtesy of Foosball UK! The draw will be made on Saturday evening.

(Conditions: all members must be current, registered, full-time or part-time students or staff as of October 29th 2010, and must bring proof of their student/staff status with them).

Fantastic incentive. Not sure about our chances, but I'm sure we'll give it a go!

[Graeme]

^ Agreed.

Sadly I don't think we have any hope of getting 20 from Oxford who'll pay a full package.

Jon I wonder if you'd consider this kind of arrangement in the event that no school/university/college has 20 people meeting the criteria (not saying this will happen, but just in case)?

- everyone from a school/university/college society who buys a package gets to write their name on a piece of paper
- all the pieces of paper are put into a hat
- the school/university/college that is attended by the person whose name is drawn out of the hat wins the table (so it's still the society getting it, not the individual)

That way there's still the incentive to get members to go even when it's clear you have no hope of getting 20.

[Jonathan May]

Graeme, your suggested scheme doesn't provide a significant incentive to encourage new players to come (the marginal chance benefit is too small). The usual crowd will just show up and hope they win a table. Moreover, if a single person turns up from the National University Of Azerbaijan (for example) I will have to enter them into the draw.

I'm pretty sure that at least one of Keele, Warwick, Oxford or Bath could get to 20 with some effort. Aim high... Remember Manchester, Salford, Edge Hill, Liverpool etc are nearby too! The trick is to enlist your student union in getting help.

If only one University, College or School manages to make this happen, then the draw will be a quick and simple affair.

If it doesn't work, we'll do something different next time.

[Tom_K]

Still think it's a great idea Jon - nice one!