Burning in fever
The sun has just risen up to the horizon but the members of the First Hungarian Pinball Federation have already been setting up their machines. All around the country they put their precious pinball machines onto lorries and send them to Budapest in order to be able to join their forces in a big amusement arcade. The 6th Hungarian Night of Pinball’s is about to begin in less than 24 hours.
Hard somatic but not work
The lorries keep arriving continuously with the pinball machines on their board. The first pins are set up before 8 o’clock in the morning and the last ones only after 10 o’clock in the evening. Some members are taking part in the mounting up some are already playing with the pinball machines which have already been set up. It is a perfect harmony; everything is put to its own place, where it had previously been decided to be put. The studio is also being set up since the whole event can be followed live on the internet. In the end everything is set up for a 24-hour pinball game starting next morning at 10 o’clock.
The sign ‘full house’ can be displayed
There is a long queue at the entrance at the moment of the opening where each participant is given an armband and some tokens which can be used in the snack bar. Pinball lovers occupy all the 53 pinball machines which were collected for this year’s event. One of them is a digital prototype, which is a huge success, and is being continuously used. During this time the jury of the first Hungarian Pinball Championship is very busy with registering the competitors and reserving 18 machines for the competition. After 11 a.m. the first HPC (Hungarian Pinball Championship) can start with its 60 competitors. In the first round 21 competitors qualify, based on their performance, the first 3 will be straight among the best 12. The rest make 9 pairs and the ones who are worthy to qualify are selected with ‘sudden death’. The qualifying rounds have been sporty and fair, the jury only have some administrative job.
In the next round even the ones who qualified straight have to join the battle. The tension is bigger and bigger because whoever qualifies here can play in the semi final among the best six. Since there are several foreign competitors, playing in the semi final in an international field a very good result. Finally in the semi finals only Hungarian players could qualify however there are several international competitors from Switzerland, Germany, Slovakia, Sweden, and England too. In this way the final will surely be won by a Hungarian competitor. It is 6 p.m. when the tournament room quiets down and the semi final begins. Six competitors play on two machines which are the same (Congo) to get in the final. In order to achieve this they have to reach the highest score on the specific pinball. In the tournament room silence is almost visible; everybody follows the event with rapt attention. Finally the two probable winners, Szalai Krisztián (SZK) and Solymosi Gábor (S.G) qualifiy to the final.
The finalists have a few minutes to rest and to physically and mentally prepare. The others are excited, and getting ready for further games, since they can expect a serious battle for the third place. The competition is continued on a unique machine, the so called Safe Cracker on which the old pinball tricks cannot be applied, and the game is timed. In the tournament room everybody follows the event with rapt attention because now we can enjoy the game of the best players. Finally the battle full of excitement and turns is won by Barna Attila, who is getting hold of the third place with this.
After a few minutes of technical break the final of the first HPC begins. The prize is remarkable but the contesters know each-other very well. In the fever of excitement it is only the Safe Cracker playing its music, clashing and the professional players accept with a great professionalism when the ball goes down. In the end even though with minimal score difference, the final is won by Krisztián. First of all Gábor Solymosi, who came second congratulates the winner. There is a short announcement of results and handing out the prizes saying thanks to the sponsors as well.
Enormous free amusement hall
At the end of the competition it’s time to have fun. There are 53 machines for the pinball fanatics and freaks to play. The task is simple, all of the machines are set up with free play so everybody from the 300 participant is sure to find something he likes. The pins function well apart from a few small problems thanks to the careful owners who spend time and money on repairing these machines which are luckily so fashionable nowadays again. The few reparations which have to be done on the spot is done by the official serviceman of the federation, Master Sokol. Participants play around ten thousand games, which is more than a lot, it means more than 30 plays per visitor.
It’s all over
The whole event is evidently a huge success, because at closing, after 24 hours of ‘pinball Babel’ some of the real freaks still playing must be asked to stop, and leave. Unfortunately once everything is over and the black soup is to come. All which have been transported here must now be taken away. The packing is fast and professional; at 2 p.m. the rooms are totally empty, hiding that a few hours ago there was the biggest pinball event in Hungary here. However those who’ve been here have left with enough experience to hold on till the next event, the VII. Hungarian Night of Pinball starts.
pics are here: HPC2009
ZS
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