FLIP-EXPO 2009

Date: March 28th 2009
Location: Salle des Fêtes Louis Aragon, Mers Les Bains, France.


Report by Nicolas Linqué, Silverball Tournament Manager

The first Silverball tournament - which was held in 2008 - was a great success. There had been no pinball tournaments in France for years and the French pinball players were hoping a new 2009 edition.  They were not disappointed.

This new edition, which took place in Mers les Bains on 28th March 2009, had to be event better, with more players and - once again - some WPPR points to win!

Map of Mers Le Bains
Map of Mers Le Bains

The number of players was limited to 64 this year. The first prize was a fully restored dot matrix pinball machine (the name of this pinball machine was kept secret until the final), the second prize was a touch screen video game, and the third prize was a comic of Franck Margerin the famous French comic author who also designed the Silverball logo.

After seeing the prizes, all the 64 places were booked very fast! Some great players joined the tournament, such as Franck Bona and Albert Medaillon.

Trophies for the tournament
Trophies for the tournament

The 64 competitors were playing on 5 pinball machines :

  • Back to the Future
  • Revenge from Mars
  • Vector
  • Dr Dude
  • White Water

Machines used in the tournament
Machines used in the tournament

Machines used in the tournament
Machines used in the tournament

Each pinball player was assigned to a pinball machine. In a two-player head-to-head game, the first one with two victories qualified for the next round.

The setting for the tournament
The setting for the tournament

The tournament players
The tournament players

The tournament continues
The tournament continues

After few rounds, only 8 players were still in the loop. Kevin Devriendt - 11 years old - was one of them!

The quarter-finalists
The eight quarter-finalists with Franck Michaux (top right),
the Siverball association President, coming to congratulate them

Unfortunately, he lost in the next round, but he was comforted by Franck Bona.

Franck offers his consolation
Franck Bona offers his consolation to Kevin Devriendt

Which left the final four.

The four semi-finalists
The four semi-finalists:
(Left to right) Denis Vaucelle, Lionel Chiappelli, Laurence Boulieu and Axel Bouet

The next round saw success from Axel Bouet and Laurence Boulieu, who would face each other in the final, held on the “Back to the Future” machine.

Alex Bouet on Back To The Future
Alex Bouet on Back To The Future

laurence in the final
laurence in the final

The winner is finally Axel Bouet, despite a very good game from Laurence.

Rank 3 : Lionel Chiappeli
Rank 3 : Lionel Chiappeli

Rank 2 : Laurence Boulieu
Rank 2 : Laurence Boulieu

Rank 1 : Axel Bouet
Rank 1 : Axel Bouet

Laurence with her touchscreen video game prize
Laurence with her touchscreen video game prize

Axel with his prize, a very nice Last Action Hero
Axel with his prize, a very nice Last Action Hero


The final rankings :

Ranking
 
Name
1
 
Axel Bouet
2
 
Laurence Boulieu
3
 
Lionel Chiapelli
4
 
Denis Vaucelle
5
 
Julien Gesnelay
6
 
Laurent Monnier
7
 
Romaric Dupont
8
 
Kevin Devriendt
9
 
Christophe Magniez
10
 
Pascal Janin
11
 
Vincent Bervas
12
 
Yohann Devriendt
13
 
David Jeannes
14
 
Laurent Perep
15
 
Pierre Aubert
16
 
Cyrille Desormeaux
17
 
Blain Laurent
18
 
Franck Bona
19
 
Didier Jeannes
20
 
Roman Kunovic
21
 
Jean Philippe Passarieu
22
 
Olivier Trannoy
23
 
Patrice Duval
24
 
François Odet
25
 
Stéphane Dizy
26
 
Thierry Gaillet
27
 
Michel Souris Junior
28
 
Gérald Fleuriet
29
 
Yann Baratte
30
 
Jean Mahé
31
 
Laurent Handlarz
32
 
Aurélien pavec
33
 
Jean Kunovic
34
 
Benoit Bloquet
35
 
Jean-Baptiste Briet
36
 
Bethsy Morin
37
 
Jean Marc Devriendt
38
 
Albert Medaillon
39
 
Pierre Thomas Colin
40
 
Julien Niceron
41
 
Alain Boulieu
42
 
Charlotte Stavot
43
 
Fabu Trannoy
44
 
Sylvain Grevin
45
 
Loïck Mahé
46
 
Olivier Morin
47
 
Michel Souris
48
 
Daniel Lefort
49
 
Alice Baffault
50
 
Fabrice Lefevre
51
 
Isabelle Crety
52
 
Julie Dupont
53
 
Olivier Belamy
54
 
Loïc Grébonval
55
 
Steve Bouville
56
 
Marianne Linqué
57
 
Marc Savoye
58
 
Christophe Teillier
59
 
Denis Moreau
60
 
Paul Baffault
61
 
Bruno Martin
62
 
Emmanuel Doutreleau
63
 
Alexi Lefort
64
 
Kevin Gueguen

The next tournament will be held on the 20th March 2010, in Le tréport. More details will appear on the Silverball website.

Hope to see you there!