USA Play in Individual Internati

Each year there are "World Championship Series" tournaments held on each of the official ITSF tables (currently 5, Tornado, Bonzini, Roberto Sport, Garlando, TecBall). These determine the best player(s) in the world on those specific tables - The best Bonzini players in the world are determined at the Bonzini World Championship Series tournament, the best Garlando table players are determined at the Garlando World Championship series tournament, and so on, with the best Tornado players in the world being determined at the Las Vegas Tornado World Championship series.

Then, at the end of the year, the winner of all those World Championship "series" tournaments, along with other players who "qualified" through various methods (such as being your country's national champion, or earning enough points on the ITSF tour, etc.), meet (in Europe most years) at the "World Championships" (note the difference between it's name and the others that are called "World Championship SERIES") to play in an event incorporating all 5 ITSF official tables to determine the best "FOOSBALL" player(s) in the world (not the best Tornado players in the world, or the best Bonzini players in the world, etc). This annual "best of the best in all the world" playoff World Championships event includes events (doubles and singles) for Juniors and Seniors and Womens (and a Handicapped event), as well as Mens - but not any country vs. country "National Team" events [Note: "annual" National Team events at this tournament will start in 2009]. The above all refers to individual players competing for themselves, not their countries (see the Team Competitions page for information on National Team events).

Please see the "how to qualify" link above for a lot of info on this event (besides just how to qualify, such as sponsorships, divisions, uniforms, etc.).

US National Doubles Champs - Tom Yore and Bob Diaz
US National Singles Champ - NA*
US National Women's Singles Champ - Tiffany Moore
US National Women's Doubles Champs - Melissa Kegg and Lisa Pride
US National Junior Singles Champ - Blake Robertson
US National Junior Doubles Champs - Blake Robertson and Midori Kimura
US National Senior Singles Champ - TBD at Tornado WCS
US National Senior Doubles Champs - TBD at Tornado WCS
PLUS
Men's Doubles Wildcard Team - TBD and TBD
Men's Singles Wildcard Player - TBD
Women's Doubles Wildcard Team - TBD and TBD
Women's Singles Wildcard Player - TBD
Junior Doubles Wildcard Team - TBD and TBD
Junior Singles Wildcard Player - TBD
Senior Doubles Wildcard Team - TBD and TBD
Senior Singles Wildcard Player - TBD
Wheelchair* Doubles Team - TBD and TBD
PLUS
Plus any US players in the top 16 of the ITSF single rankings
Plus any US Women in the top 8 of the ITSF women's singles rankings
Plus anyone who places in the top 3 at WCS open Singles (Tom Yore and any US players in the top 3 at the Tornado WCS)

*Per ITSF rules, the USTSF does name a USA National Singles Champion qualifier since it holds a World Championship Series tournament (Tornado Vegas in September) at which the top 3 place singles players qualify.

**People in wheelchairs: This new category is open to physically disabled players who suffer from paraplegia and limited mobility in the lower limbs. These players require a wheelchair for everyday use and compete in a wheelchair. The eligibility requirement to compete in this category is a permanent substantial or total loss of function in one or both legs due to conditions such as spinal injury, ankylosis, amputation or other lower limb disability. This category is open to male and female players of any age. Players in wheelchairs will compete on specially designed tables.

Update 1/11/08: Here is a video clip feature the local TV station did on Mark Davis who Was the 2007 Senior Singles representative for USA in Italy.

Update 10/2007: Inside Foos will be providing live streaming audio (Internet Radio) from the tournament (and possibly video too) - link here.

This event is open to the National Champions of ITSF member countries in open singles and womens singles, and in open doubles and womens doubles. In addition there is a new junior category (see note below), and a new Senior category. Other players besides the national champions (including juniors) can qualify for the tournament (and possibly funding) via winning or placing in the top 3 in certain ITSF tournaments, or via points on the ITSF rating list.

Note: The ITSF is pleased to announce the introduction of a Junior category starting with the 2007 ITSF World Rankings. The definition of age and cut-off date for birthday for a Junior is as follows: Under 18 on the 1st of January in the year the ITSF Tour ends. There will also now be a Junior singles competition at the 2007 World Championships. The winner of each World Championship Series event in the Junior category will automatically qualify to compete at the World Championships and will be entitled to a player's package (funding). The National Junior Champion of each ITSF member federation will be also be invited to take part in these Championships - there will be no package for these players. The junior category event is one event that both boys and girls will compete in together.

ITSF continues to grow, expanding both its federation membership worldwide, its number of sanctioned tournaments, the number of competitive categories at its annual ITSF World Finals playoff in Italy, and in the ways it is giving back to the players with both grass roots development and international competition. Of note, each year ITSF has added events to its World Finals in Italy, and so this year it will also include events for 17&Under Singles and Doubles and for 50&Over Singles & Doubles! (USTSF is working up ways to provide the opportunity for USA players to compete in those added events, with 17&Under Singles qualifications already scheduled for the Kentucky State and Tornado Worlds.) The U.S. Open will be the National Champions Qualifier for Open Doubles, Women's Doubles and Women's Singles.

News Update 10/23/2006: Inside Foos to cover ITSF World Championships in Italy
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The Inside Foos crew (Jim Stevens, Christina Fuchs, Ezekiel "Iceman" Moore, and Brad Anderson) will be headed to the village of St. Vincent in the Italian Alps next week to cover the event many consider to be the best professional tournament of the year, the 2006 ITSF Table Soccer World Championships. This "true World Championship" features only the top players (and teams) in the world of pro table soccer, each of whom had to qualify to compete, either by earning ITSF points throughout the 2006 season, or by winning their country's National Championship. This "all star" competition is played on the five official ITSF tables: Bonzini, Garlando, Roberto Sport, TecBall, and Tornado, with each player or team selecting their table of choice. Matches will include games to 7 played on each player/team's table, with a tiebreaker system, similar to the one used at this year's World Cup in Germany, to determine winners in the final rounds.

Billy Pappas, currently ranked as the number-one player in the world, will join international stars Jamal Allalou of Germany, Rob Atha of the U.K., Italian Arturo Carletta, Olivier Covos of France, and fellow Americans Terry Moore, and Rob Mares, among others, as they attempt to unseat defending champion Frederic Collignon in men's singles.

Last year's women's champion Samantha di Paolo of Italy will defend her title against 2005 runner-up Moya Tielens, Austrian star Verena Rohrer, and American legend Cindy Head, who will be competing internationally for the first time. The match between di Paolo and Head is already one of the most highly-anticipated match-ups of recent seasons, with both players ranking among the sport's most aggressive and fiercely competitive players.

Recently crowned Tornado world doubles champions Dave Gummeson and Tracy McMIllin will be one of the top contenders for the two-man title in Italy as well, in the first year of doubles play. Belgian stars Frederic Collignon & Ismael Saban, and Suvajac Dalibor & Ludwig Rieger of the victorious Austrian World Cup team will lead a group of talented two man teams from twenty different countries as they pursue this important new major title.

As usual, Inside Foos will provide wall-to-wall coverage of this prestigious event, bringing viewers all the big matches from the finals area on DVD, while also doing our best to capture the "flavor" of the event. You can pre-order this exciting 6-hour DVD set by going to http://www.insidefoos.com./ For more information on this exciting event go to http://www.table-soccer.org./

We also hope to bring you daily internet radio reports from the ITSF World Championships as Brad Anderson and Table Sports Radio will also be on hand to cover the event beginning November 3rd.

Thanks for your support!

Jim Stevens and the Inside Foos Team

News Update 9/11/2006: Choose your table for the World Championships now!
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Hello to all

As you know, this year at the World Championships in Italy, each player (team of players) must choose 1 table (and only one!) for the whole tournament.

You must let ITSF know which table they have chosen by October 15, 2006.

Players cannot change their table during the tournament.

If 2 players choose the same table, they will play on one table only (this is different from what happened at the World Cup in Hamburg).

Tables to be chosen from are as follows: Bonzini, Eurosoccer, Garlando, Roberto Sport, TECBALL and Tornado.

Sport dress: only players respecting the dress code will be allowed to compete.

Each player must have a different shirt for each day (3 shirts per player).

A jogging suit (top and bottom) is also required of all players.

The name of the country must be clearly displayed on the players’ shirts and jogging suit; players can also add their names and country’s flag.

For complete information and schedule, go to http://www.table-soccer.org/tournaments/world_championships_information_and_schedule.pdf

You can also check the list of already qualified players on

http://www.table-soccer.org/tournaments/qualified_players_for_wc.pdf

Thank you in advance.

Best regards.

Mélanie Gastard
ITSF
International Table Soccer Federation

News Update 9/7/2006: Vote results on qualified players
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Hello to all

On September 1st, ITSF Executive Committee voted on the following motions:

Qualified players for the World Championships

If a national champion (male or female) is not able to make it to the World Championships (in Singles or Doubles), the next highest placing PLAYER in Singles in the qualifying event shall go instead in the case of Singles; and in the case of Doubles, the next highest placing TEAM in Doubles in the qualifying event shall go instead.

Please note that the case is different for those players who qualify through the ITSF World Rankings (16 top male players and 8 top female players) or through their rankings at the World Championship Series (top 3 male players and first female player) and International tournaments (first male player).

These players qualify for being the best players in the ITSF Tour and if one of them can not make it to the World Championships, nobody else can take their place.

In any case, if a player can not make it, he/she should provide a valid excuse (for example, they can't refuse to go to the World Championships in order to attend another non ITSF tournament, as has been the case in the past).

News Update 7/7/2006: ITSF Points Race - Quick Reminder
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Players,

Just a quick reminder that Open Singles and Womens Singles at Costa Rica, Kentucky State, Minnesota State, Vegas Worlds, and Bart O'Hearn are all ITSF sanctioned points race events. That's a lot of opportunity for North American players to catch up with the Europeans and win those trips to Italy in November (what do Europeans need with a trip to Italy, anyway?)!! There's also supposed to be a Canadian Multi-table in September that's ITSF points-race as well.

Men, in order to be guaranteed to win a trip you have to place in the top three in a "World Series" level tournament (such as Tornado Worlds, or the upcoming Garlando Worlds), or first in Open Singles at an "International Series" (Vegas Kickoff: already won by Rico). To win a trip on accumulated points you need to be consistent enough and play in enough sanctioned tournaments in Singles to finish the season in the top 16 in overall points (Bart O'Hearn is the last ITSF points-race tournament of the season!!).

Women, you have to finish either first place in Womens Singles at a World Series (Tornado, Garlando Worlds, etc) or in the top eight in the ITSF season-ending points standings.

Also, this is the first year that Doubles is an event in Italy. As previously mentioned on this bulletin board, this year's way to qualify for Doubles (men or women) was by being designated "National Champions" -- but since there was no Nationals this year in the USA, we awarded the title to the highest placing all-US teams in Open Doubles and Womens Doubles at the Vegas Kickoff. (Note: We would have loved to have made it Kentucky State or the earlier planned then cancelled U.S. Open, but the "National Champions" had to be declared in writing to ITSF by a date that was BEFORE Kentucky State. Since we already knew that the U.S. Open was cancelled and K-State was too late, you may recall we announced it as bonus prizes at the Kickoff.) So, this year's Doubles teams from the USA are Billy Pappas and Tony Spredeman, and Cindy Head and Dawn Duquette. Note also that in this first year of Doubles at Italy, the ITSF is not paying for the trips and hotels for Doubles teams, but USTSF is picking up the tab (hopefully assisted by sponsors...hint, hint). Finally, accumulated points in Open Doubles and Womens Doubles continue to be tracked, but this year it's simply for ITSF World Doubles Rankings honors.

For the current points race rankings, see:
http://www.table-soccer.org/ranking/2006_07_01_ITSF_Rankings.xls , and click each tab at the bottom of the spreadsheet for each category.

For the complete ITSF World Tour Schedule, see:
http://www.table-soccer.org/tournaments/event_schedule_2006.pdf . Notice on the chart that there are four levels or categories of tournaments: World Series, International Series, Masters Series and Pro Tour Series. You can accumulate the most points at Worlds, next most at Internationals, next most at Masters, and finally Pro Tour. But every one of these tournaments counts, and as of today the USA has quite a few players -- male and female -- within striking range of free trips to Italy for Singles (last year's points race came down to the last tournament of the year). Let's go get 'em!!

(Okay, this wasn't such a quick reminder, but at least it was thorough!)

***

Players and Promoters,

Don't forget that KY-State is an ITSF sanctioned points race event for Open Singles and Womens Singles: accumulated points count towards USTSF/ITSF-paid trips to ITALY in November!!

Also, Mary's big three for next year, along with Texas State, have already been nominated to ITSF as points race tournaments for 2007 as well!!

All other promoters: please submit your requests for ITSF/USTSF sanctioning for next year (tournaments dated 13 October, 2006 and later) to USTSF ASAP!! Mary has done an outstanding job at gaining commitments/contracts for her events next year, and at getting a head start at promoting them -- ITSF wants everyone to work the same way, so if you have a regular/annual/or contracted commitment for next year, let us know. There are a limited number of events we can sanction each year, so the sooner you can in fact commit, the better chances you have of being selected and thereby taking advantage of the added benefit of USTSF/ITSF promotions for your tournaments. We especially need more West Coast/Western USA/Northwest USA tournaments next year!!

Thanks to all for your support and participation, and good luck to all the players shooting for ITALY!!
Larry "Euro-Foosin" Davis
Executive Director, USTSF
www.foosball.com/ustsf

News Update 3/4/2006: As an ITSF-sanctioned International Series tournament event, the first place finisher in Open Singles at the VIFA/USTSA International/Kickoff will automatically also win an expense-paid trip to compete in the ITSF World Championships in Italy (the first week of November this year)!

In addition, the USTSF is proud to announce that the top U.S. finishers* in Open Doubles and Women’s Doubles will win automatic qualification to compete in the ITSF World Championships in Italy in November (trips will be furnished/paid by USTSF)!!

So, on top of the existing prize fund at the tour kick-off, ITSF/USTSF are kicking in five trips to Italy (an approximate $8,000 added value), at no additional cost to the players!!

Remember also, that as an ITSF-sanctioned event, all participants in Open Singles and Women's Singles will earn those rankings points towards additional trips to Italy via the annual ITSF rankings points-race.

*Both players on the winning doubles team must be U.S. citizens/legal residents, must be able to compete together/as a team in the ITSF World Championships (Italy) and must be international-travel eligible (legally able to obtain a passport). If not, the award goes to the next highest placing U.S. team that accepts and meets the eligibility requirements -- winners will specifically be representing the United States in Italy as "U.S. National Doubles Champions" (...as there is no U.S. National Championship/U.S. Open on the tour schedule this year).

2005 ITSF Individual World Championships (October 28-30, 2005 Italy) USA Participation:

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__________________________________________2004________________________________________________

Billy Pappas Mens Doubles & Singles	Terry Moore Mens Doubles & Singles	Tommy Adkisson Mens Singles	Bruce Nardoci Senior Doubles	Mark Davis Senior Singles	Ryan Moore Junior Singles
Tiffany Moore Womens Doubles & Singles	Stayce Fowler Womens Doubles & Singles	Gena Murray Womens Doubles	Dusty Bambenek Womens Doubles	Kathy Brainard Senior Doubles

Mens Singles Winners (1st Frederic Collignon, 2nd Jamal Allalou, 3rd Rob Atha)	Womens Singles Winners (1st Cindy Head (USA), 2nd Estelle Jacquot, 3rd Ivett Gyore)
World Championship Trophies	Womens Doubles Winners (1st Cindy Head/Dawn Duquette (USA), 2nd Verena Rohrer/Melissa Mosser, 3rd Ivett Gyore/Petra Szendei)
Mens Doubles Action	Womens Doubles Finals Action

USA Participants	All Contestants and Manufacturer Representatives
Competition Location: St. Vincent, high in the Italian Alps	Another shot of beautiful St. Vincent
Battle of young superstars - Belgian Tom Van de Cauter vs Spredeman	Billy Takes a Loss to Belgian Arturo Carletta
Dusty Bambenek and Stayce Fowler try out EuroSoccer	Robert Mares warms up on Roberto Sport
Robert plays Bentivoglio on Garlando	Dusty in a pit match against Italy's Mariella Mento
Italy's Mariella Mento vs Stayce Fowler	Austria's Verena Rohrer and Canada's Moya Tielens
Russia's Konstantine Miasnikov in pit match vs. Rico