Pinburgh’s Roots…
Pinburgh, Pittsburgh’s iconic pinball tournament, has a storied history dating back to its origins in 1998. Initially hosted by the Steel City Pinball Association, the first tournament was a modest yet successful event. By 1999, it had expanded to the Beehive Coffeehouse in Oakland, attracting more players and offering larger prizes. Over the next few years, the tournament grew in size and prestige, with Pinburgh 2000 marking a significant milestone (for real, you should have been there) thanks to new sponsors, a revamped scoring system, and a guaranteed prize pool.
In 2004, Pinburgh was temporarily retired in favor of the PAPA World Pinball Championships. However, in 2011, the Pinburgh name was resurrected under a new match-play format that quickly captured the hearts of players. Moving from PAPA Headquarters to the larger Replay FX event at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center, Pinburgh became a key fixture on the pinball calendar, growing rapidly until the COVID-19 pandemic brought events to a halt.
In 2024, Pinburgh was relaunched by Pittsburgh Pinball, in partnership with the Replay Foundation, to once again become a centerpiece of the pinball community. With a legacy spanning over two decades, Pinburgh continues to celebrate the spirit of competition, camaraderie, and the thrill of pinball.
Pinburgh 2026
Division Champions:
- A Division – TBD
- B Division – TBD
- C Division – TBD
- WIPT Champion – TBD
Pinburgh 2025
Division Champions:
- A Division – Jason Zahler
- B Division – Matt Rowbottom
- C Division – Phil Cridlebaugh
- WIPT Champion – Kat Lake
Pinburgh 2024
Division Champions:
- A Division – Jason Zahler
- B Division – Braden Gentry
- WIPT Champion – Deborah Tahlman
Pinburgh 2019
Division Champions:
- A Division – Keith Elwin
- B Division – Tom Graf
- C Division – Spencer Desroches
- D Division – Scott Woods
- E Division – Bob S Johnson
Pinburgh 2018
Division Champions:
- A Division – Keith Elwin
- B Division – Drew Cedolia
- C Division – Brian Mendelssohn
- D Division – Steven Flynn
Pinburgh 2017
Division Champions:
- A Division – Colin MacAlpine
- B Division – Andrew Rosa
- C Division – Sven Johnson
- D Division – Leif Spångberg
Pinburgh 2016
Division Champions:
- A Division – Keith Elwin
- B Division – Preston Moncla
- C Division – David Daluga
- D Division – James Emanuel
Pinburgh 2015
Division Champions:
- A Division – Zachary Sharpe
- B Division – Derek Fugate
- C Division – Brent Stoddard
- D Division – Steve Machado
Pinburgh 2014
Division Champions:
- A Division – Jim Belsito
- B Division – Joe Said
- C Division – Mark Pearson
- D Division – Scott Wilson
Pinburgh 2013
Division Champions:
- A Division – Keith Elwin
- B Division – Mateo Leyba
- C Division – Chase Nunes
- D Division – Jason Brand
Pinburgh 2012
Division Champions:
- A Division – Adam Becker
- B Division – Johnny Modica
- C Division – Jan Anders Nilsson
Pinburgh 2011: Match Play For All!
Division Champions:
- A Division – Keith Elwin
- B Division – Brian Shepherd
- C Division – Ron Hallett, Jr
Pinburgh 2003
Total Points Scored: 1,019,458,657,750+
Division Champions:
- A Division – Keith Elwin
- B Division – Allan Sturms
- C Division – Tom Ceckitti
Pinburgh 2002
Total Points Scored: 1,535,833,243,030
Division Champions:
- A Division – Keith Elwin
- B Division – Allan Sturms
- C Division – Tom Ceckitti
Pinburgh 2001
Total Points Scored: 1,663,987,694,540
Division Champions:
- A Division – Keith Elwin
- B Division – Mike Turack
- C Division – Allan Sturms
Pinburgh 2000
You should have been there.