We are pleased to announce the PAPA 22 World Pinball Championships, the 2nd annual Memorial for Suicide Awareness in memory of Lyman F. Sheats, Jr.

September 4-7, 2025
Enterrium in Schaumburg, IL
Proceeds Benefit Suicide Awareness
→ Tickets Available April 5 ←
→ Sign Up to Volunteer ←

Before Replay FX and Pinburgh rose to prominence, the PAPA World Pinball Championships were held in twenty different years, with the last such tournament taking place in April 2017 in Scott Township, Pennsylvania. Since that time, we have lost Lyman to suicide. The legendarily challenging format of the World Pinball Championships made this Lyman's favorite tournament, which he won in 2004 and 2006 (he also won the earlier PAPA 3, which used a different format), while consistently reaching the finals in almost every year. The new and renewed PAPA tournament now honors his legacy in the pinball world, as well as his memory as a person.

PAPA 21 was a massive success in the fall of 2024, and we hope to see the event grow again this year and in future years. We raised nearly $33,000 in charity funds for the 988 Foundation for Suicide Awareness in honor of Lyman. Over 200 players from all over the world attended the event and played in the Main, Women's, and Classics tournaments. Over $46,000 in prize money was awarded, and two brand new pinball machines were raffled off from Stern and Jersey Jack Pinball. PAPA 21 was also streamed live by Tom Graf at Fox Cities Pinball. The main finals on Sunday were on the front page of Twitch and hundreds of thousands of viewers tuned in to watch!

Players of all skill levels, as well as spectators, are welcome. The capacity for PAPA 22 will be 300 players. Daily wristbands are required in order to be present in the free play and tournament areas Thursday through Sunday. Early check-in will be available from 5:30pm to 10pm at Enterrium on Tuesday, September 3, during the monthly Pinball Super League event. The spectator area will remain open to the public all weekend. Through Project Pinball, we will be raffling off two brand new pinball machines!

Tickets will be available on April 5 at noon Central time, and tickets purchased in the first week will include one free entry to the raffle.

To learn more about how the tournament works, start here or use any of the links on the right.

This event is being brought to you by IFPA Pinball under license from Replay Foundation, in cooperation with Lyman's friends and loved ones. The organizers and sponsors offer you their huge and heartfelt thanks for your support! To offer your assistance as a volunteer, please complete this form.

You may also be interested in Pinburgh 2025, being held in July 2025 near Pittsburgh.

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