International pinball championships to be organised in Budapest
Around 200 top European competitors, including internationally celebrated players, will showcase their skills at the Hungarian Pinball Open (HPO) in Budapest from 23 to 27 October, organisers announced on Tuesday.
Hungarian Pinball Open showcasing international stars
The Hungarian Pinball Open promises a unique line-up, featuring participants from 18 countries such as England, Poland, Sweden, Slovenia, Germany, Austria, Norway, Italy, the Netherlands, and Romania. The event will take place at Game Galaxy on Ráday Street. Among the contenders are Finnish and Swedish players who recently claimed podium positions at world championships.
Over several days of thrilling competition, 48 players will battle it out in qualifiers on Thursday, followed by two sessions on Friday with 72 players each, all fighting for a spot to advance. The event will once again be streamed live on a dedicated Twitch channel, according to the press release.
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The Hungarian community is particularly excited about the tournament, especially after the national team clinched the European championship title in Austria this June. The historic victory was secured by Gábor Solymosi, Erik Pálfi, Bálint Scholtz, and Ferenc Csaplovits — all of whom will be present at the event.
Special highlights
One of this year’s special highlights is the IFPA-sanctioned women’s tournament, kicking off at 7 PM on Saturday, 25 October. The “Pace Matchplay” format not only welcomes HPO’s female players but is also open to newcomers eager to join the challenge.
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The event is organised by the Budapest Pinball Museum, which this year received the prestigious TripAdvisor Traveller’s Choice 2025 award — an honour reserved for no more than 10% of listed attractions worldwide. The Pinball Museum is one of Hungary’s most popular themed museums and has consistently ranked among the top 10 attractions in Budapest’s 1090 listings on the site for years.
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