Rules may vary by event
The rules and scoring described here are a general guide. Specific events and tournaments may adjust formats, scoring rosters, point values, and seeding order — and exact details are sometimes announced at the start of an event. Always check the specific event or tournament page for the final rules that apply.
About This Format
Matchplay Gauntlet (Teams) is our team-based format — a mix of strategy, rivalry, and straight-up performance.
Teams of at least four players compete across a series of round-robin matches, with each team playing twice per round. Every match is a 4-player game featuring two players from each team, and scoring uses the 5 / 4 / 4 / 3 system. On top of that, the team with the higher combined raw pinball score earns a +3 team bonus — so consistent team performance is rewarded, not just individual finishes.
Example (single match):
Team A players finish 1st and 3rd → 5 + 4 = 9
Team B players finish 2nd and 4th → 4 + 3 = 7
Team B's combined pinball score is higher → +3 bonus
Final score: Team A = 9, Team B = 10
Note that finishing 1st and 3rd doesn't guarantee the team bonus — it depends on the actual pinball scores on the machine. A dominant 2nd-place score can outweigh a narrow 1st.
Before each round, teams must nominate which players they're sending into each matchup. Lower-seeded teams lock in their choices first, while higher-seeded teams get the advantage of reacting to those decisions. Players may only play in one match per round, so they can't double up against another team, and must play the same player order on the game each time. Once nominations are made, they're locked.
Example (player selection):
Team E (lowest seed) must nominate first → picks players for both of their matches
Team D nominates next, then Team C, then Team B
Team A (top seed) nominates last → they can see who they're up against and choose their players and positions accordingly
Across the night, teams build points from both individual results and team bonuses, with the highest total score taking the win. It's competitive, a bit tactical, and a great way to settle some friendly club rivalries.
This format is not IFPA endorsed, and is just for exhibition tournaments.