The gathering of wizards: Pinball champions go flipper to flipper in Columbia

After a year of grueling competitions from coast to coast, with more than 1,800 tournaments staged during the year, and 9,900 players putting their flipper skills and endurance to the test, it all comes down to a single day for 560 of America’s finest pinball wizards representing 35 states.

The International Flipper Pinball Association holds its 3rd annual IFPA State Championship Series finale on Saturday in 35 states. South Carolina’s is in Columbia.

State winners on Friday win a spot in the National Championship at the Pinball Hall of Fame in Las Vegas on March 17.

This story was originally published February 11, 2016 at 6:30 PM with the headline "The gathering of wizards: Pinball champions go flipper to flipper in Columbia."