06/15/2023
2023 AIRHOCKEY WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS INFORMATON POST #1
EVENT LOCATION, DATES, and ORGANIZERS
The 2023 Airhockey World Championships event will be held at the University of Houston Hilton Hotel | 4450 University Dr, Houston, TX 77204 from Friday, August 4, 2023 through Sunday, August 6, 2023.
· Airhockey United is the group of Airhockey professionals and promoters organizing the event.
· Re-Creation Sports, a 501c3 charitable organization, is the primary resourcing sponsor for the event.
· Xtreme Airhockey is providing secondary resourcing sponsorship.
TOURNAMENT DESCRIPTIONS, DATES AND START TIMES
OPEN DOUBLES
Open Doubles is a double elimination tournament event where any 2 players may team up and compete. Hence the word “Open”. In doubles, each team has one player at a time on the table. A player remains in competition until he/she is scored upon, and then his/her partner takes over until scored on, and the process continued. Matches will be best 3 games of 5, and each game is played to 7. Each team selects the starting player from the opposing team with the lower seeded team selecting first.
Open Doubles will be played on Friday, August 4 with announcements beginning at noon sharp and play beginning by 12:45 pm. The arena will be open by 9 am for practice and warms-ups. Registration for open doubles will close at 10 am on Friday, August 4th. Competition will be limited to the first 48 teams to register, and spinoffs will be played as best 2 games of 2, double elimination.
OPEN SINGLES UP TO TOP 16
Open singles is an individual competition for players at all skill levels from beginners to grand master. All players compete in a single double elimination tournament with all matches in the main tournament being the best 4 gams of 7. As players lose their second match, they qualify for a spinoff division tournament with all other players eliminated in the same round and then compete for trophies. Competition for open singles is limited to the first 128 players to register. Spinoffs are as follows:
· Division 6: 97-128
· Division 5: 65-96
· Division 4: 49-64
· Division 3: 33-48
· Division 2: 25-32
· Division 1: 17-24
The goal of Saturday scheduling is to complete the tournament and all spinoffs with 12-16 players still remaining in the main bracket and all 6 divisions completed by 10 pm. Some divisions’ competitors will elect to remain and complete on Saturday in later hours if they have not completed, and some will elect to complete on Sunday.
Open singles begins Saturday, August 5 with announcements at 10 am sharp and first matches starting no later than 11 am. Doors to the arena open at 8 am for warm-ups. Registration for Open Singles closes at 10 pm on Friday, August 4th.
OPEN SINGLES TOP 16
Sunday, August 6 constitutes the top 16 or, what is known as the “Championship round”. Main tournament play will resume from where it halted on Saturday at 11 am sharp as well as any incomplete division play from the prior day. The top 16 includes 13-16 and 9-12 double elimination spinoffs which will be the best 4 games of 7 as well as a 7/8 and 5/6 single match best 4 games of 7 spinoff matches. Play continues until the final remaining player emerges as the singles world champion.
AWARDS CEREMONY
Immediately following the completion of the finals, the awards will be presented at a ceremony. The target time is 7 pm, but the actual start time is dictated by the actual completion of the open singles.
SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
Airhockey United has developed a sponsorship program with three formats of sponsorship opportunity: Packages, Categories, and A La Carte. Any individual or business who has an interest in sponsoring this event at any level from a small interest to title ownership has the opportunity to get a great value. For more information contact Brian Accrocco at 281-795-6376.
For our players and fans, Airhockey United offers a unique opportunity. Any of you may participate in the effort to sell a sponsorship and receive a commission for your success. If you would like to participate, please contact Brian Accrocco for more information.
PLAYER TRAVEL & LODGING ASSISTANCE
Travel to an Airhockey tournament can be more expensive than some people can afford. Airfare or auto gas, lodging, entry fees, food – it all adds up. Airhockey United is going to reach out to local Houston players to see if any would be comfortable offering up beds and couches for travelling players to help with costs. We may also create a fund for those more fortunate who wish to be charitable to help cover the cost of some hotel rooms that travelling players could share to help them afford the trip. Please let us know if you would be able to assist or if you may need some help to afford the trip. We will do what we can.
LOOKING AHEAD
Airhockey United continues to negotiate and solidify particulars of the event as we get closer. Look for our next Information publication to cover the following:
· Hotel options in the area (to include potential discounts at the host hotel)
· Parking options
· Restaurant and other food options
· USAA Tournament rules, procedures, and etiquette
· Player travel cost & lodging assistance
· What else? If there is information need not provided, let us know. We’ll include it.