At the end of each year's 50+ tournament ITSF World Tour, the winners of numerous World Championship Series and International Series tournaments, along with other players who qualified through various methods (such as being their country's national champions, or finishing in the top ITSF tour rankings, etc.), meet at the ITSF World Championships (note the difference between it's name and the others that are called "World Championship SERIES") to compete in an event incorporating all 5 ITSF official tables that ultimately determines the best overall table soccer player(s) in the world. This annual "best of the best in all the world" playoff World Championships event includes events (doubles and singles) for Men, Women, Juniors, Seniors and Handicapped.
Held in conjunction with the ITSF World Cup of Table Soccer national teams competition (see the Team Competitionspage for information on National Team events), the combined event serves as the largest, most premier gathering of top table soccer players held anywhere.
For 2010/11, the combined ITSF World Championships and World Cup of Table Soccerwas held January 6-9, in Nantes, France (with the U.S. Men's team taking 1st place -- for the THIRD time in a row!!). See related ITSF and USTSF press releases here. For 2011/12, the event is expected to again be held in Europe, in early January.
Note for any competing USA players seeking sponsorships: If you're planning on obtaining an individual sponsor, rather than a team, event or tour corporate sponsorship as discussed on the Sponsorship Opportunitiespage, then please see here for numerous tips and recommendations.
USA Qualifiersfor the 2010-11 ITSF World Championships (as of 9/15/10 - subject to change if some players decline going). Note the members of the World Cup USA National Team(s) will be selected later and will be posted on the teams competition page.
2009-10 World Championships (held January 6-10, 2010; Nantes ,France):
The 2010 ITSF Table Soccer World Cup will take place in Nantes, France, from January 6th to 10th, 2010. This major event will also feature the 2009-10 World Championships. Details will be available on the ITSF Tour website by the end of August, 2009. In the meantime, you can view a video clip of the 2009 World Cup.
Results: USA wins Gold Medals in Mens (Open) Singles and Doubles, and also wins Bronze in both those events as well as Bronze in Womens Doubles and Senior Singles!
Note: the below list may change if some qualified player(s) are unable to go, in which case the next in line qualified player(s) would take their place. This does not apply to players qualified through ITSF methods (e.g., winners of ITSF WCS events, ITSF points rankings, etc), rather than USTSF methods (e.g., national champions, wildcards, etc), as the USA would just lose the ITSF methods spot if that player(s) decides not to go.
Note: Update 12/31/09 to note changes due to players having emergency conflicts (unable to attend). Final player/team roster waiver approved by ITSF Executive/Sport Commission.
Mens Singles: - US National Singles Champ (Atlanta Nationals): Robert Mares* - Men's Singles Wildcard Player (Bonzini NC State): Bruce Nardoci - Any US men in the top 16 of the ITSF Single rankings***: Ryan Moore, Tony Spredeman, Billy Pappas, Tracy McMillin - Any men who place in the top 3 at WCS Open Singles: Ryan Moore (2nd Tec Ball), Billy Pappas (1st Garlando, 1st Tornado), David Gummeson (3rd Tornado) - Any US men who win first place at International Series Open Singles: Tony Spredeman (Las Vegas, and UAE) - Any US titleholder (mens singles) from last year's ITSF World Championships****: None
Mens Doubles: - US National Doubles Champs (St. Louis Nationals): David Gummeson and Tracy McMillin - Men's Doubles Wildcard Team (Bonzini NC State): Larry Crowder* and Bruce Nardoci* - Any US titleholders (mens doubles) from last year's ITSF World Championships****: None
Womens Singles: - US National Women's Singles Champ (Atlanta Nationals): Shelley Langley* - Women's Singles Wildcard Player (Tornado WCS): Christina Fuchs* - Any US Women in the top 8 of the ITSF Women's Singles rankings***: Stayce Fowler (unable to attend) - Any women who win first place at WCS Open Womens Singles: Liz (Hill) Hellstern (Tornado) - Any US titleholder (womens singles) from last year's ITSF World Championships****: None
Womens Doubles: - US National Women's Doubles Champs (St. Louis Nationals): Stayce Fowler and Shelly Langley (Stayce unable to attend, team is now Shelly and Amy Eckhart) - Women's Doubles Wildcard Team (Tornado WCS): Liz (Hill) Hellstern* and Christina Fuchs* - Any US players titleholders (womens doubles) from last year's ITSF World Championships****: None
Junior Singles: - US National Junior Singles Champ (Atlanta Nationals): Daniel Colter (unable to attend) - Junior Singles Wildcard Player (Kentucky State): Evan Jones* (unable to attend) - Any US players in the top 3 of the ITSF Junior Singles rankings***: None - Anyone who wins first place at WCS Junior Singles: Dakota Diaz (Tornado) (unable to attend) - Any US titleholder (Junior singles) from last year's ITSF World Championships****: None
Junior Doubles: - US National Junior Doubles Champs (St. Louis Nationals): Adam Bieri (unable to attend) and Connor Britton (unable to attend) - Junior Doubles Wildcard Team (Kentucky State): Daniel Colter* (unable to attend) and Evan Jones (unable to attend) - Any US players titleholders (junior doubles) from last year's ITSF World Championships****: None
Senior Singles: - US National Senior Singles Champ (Atlanta Nationals): Phil Grable (unable to attend - Bud Spredeman taking his place) - Senior Singles Wildcard Player (Tornado WCS): Robert Janac* - Any US players in the top 3 of the ITSF Senior Singles rankings***: None - Anyone who wins first place at WCS Senior Singles: Greg Perrie (Tornado) - Any US titleholder (senior singles) from last year's ITSF World Championships****: None
Senior Doubles: - US National Senior Doubles Champs (St. Louis Nationals): Pete Clark (unable to attend) and Dick Elgatian (unable to attend) - Senior Doubles Wildcard Team (Tornado WCS): Greg Perrie and Robert Janac - Any US players titleholders (senior doubles) from last year's ITSF World Championships****: None
Wheelchair Doubles: Wheelchair** Doubles Team: TBD and TBD
*This is the next highest placing USA player/team after the ITSF automatic qualified player/team, unless the next in line is already qualified another way then it goes to the player/team after that. If it is a USTSF qualifier event, then it is the highest placing player/team willing to go.
**People in wheelchairs: This category is open to physically disabled players who suffer from paraplegia and limited mobility in the lower limbs. These players require a wheelchair for everyday use and compete in a wheelchair. The eligibility requirement to compete in this category is a permanent substantial or total loss of function in one or both legs due to conditions such as spinal injury, ankylosis, amputation or other lower limb disability. This category is open to male and female players of any age. Players in wheelchairs will compete on specially designed tables. NOTE: THERE IS NO LIMIT TO THE NUMBER OF DISABLED TEAMS WE CAN SEND.
***If a player(s) in the top rankings can't go, the next highest ranking player (from any country) goes. For example, if the ITSF rankings 6th rated mens singles player can't go, then the 17th ranked player is eligible to go, if the 10th ranked mens singles player also can't go, then the 18th ranked mens singles player becomes eligible to go, and so on until all 16 "ranking slots" in mens singles are filled. It would work similarly for the top 8 in womens singles, and top 3 in senior and junior singles. Therefore its possible for a USA player that winds up lower than the top 17 in mens singles (or top 6 in womens singles or top 3 in senior/junior singles) to wind up qualified if enough other higher ranked players decide not to go.
****Unless the player is a junior who becomes too old this year, or becomes a senior this year.
7/6/2009: USTSF Junior Singles and Doubles Wild Card slots to the 2009 ITSF World Championships (in January 2010) will be given away/qualified for at KY State. Note that while USTSF Junior Wild Cards are ITSF World Championships qualifiers and will need to wear the U.S. National Teams outfits, the players must obtain their own sponsors.
Information about other qualifying slots and the US National team will be announced soon. Also, some slots may need to be adjusted as other players/teams are determined by the the future "TBD" and ITSF Points Ratings additional qualifiers (i.e., if the same person qualifies for the same event twice, the 2nd slot can be assigned to the next highest finisher in certain situations so the USA doesn't lose a slot). In addition, if a player/team can't go then the next highest player/team can qualify in certain situations, but must be approved by ITSF if the change in players occurs after the ITSF's 31 October deadline.
12/16/08 Update (from ITSF) about Tables and Balls to be used at the World Championships. See also related ITSF email comments about table changes.
9/14/08 Update (revised 9/26/08): ITSF information and schedule package for combined World Championships/World Cup event. You will find details on qualifying conditions, national champions and teams, competition formats, schedules and more. This document will be further updated with new information on travel, accommodation, prizes, etc., so make sure to check it again later.
How To Qualify (USA Players) For The 2008 ITSF World Championships - UPDATE 9/2008: The policy (link to left) which includes wild cards was written when there was only to be wildcard slots for Men's Doubles and Women's Doubles, and states exactly that in the policy. After the policy was written and published, the ITSF changed the number of wildcards and in which events National Federations are to receive wildcard slots. Upon reviewing the USTSF policy, it would create problems addressing all of the wildcard slots, and it could not be applied properly since there is a deadline to turn in the wildcard player names that falls before the deadline for the USTSF to know the names of ALL players that would be in Nantes. Therefore a new "wild card" policy was written that will apply to THIS UPCOMING WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS ONLY. That policy is that the wildcard slots will be filled by the highest placing US player or team at the Tornado World Championship Series Tournament , who is willing to pay their own way and for all of their expenses in each of the applicable events, who has not already qualified for that particular event. If there is a tie in the standings, then the tie is broken by selecting the highest rated player/team, of those tied, based upon USTSF rating points. This way one policy applies to all of the wildcard positions. And the policy can be applied quickly and fairly.
Please see the "how to qualify" link above for a lot of info on this event (besides just how to qualify, such as sponsorships, divisions, uniforms, etc.).
USA PLAYERS WHO HAVE QUALIFIED (10/31/08):
US National Doubles Champs - Tom Yore and Bob Diaz US National Singles Champ - Rob Mares US National Women's Singles Champ - Tiffany Moore US National Women's Doubles Champs - Melissa Kegg and Lisa Pride US National Junior Singles Champ - Blake Robertson US National Junior Doubles Champs - Blake Robertson and Midori Kimura US National Senior Singles Champ - Bruce Nardoci US National Senior Doubles Champs - Trinidad Esquivel and Kathy Brainard PLUS Men's Doubles Wildcard Team - Dave Gummeson and Tracy McMillin Men's Singles Wildcard Player - Tracy McMillin Women's Doubles Wildcard Team - Cindy Head and Dawn Duquette Women's Singles Wildcard Player - Shelly Langely Junior Doubles Wildcard Team - Keoni Park and Valery Vasquez Junior Singles Wildcard Player - Austin Smith Senior Doubles Wildcard Team - Bruce Nardoci and John Zoller Senior Singles Wildcard Player - Craig Hibbs Wheelchair** Doubles Team - TBD and TBD PLUS Plus any US players in the top 16 of the ITSF Single rankings: Tony Spredeman, Ryan Moore, and Billy Pappas*** Plus any US Women in the top 8 of the ITSF Women's Singles rankings: Dusty Bambenek Plus any men who place in the top 3 at WCS Open Singles: Tom Yore and Todd Loffredo*** Plus any women who win first place at WCS Open Singles: Cindy Head Plus anyone who wins first place at WCS Junior Singles: Keoni Park
**People in wheelchairs: This new category is open to physically disabled players who suffer from paraplegia and limited mobility in the lower limbs. These players require a wheelchair for everyday use and compete in a wheelchair. The eligibility requirement to compete in this category is a permanent substantial or total loss of function in one or both legs due to conditions such as spinal injury, ankylosis, amputation or other lower limb disability. This category is open to male and female players of any age. Players in wheelchairs will compete on specially designed tables.
***Qualified but decided not to attend.
2007
2007 Individual World Championships (held October 25-28, 2007, at St. Vincent Valle d'Aoste, Italy):
The USA contingent at ITSF World Finals, St. Vincent Italy, October '07. [Top Row l-r: Larry Davis (CO), Dusty Bambenek (OH), Tiffany Moore (IL), Terry Moore (IL), Gena Murray (TX), Bruce Nardoci (NC), Mark Davis (NE); Bottom Row l-r: Kathy Brainard (WA), Stayce Fowler (IA), Tommy Adkisson (OK), Billy Pappas (MA), Ryan Moore (KY)]
The USA had at least one team in the top three in every event at the ITSF World Finals in Italy!
This event is open to the National Champions of ITSF member countries in open singles and womens singles, and in open doubles and womens doubles. In addition there is a new junior category (see note below), and a new Senior category. Other players besides the national champions (including juniors) can qualify for the tournament (and possibly funding) via winning or placing in the top 3 in certainITSF tournaments, or via points on the ITSF rating list.
Note: The ITSF is pleased to announce the introduction of a Junior category starting with the 2007 ITSF World Rankings. The definition of age and cut-off date for birthday for a Junior is as follows: Under 18 on the 1st of January in the year the ITSF Tour ends. There will also now be a Junior singles competition at the 2007 World Championships. The winner of each World Championship Series event in the Junior category will automatically qualify to compete at the World Championships and will be entitled to a player's package (funding). The National Junior Champion of each ITSF member federation will be also be invited to take part in these Championships - there will be no package for these players. The junior category event is one event that both boys and girls will compete in together.
ITSF continues to grow, expanding both its federation membership worldwide, its number of sanctioned tournaments, the number of competitive categories at its annual ITSF World Finals playoff in Italy, and in the ways it is giving back to the players with both grass roots development and international competition. Of note, each year ITSF has added events to its World Finals in Italy, and so this year it will also include events for 17&Under Singles and Doubles and for 50&Over Singles & Doubles! (USTSF is working up ways to provide the opportunity for USA players to compete in those added events, with 17&Under Singles qualifications already scheduled for the Kentucky State and Tornado Worlds.) The U.S. Open will be the National Champions Qualifier for Open Doubles, Women's Doubles and Women's Singles.
News Update 10/23/2006: Inside Foos to cover ITSF World Championships in Italy ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Inside Foos crew (Jim Stevens, Christina Fuchs, Ezekiel "Iceman" Moore, and Brad Anderson) will be headed to the village of St. Vincent in the Italian Alps next week to cover the event many consider to be the best professional tournament of the year, the 2006 ITSF Table Soccer World Championships. This "true World Championship" features only the top players (and teams) in the world of pro table soccer, each of whom had to qualify to compete, either by earning ITSF points throughout the 2006 season, or by winning their country's National Championship. This "all star" competition is played on the five official ITSF tables: Bonzini, Garlando, Roberto Sport, TecBall, and Tornado, with each player or team selecting their table of choice. Matches will include games to 7 played on each player/team's table, with a tiebreaker system, similar to the one used at this year's World Cup in Germany, to determine winners in the final rounds.
Billy Pappas, currently ranked as the number-one player in the world, will join international stars Jamal Allalou of Germany, Rob Atha of the U.K., Italian Arturo Carletta, Olivier Covos of France, and fellow Americans Terry Moore, and Rob Mares, among others, as they attempt to unseat defending champion Frederic Collignon in men's singles.
Last year's women's champion Samantha di Paolo of Italy will defend her title against 2005 runner-up Moya Tielens, Austrian star Verena Rohrer, and American legend Cindy Head, who will be competing internationally for the first time. The match between di Paolo and Head is already one of the most highly-anticipated match-ups of recent seasons, with both players ranking among the sport's most aggressive and fiercely competitive players.
Recently crowned Tornado world doubles champions Dave Gummeson and Tracy McMIllin will be one of the top contenders for the two-man title in Italy as well, in the first year of doubles play. Belgian stars Frederic Collignon & Ismael Saban, and Suvajac Dalibor & Ludwig Rieger of the victorious Austrian World Cup team will lead a group of talented two man teams from twenty different countries as they pursue this important new major title.
As usual, Inside Foos will provide wall-to-wall coverage of this prestigious event, bringing viewers all the big matches from the finals area on DVD, while also doing our best to capture the "flavor" of the event. You can pre-order this exciting 6-hour DVD set by going to http://www.insidefoos.com./ For more information on this exciting event go to http://www.table-soccer.org./
We also hope to bring you daily internet radio reports from the ITSF World Championships as Brad Anderson and Table Sports Radio will also be on hand to cover the event beginning November 3rd.
Thanks for your support!
Jim Stevens and the Inside Foos Team
News Update 9/11/2006: Choose your table for the World Championships now! -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hello to all
As you know, this year at the World Championships in Italy, each player (team of players) must choose 1 table (and only one!) for the whole tournament.
You must let ITSF know which table they have chosen by October 15, 2006.
Players cannot change their table during the tournament.
If 2 players choose the same table, they will play on one table only (this is different from what happened at the World Cup in Hamburg).
Tables to be chosen from are as follows: Bonzini, Eurosoccer, Garlando, Roberto Sport, TECBALL and Tornado.
Sport dress: only players respecting the dress code will be allowed to compete.
Each player must have a different shirt for each day (3 shirts per player).
A jogging suit (top and bottom) is also required of all players.
The name of the country must be clearly displayed on the players’ shirts and jogging suit; players can also add their names and country’s flag.
Mélanie Gastard ITSF International Table Soccer Federation
News Update 9/7/2006: Vote results on qualified players ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hello to all On September 1st, ITSF Executive Committee voted on the following motions: Qualified players for the World Championships If a national champion (male or female) is not able to make it to the World Championships (in Singles or Doubles), the next highest placing PLAYER in Singles in the qualifying event shall go instead in the case of Singles; and in the case of Doubles, the next highest placing TEAM in Doubles in the qualifying event shall go instead. Please note that the case is different for those players who qualify through the ITSF World Rankings (16 top male players and 8 top female players) or through their rankings at the World Championship Series (top 3 male players and first female player) and International tournaments (first male player). These players qualify for being the best players in the ITSF Tour and if one of them can not make it to the World Championships, nobody else can take their place. In any case, if a player can not make it, he/she should provide a valid excuse (for example, they can't refuse to go to the World Championships in order to attend another non ITSF tournament, as has been the case in the past).
Just a quick reminder that Open Singles and Womens Singles at Costa Rica, Kentucky State, Minnesota State, Vegas Worlds, and Bart O'Hearn are all ITSF sanctioned points race events. That's a lot of opportunity for North American players to catch up with the Europeans and win those trips to Italy in November (what do Europeans need with a trip to Italy, anyway?)!! There's also supposed to be a Canadian Multi-table in September that's ITSF points-race as well.
Men, in order to be guaranteed to win a trip you have to place in the top three in a "World Series" level tournament (such as Tornado Worlds, or the upcoming Garlando Worlds), or first in Open Singles at an "International Series" (Vegas Kickoff: already won by Rico). To win a trip on accumulated points you need to be consistent enough and play in enough sanctioned tournaments in Singles to finish the season in the top 16 in overall points (Bart O'Hearn is the last ITSF points-race tournament of the season!!).
Women, you have to finish either first place in Womens Singles at a World Series (Tornado, Garlando Worlds, etc) or in the top eight in the ITSF season-ending points standings.
Also, this is the first year that Doubles is an event in Italy. As previously mentioned on this bulletin board, this year's way to qualify for Doubles (men or women) was by being designated "National Champions" -- but since there was no Nationals this year in the USA, we awarded the title to the highest placing all-US teams in Open Doubles and Womens Doubles at the Vegas Kickoff. (Note: We would have loved to have made it Kentucky State or the earlier planned then cancelled U.S. Open, but the "National Champions" had to be declared in writing to ITSF by a date that was BEFORE Kentucky State. Since we already knew that the U.S. Open was cancelled and K-State was too late, you may recall we announced it as bonus prizes at the Kickoff.) So, this year's Doubles teams from the USA are Billy Pappas and Tony Spredeman, and Cindy Head and Dawn Duquette. Note also that in this first year of Doubles at Italy, the ITSF is not paying for the trips and hotels for Doubles teams, but USTSF is picking up the tab (hopefully assisted by sponsors...hint, hint). Finally, accumulated points in Open Doubles and Womens Doubles continue to be tracked, but this year it's simply for ITSF World Doubles Rankings honors.
For the current points race rankings, see: http://www.table-soccer.org/ranking/2006_07_01_ITSF_Rankings.xls , and click each tab at the bottom of the spreadsheet for each category.
For the complete ITSF World Tour Schedule, see: http://www.table-soccer.org/tournaments/event_schedule_2006.pdf . Notice on the chart that there are four levels or categories of tournaments: World Series, International Series, Masters Series and Pro Tour Series. You can accumulate the most points at Worlds, next most at Internationals, next most at Masters, and finally Pro Tour. But every one of these tournaments counts, and as of today the USA has quite a few players -- male and female -- within striking range of free trips to Italy for Singles (last year's points race came down to the last tournament of the year). Let's go get 'em!!
(Okay, this wasn't such a quick reminder, but at least it was thorough!)
***
Players and Promoters,
Don't forget that KY-State is an ITSF sanctioned points race event for Open Singles and Womens Singles: accumulated points count towards USTSF/ITSF-paid trips to ITALY in November!!
Also, Mary's big three for next year, along with Texas State, have already been nominated to ITSF as points race tournaments for 2007 as well!!
All other promoters: please submit your requests for ITSF/USTSF sanctioning for next year (tournaments dated 13 October, 2006 and later) to USTSF ASAP!! Mary has done an outstanding job at gaining commitments/contracts for her events next year, and at getting a head start at promoting them -- ITSF wants everyone to work the same way, so if you have a regular/annual/or contracted commitment for next year, let us know. There are a limited number of events we can sanction each year, so the sooner you can in fact commit, the better chances you have of being selected and thereby taking advantage of the added benefit of USTSF/ITSF promotions for your tournaments. We especially need more West Coast/Western USA/Northwest USA tournaments next year!!
Thanks to all for your support and participation, and good luck to all the players shooting for ITALY!! Larry "Euro-Foosin" Davis Executive Director, USTSF www.foosball.com/ustsf
News Update 3/4/2006: As an ITSF-sanctioned International Series tournament event, the first place finisher in Open Singles at the VIFA/USTSA International/Kickoff will automatically also win an expense-paid trip to compete in the ITSF World Championships in Italy (the first week of November this year)!
In addition, the USTSF is proud to announce that the top U.S. finishers* in Open Doubles and Women’s Doubles will win automatic qualification to compete in the ITSF World Championships in Italy in November (trips will be furnished/paid by USTSF)!!
So, on top of the existing prize fund at the tour kick-off, ITSF/USTSF are kicking in five trips to Italy (an approximate $8,000 added value), at no additional cost to the players!!
Remember also, that as an ITSF-sanctioned event, all participants in Open Singles and Women's Singles will earn those rankings points towards additional trips to Italy via the annual ITSF rankings points-race.
*Both players on the winning doubles team must be U.S. citizens/legal residents, must be able to compete together/as a team in the ITSF World Championships (Italy) and must be international-travel eligible (legally able to obtain a passport). If not, the award goes to the next highest placing U.S. team that accepts and meets the eligibility requirements -- winners will specifically be representing the United States in Italy as "U.S. National Doubles Champions" (...as there is no U.S. National Championship/U.S. Open on the tour schedule this year).
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