Idaho Pinball Championship In Boise Today

The best of the best get together once a year to show off their skills and earn bragging rights as the ultimate pinball wizard and that time of the year is now.  When I think of pinball wizards, I think of guys wearing the same old t-shirts and jeans they wore back in junior high.  I think of no shaving, no grooming, long hair, and they most likely still live at home with mom and dad as they're creeping up on 30 or 40 years old.

15-year-old Avianna Smith of Boise, Idaho throws all those stereotypes out the window.  She's one of the most feared pinball wizards in the valley and she's aiming to be THE best today when the Idaho State Pinball Championship goes down.

Smith says...

"When the ball is screaming down the middle or when it goes into a direction where it will go down the side, the best players will be able to prevent that somehow some way."

Smith wants to take part in the International Flipper Pinball Association National Tournament but only state champions are invited.  Being a state champ is nothing new for Smith.  She won the whole thing last year and doesn't plan on slowing down anytime soon.

According to KTVB the Idaho State Championship will take place at Silver Ball today where the top 16 players in Idaho go head-to-head March Madness style until there is only one left.  That means single elimination.  Absolutely no room for error.

Smith is currently ranked third in the state and she takes on a woman who is ranked 14th in the first round.  That woman happens to be her mother.  If you think that's crazy, her dad is ranked #1 and is also competing for Idaho supremacy.  Difficult feat when you consider hundreds attempted to make this tournament and only 16 take the battle field.