Each day for 21 days, leading up to the 2016 Batcave Masters major pinball tournament to be held May 13th-15th, we will take a look at one of the players competing for top honours in this prestigious event. Who will be the next player spotlight out of the 60 players competing? Find out tomorrow!
3 of 21 - John Pansini
John trying to win a second pinball machine in the Z-Ball Pinball Final 11, 2015. Photo by Matthew Venables: mvenables.com
Region: Parramatta NSW
Australian Rank: 47th
Years Competing: 2
Best Result: 1st place - Z-Ball Pinball Final 10 (24 players)
Average Finishing Position: 9th
2015 Batcave Masters Placing: N/A
Monkey on his Back: Brett Goodwin, Lake Macquarie NSW (0 wins against, 15 losses)
Notes: The man of many names - Magic Hands, Johnny Pants, The Whistler, 'That Guy Who Won That Pinball Machine'. The many names reflect the good will that everyone feels toward John, as he is not only an active pinball competitor, but active contributor to the community and proponent of all things pinball. Most know him as the founder and tournament director of the Magic Hands Pinball League in Sydney, which also kicked off Australia's first ever Super Selfie League. But he is also a tournament official in the Wildball Pinball League, and runs the video streaming for Wildball as well as the streaming for the 2014 Australian Championship Series major competition. John gives a lot to the community - lugging equipment and prizes from one end of Sydney to the other - and asks nothing in return. He is also an accomplished player winning the 10th annual Z-Ball Pinball Final, in which he took home the grand prize of a very rare Godzilla pinball machine! There aren't many players in the world who have been as lucky nor skilled to take home the ultimate prize for any keen competitor.