EUGENE, Ore. -- The best pinball wizards in the state are in Eugene and are getting ready to find out who can play that silver ball the best.

For the first time, The International Flipper Pinball Association is holding the state championships in Eugene at Blairally Vintage Arcade.

The championships are not until January 19th, but on Saturday organizers held a warm-up tournament for all qualified players to get a chance to test the tables.

International Flipper Pinball Association state representative Greg Dunlap said this is the first time Eugene players have qualified for the tournament.

"Eugene has five people qualified for state championships this year whereas the previous five years they have never had any," Dunlap said. "So the people here really did a great job of taking the ball and running with it."

The winner of the state championship will go on to the national finals in Las Vegas for a chance to win $3,000. The winner there will automatically qualify for the world championships this summer in Italy.