World Champ pinball rules and strategy

The Strategy

Start with A and B at the top to light both 100,000-point contacts. For Specials, choose an unlit Round while the knockdown count is zero, then stay on that Round until you make three knockdowns. Once one or two are banked, avoid yellow rollover buttons and purple standups because moving the Round erases that progress. Repeat on another unlit Round, and avoid the center gobble hole unless the event converts its lit-Special awards into useful value.

The goal

Light A and B for the 100,000-point contacts, then complete three knockdowns without changing the selected Round; move only at zero progress and treat the center gobble hole as a setup-dependent cash-out that ends the ball.

  1. Collect A and B at the top when safely available so both 100,000-point contacts are lit.

  2. With zero knockdowns showing, use a yellow rollover button or purple standup to select a Round whose Special is not lit.

  3. Build three knockdowns on that Round through the safest white standup or currently lit alternating red or lower-side rollover.

  4. After the first knockdown, avoid switches that move the Round; changing it clears the partial count.

  5. Let the third knockdown light that Round's Special and advance the Round, then repeat on another unlit Round.

  6. Keep scoring the lit 100,000-point contacts and avoid the center gobble hole unless the installed competition setup gives useful value for its replay awards.

Need to know
Round advance
Yellow rollover buttons and purple standups move the lit Round, but changing it clears partial knockdown progress.
Knockdowns
White standups and the currently lit alternating red and lower-side rollovers supply the three knockdowns needed for the selected Round.
Round Special
The third knockdown lights the selected Round's Special and advances the Round.

Machine setup

  • Confirm Gottlieb World Champ model 131, exact sole catalog variant GRDBb-M0obO, the August 1957 single-player five-ball EM.
  • Check ball count, tilt, match, replay and Special handling, the installed knockdown and replay thresholds, and whether the event converts credits or replay awards into points or bonuses.
  • Test Round selection and partial-count reset, every knockdown switch and alternating lamp, all ten Round Specials, A and B, both 100,000-point contacts, the center gobble-hole award and drain, kickers, and flippers before competition play.
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Playbooks

World Champ playfield

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