Last summer, the International Axe Throwing Federation (IATF) established an annual integrated circuit of tournaments to foster competition among IATF players. Organizing tournaments into a circuit successfully increased the profile of these tournaments, their hosts, their competitors and the IATF. We also learned a great deal from the inaugural season and have made some adjustments to the Integrated Tournament Circuit based on our learnings and the community’s feedback.
Unified IATF Axe Throwing Season.
The Tournament Circuit will start and end in March at the same time as the League Qualification Season. This year’s qualification period ends March 7, 2025.
Grand Slam and Major tournaments held between the end of the throwing season and that year’s IATC will be part of the following year’s path to IATC.
Changes to Major Tournaments
Number of Grand Slam reserved spots
Only the 2nd and 3rd place winners at all future Majors will be guaranteed a spot at a Grand Slam.
Grand Slam spots dictated by Major
The 2nd and 3rd place winners’ reserved spots will be for a specific, predetermined future Grand Slam. The Grand Slam will be selected based on geographical location and position on the Tournament Circuit calendar. See below for 2024-2025 Tournament Circuit Calendar.
The IATF is making these changes:
To streamline and simplify the process for throwers to move from Major to Grand Slam over the course of the Tournament Circuit.
To simplify the process of determining which throwers have earned reserved spots.
To increase the number of winners who take advantage of their Grand Slam spots.
To reduce the workload to the IATF team in assessing, tracking, and coordinating Major winners over the course of multiple throwing seasons.
The 2024-2025 IATF Tournament Circuit
The schedule of IATF Tournament Circuit events is as follows:
Grand Slams
Event | Host | City | Date | Info |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Urban Open | Urban Axes | Baltimore, MD, USA | Aug 2-4, 2024 | |
UK Open | Valhalla North Axe Throwing | Newton Aycliffe, England, UK | Aug 16-18 | |
Asia Pacific Axe Throwing Championship | MANIAX Axe Throwing | Sydney, NSW, AUS | Sep 27-29, 2024 | |
The Choptober Challenge | Chopper's Hatchet House | Cherry Hill, NJ, USA | Oct 25-27, 2024 | |
Golden State Grand Slam | LA AX | North Hollywood, CA, USA | February 2025 | |
US Championship | Ace Axe Throwing | Homestead, PA, USA | March 2025 |
The top 4 finishers from each of these events’ marquee tournaments will be reserved a spot in Rounds 1 & 2 of the Wilson Cup.
Majors
Event | Host | City | Date | Grand Slam | Info |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Red, White and Bullseyes | Urban Axes | Somerville, MA, USA | June 28-30, 2024 | Choptober Challenge | |
Urban Open: Swiss Tournament | Urban Axes | Baltimore, MD, USA | Aug 2-4, 2024 | US Championship | |
Shieldmaiden Slam | Valhalla North Axe Throwing | Newton Aycliffe, England, UK | Aug 16, 2024 | UK Open 2025 | |
Unicorn Classic | The Range | Priddis, AB, CAN | Aug 31, 2024 | Golden State Grand Slam | |
Labour Day Classic | The Range | Priddis, AB, CAN | Sept 1, 2024 | Golden State Grand Slam | |
BAT Outta Hell | Battle Axe Throwing | Wollongong, NSW, AUS | Aug 30-Sept 1, 2024 | APATC | |
Charlotte Open | BATL Axe Throwing | Charlotte, NC, USA | Sept 7-8, 2024 | Choptober Challenge | |
Florida Man Games | Game of Axes | Boynton Beach, FL, USA | Sept 21-22, 2024 | Choptober Challenge | |
Three Ring Circuit* | Detroit Axe | Detroit, MI, USA | Oct 11-13, 2024 | US Championship | |
Pink Ribbon Classic | Axe Thro Co | San Diego, CA, USA | Oct 19-20, 2024 | Golden State Grand Slam | |
Urban Ladyblades | Urban Axes | Durham, NC, USA | January 2025 | US Championship | |
Urban Madness | Urban Axes | Durham, NC, USA | January 2025 | US Championship | |
Battle Axe Open | Battle Axe Throwing | Wollongong, NSW, AUS | Jan 24-25, 2025 | APATC | |
Seattle Throwdown | Axe Kickers | Seattle, WA, USA | Jan 25-26, 2025 | Golden State Grand Slam | |
Winter Axe Games | Game of Axes | Boynton Beach, FL, USA | February 2025 | US Championship | |
Going Up Cup | LumberJaxs Tamworth | Tamworth, England, UK | February 2025 | UK Open | |
Warriors' March To Glory | Warriors Axe Throwing | Cobourg, ON, CAN | March 2025 | Urban Open | |
Last Ditch To Canada | Lumber Punks Axe Throwing | Melbourne, VIC, AUS | March 2025 | APATC |
The winner from each of these events’ marquee tournaments will be reserved a spot in Rounds 1 & 2 of the 2025 Wilson Cup.
* These majors include two marquee tournaments that will each reserve the winner a spot in the Wilson Cup.
Players Declining A Reserved Spot
Clarification on current system: Throwers who have earned a reserved spot in Rounds 1 & 2 of the Wilson Cup may decline their invitation. This spot is then returned to the general pool of spots awarded to throwers through the League Qualification Path and will be assigned to a member venue according to representation.
New for this season of the Tournament Circuit, throwers will have the option to decline a bid when it is awarded* OR they may self-identify prior to competition as ineligible to receive a bid. If the winning thrower initiates either of these options, the bid will immediately trickle down to the next eligible thrower at the tournament.
*The thrower must decline within 24 hours of the conclusion of the tournament and make their intention clear to the tournament host. Otherwise, the bid will be treated like any other Round 2 invitation and upon refusal, will reenter the general pool of Round 2 bids for League Qualification.
TL;DR
The 2nd and 3rd place finishers from Major tournaments will be reserved spots at a specific Grand Slam.
Regionals will be held in November 2024.
Throwers may remove themselves from contention for a Wilson Cup bid prior to or immediately following a tournament.