With the IATC 2023 Qualification Period completed, the IATF is excited to announce the list of qualifiers eligible to compete in Round 1 of the 2023 Wilson Cup!

Round 1 Schedule

Round 1 of the Wilson Cup will take place on Sunday, March 26, 2023, starting at 9:00am.


Round 1 competitions are run by the IATF member locations that hosted leagues throughout the Qualification Period.


Players will usually compete at their usual IATF league location, however, competition at another IATF member is possible (see FAQs below).

Round 1 Competition Format

Round 1 of the Wilson Cup is a competition hosted at IATF member venues around the world. Qualifying players compete against each other in a unique match format consisting of 75 hatchet throws and 15 big axe throws. Premier rules are used to score Round 1.


Players are divided into heats of up to 4 players. Each player will start on one of 4 targets. They will begin by throwing 15 axes at one target. Players have the option to call clutch on the 5th, 10th and 15th (final) axe.


Following this set of 15 axes, all players will move one target to the right, with the player on the 4th target moving to the 1st target. They will then continue by throwing another set of 15 axes at this target, again, with the option to call clutch on the 5th, 10th and 15th (final) axe.


Following this second set of 15 axes, all players will move one target to the right, with the player on the 4th target moving to the 1st target. They will repeat this process of throwing 15 axes and moving to the right until they have thrown 75 total axes.


Once the 75 hatchet throws are completed, each player will individually throw 15 big axes.

All scores will be recorded in AxeScores, however, scorekeepers should communicate the total score for each set of 15 axes and the 15 big axes to the players to ensure that each set of axes are recorded accurately.

Qualifiers

The IATF and its members hosted over 20,000 rostered players in eligible leagues during the IATC 2023 Qualification Period. Of these players, almost 1,900 have qualified for Round 1.


Please click the button here to download a PDF of the qualifiers list. The list is arranged alphabetically by last name, then first name.

How to Register

Congratulations if you are one of this year's qualifiers! To compete on Sunday, March 26, 2023, you must register via the IATF store (link below). Registration is $30 USD.


During registration, please provide your AxeScores ID. This will allow the IATF to correctly identify you as the registrant. Your AxeScores ID can be found on the List of Qualifiers.


Once you have registered, keep your Shopify receipt handy, you may need to show it when you arrive at Round 1 on March 26.

Following Round 1

Following Round 1, the players with the top performances from each participating IATF member organization will advance to Round 2, held in Toronto in June 2023.

Players' Round 1 performances are ranked among their fellow Qualifying Club players by highest total score of the 75 hatchet throws. Ties are broken by the highest total score from the 15 big axe throws.


Round 2 will include 256 players. 10 spots are reserved for last year's IATC Champion and the 9 winners of the 2023 IATF Regionals. Each IATF member organization is allocated a portion of the 246 remaining Round 2 spots based on their total league participation during the Qualification period.


Players' tournament seed in Round 2 is determined by their Round 1 performance. This means the IATC Champion and Regionals Winners must register and compete in Round 1 to be seeded in Round 2.

Frequently Asked Questions

Question: I'm away from my usual league location on March 26. Can I still compete?


Answer: Yes, you can still compete on March 26 at another IATF venue hosting Round 1. To arrange this, please send an email to the IATF (info@iatf.com) and the IATF venue letting them know of your intention to compete at their venue.



Question: I'm busy on March 26, can I compete on another day.


Answer: Round 1 is the first round of a tournament. To respect the level playing field and the competitive spirit of the tournament, all competition will take place on March 26 only.



Question: Can I purchase a registration on a player's behalf?


Answer: Yes, however, in this case, it is very important to provide the player's AxeScores ID. Otherwise the IATF will not be able to correctly identify who the registration is for.



Question: Why are last year's IATC Champion and the 2023 IATF Regionals Winners on the list of qualifiers?


Answer: The IATC Champion has always held a reserved spot in the next IATC Round 2 to defend their title. This year, the 9 Regional Winners were rewarded with a reserved spot in Round 2. These 10 players will advance into Round 2, however, their tournament seed will be determined by their Round 1 performance.

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IATF AxeScores App 2.0

The AxeScores App Version 2.0 has now been submitted and will be available for all players over the next few days. Please check your app stores for the update.  In addition, we've updated and improved a number of functions within the AxeScores platform, as well as addressed some key bug fixes.

As part of the IATF's ongoing commitment to its players, members and the sport of axe throwing, we are always looking to improve the experience in everything we do.  This includes regular fixes and updates to the stats tracking platform and tools that support excellence in competition.


Remember, if you find any bugs, issues or have suggestions on how to improve the AxeScores experience, we've introduced a new method for improving your experience.  We now use a platform called Upvoty which lets you submit, and vote on the features and bugs that are the highest priority to you. Please visit us at https://iatf.upvoty.com/ and make your feedback shine.

Update Notes

  • AxeScores App v2.0 Release Date: Monday February 6, 2023
    • We've re-platformed the application code-base to make future updates easier.
    • The update resolves a current login problem some users experience, particularly Samsung users.
    • Navigation within the app has been improved.
    • The remote matches feature has been retired. This feature was seldom used and was costly to maintain.
    • In order to comply with certain privacy legislation, we've included a method for players to permanently delete their account.
  • AxeScores Admin
    • Issues resolved in January
      • Playoff stats were not appearing as expected, specifically number of playoff losses and big axe playoff stats
      • In testing, leading up to Regionals, some issues were identified due to the rosters of non-standard size. These were prioritized to allow the tournaments to run smoothly
        • The bracket appeared to not advance players from tournament pools larger than 4 players 
        • The tournament forfeit option was not working as expected
        • Accommodating the non-standard roster sizes
    • Bugs addressed in the Monday February 6 release
      • Rarely, playoffs would not load or names would appear as MISSING
      • Premier, Recreational and Youth leagues were not options to assign a waiver and did not appear on the Admin Dash page
      • Introducing match-end validation to prevent extra rounds and throws

Still have questions, found a bug or want to make a suggestion for AxeScores? Connect with us at https://iatf.upvoty.com/ but you can also always reach out to us at info@IATF.com

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Mark your calendars for IATC 2023, which will be held in Toronto Ontario, Canada from Thursday June 8th 2023 - Monday Jun 12th 2023. This week will consist of a full five days of tournaments designed to celebrate a community of professional axe throwers.


After an exciting growth in competition in 2022, the IATF is excited to announce the itinerary for the 2023 International Axe Throwing Champions.  This years line-up features new tournaments that allow players of all skill levels to join and participate in this global competition, a return of some favorite competitions and of course the hallmark tournaments that celebrate the glory of champions.


Each year thousands of axe throwers around the world work hard to compete for placement in the International Axe Throwing Championships - a yearly competition that celebrates the best of the best! Only 256 players will make it through to round 2 and only 32 have the honor of competing against the undisputed best axe throwers in the world for the ultimate prize and glory - the Wilson Cup.


Join us this year for this celebration of champions from around the globe!

Axe Prom & Awards Gala

Yes!  Axe Prom is back at this years IATC 2023.  Axe Prom is a semi-formal event dedicated to the celebration of the IATC Tournament Champions,  Axe Prom will be held at Toronto's Westin Harbour Castle Hotel Ballroom on June 12th 2023.

More details on what to expect will be coming soon.

Homecoming

We are again planning an awesome outdoor party that we are calling Homecoming which will occur during the IATC Finals and you and your friends and fans can all spectate and celebrate the comunity of axe throwing. We have secured a huge outdoor space at the BATL Pickering location for hundreds of spectators to comfortably watch the final stage of the IATC live and on big screens. Following the tournament, we will celebrate coming together as a community.

More details on this event will be coming soon.  This is not a semi-formal event, so dress as you please.

Axe market

Axe Market and your favorite community vendors are coming back this year to celebrate all things axes!


More details on Axe Market, vendor signups and times will be coming soon.

Tickets

Tickets and registration for all events will be available for purchase soon.

For all events, we encourage you to subscribe now and keep an eye on the IATF Facebook and IATF Instagram pages so you don't miss out on tickets that will go fast.

IATC ITINERARY

'UNDER 55' Tournament

Thursday June 8, 2023

 9:00am - 1:00pm


WHERE: BATL Port Lands


REGISTRATION FEE: 

$60 USD


PRIZE POOL:


$1,200 USD


  • This tournament will use a Pool Play format rather than a Double Elimination. The tournament starts with a Group Stage, where players are divided into groups of 4 and play everyone in their Group once, totaling three matches within their Group in a best 3 rounds out of 5 match format before any elimination takes place. Once all Group Stage matches are complete the top 2 from each Group move onto a single elimination tournament bracket. That means that every competitor will have a minimum of 3 matches with their registration fee.
  • This tournament is open to anyone who’s 12-month average as listed on AxeScores.com is 55 or below at the time of registration.
  • Pool Play Format (Group Stage, then single elim.)
  • IATF standard ruleset (“majority-in” bullseyes and “break-paint” clutches.)
  • 9:00 am registration and practice.
  • 10am Tournament start, 1pm approx. finish.
  • Spectators are free. Spectators will be allowed based on venue capacity.

Tournament Registration Fee

$60.00 USD

PRIZE POOL BREAKDOWN

TOTAL PRIZE POOL - $1,200 USD (Approx $1,600 CAD)

1st Place - $600 USD

2nd Place - $340 USD

3rd and 4th Place (tie) - $130 USD Each


Teams 'DOUBLES' Tournament

Thursday June 8,2023

2:00pm - 9:00pm


WHERE: BATL Port Lands


REGISTRATION FEE: $75 USD Per Team


PRIZE POOL:


$2,250 USD


Get Directions

  • This tournament will use a Pool Play format rather than a Double Elimination. The tournament starts with a Group Stage, where players are divided into groups of 4 and play everyone in their Group once, totaling three matches within their Group in a best 3 rounds out of 5 match format before any elimination takes place. Once all Group Stage matches are complete the top 2 from each Group move onto a single elimination tournament bracket. That means that every competitor will have a minimum of 3 matches with their registration fee.
  • IATF Standard ruleset (“majority-in” bullseyes and “break-paint” clutches.)
  • 2:00 pm Tournament start, 9:00 pm approx. finish.
  • Spectators are free. Spectators will be allowed based on venue capacity.

Tournament Registration Fee

$75.00 USD

PRIZE POOL BREAKDOWN

TOTAL PRIZE POOL - $2,250 USD (Approx $3,000 CAD)

1st Place Team - $900 USD

2nd Place Team - $450 USD

3rd and 4th Place (tie) - $225 USD Each

5th, 6th, 7th and 8th Place (tie) - $112.50 USD Each


'UNDER 65' Tournament

Friday June 9, 2023

 9:00am - 1:00pm


WHERE: BATL Port Lands


TICKETS: $60 USD Per Person


PRIZE POOL:


$1,200 USD Total

  • This tournament will use a Pool Play format rather than a Double Elimination. The tournament starts with a Group Stage, where players are divided into groups of 4 and play everyone in their Group once, totaling three matches within their Group in a best 3 rounds out of 5 match format before any elimination takes place. Once all Group Stage matches are complete the top 2 from each Group move onto a single elimination tournament bracket. That means that every competitor will have a minimum of 3 matches with their registration fee.
  • This tournament is open to anyone who’s 12-month average as listed on AxeScores.com is 65 or below at the time of registration.
  • IATF standard ruleset (“majority-in” bullseyes and “break-paint” clutches.)
  • 9:00 am registration and practice.
  • 10am Tournament start, 1pm approx. finish.
  • Spectators are free. Spectators will be allowed based on venue capacity.

Tournament Registration Fee

$60.00 USD

PRIZE POOL BREAKDOWN

TOTAL PRIZE POOL - $1,200 USD (Approx $1,600 CAD)

1st Place - $600 USD

2nd Place - $340 USD

3rd and 4th Place (tie) - $130 USD Each


'Close But No Cigar' Tournament

Friday June 9, 2023

1:00pm - 5:00pm


WHERE: BATL Port Lands


TICKETS:

$60 USD Per Person


PRIZE POOL:


$1,200 USD

  • This tournament will use a Pool Play format rather than a Double Elimination. The tournament starts with a Group Stage, where players are divided into groups of 4 and play everyone in their Group once, totaling three matches within their Group in a best 3 rounds out of 5 match format before any elimination takes place. Once all Group Stage matches are complete the top 2 from each Group move onto a single elimination tournament bracket. That means that every competitor will have a minimum of 3 matches with their registration fee.
  • This tournament is open to anyone that DID NOT make it into Round 2 of the IATC. If you qualified for Round 1 but did not make it to the final stage of IATC, this tournament is for you! If you did not qualify for Round 1 of the IATC but want to compete against some of the best in the world in Toronto, this tournament is for you! Players that made it into Round 2 of the IATC are NOT eligible.
  • IATF Standard ruleset (“majority-in” bullseyes and “break-paint” clutches.)
  • 1pm registration, 2pm Tournament start, 5pm approx. finish.
  • Spectators are free. Spectators will be allowed based on venue capacity.

Tournament Registration Fee

$60.00 USD

PRIZE POOL BREAKDOWN

TOTAL PRIZE POOL - $1,200 USD (Approx $1,600 CAD)

1st Place - $600 USD

2nd Place - $340 USD

3rd and 4th Place (tie) - $130 USD Each


IATC 'Wilson Cup - Round 2' Day 1 Tournament

Saturday June 10, 2023

9:00am - 2:00pm


WHERE: BATL Pickering / Port Lands / Stockyards / Vaughan


REGISTRATION FEE: $75 USD By Invite Only


DIRECTIONS:

  • The 256 top global players that advance to Round 2 will receive an email with instructions on how to pay their registration fee and to claim their spot.
  • These emails will also include the ability to purchase a Homecoming ticket.
  • 9:00am registration and practice.
  • 10:00am Tournament start, 2:00pm approx. finish.
  • Spectators will be free and allowed based on the venue's capacity.

IATC 2023 - WILSON CUP FINALS Tournament

Sunday June 11, 2023

10:00am - 3:00pm


WHERE: BATL Pickering


REGISTRATION FEE: Spectator "Homecoming" tickets may be purchased soon.


PRIZE POOL:


$22,500 USD (Approx $30,000 CAD)

  • Final 32 players chosen by Day One placement in Round 2.
  • 10:00am registration.
  • 11:00am tournament start, 3:00pm approx. finish.
  • Spectators are all welcome but must have purchased a Homecoming ticket to attend.

PRIZE POOL BREAKDOWN (Top 32 Players Paid Out)

TOTAL PRIZE POOL - $22,500 USD (Approx $30,000 CAD)

1st Place - $9,000 USD

2nd Place - $3,350 USD

3rd Place - $2,250 USD

4th Place - $1,400 USD

5th and 6th Place (tie)- $550 USD Each

7th and 8th Place (tie) - $450 USD Each

9th, 10th, 11th and 12th Place (tie) - $270 USD Each

13th, 14th, 15th and 16th Place (tie) - $225 USD Each

17th, 18th, 19th, 20th, 21st, 22nd, 23rd and 24th Place (tie) - $180 USD Each

25th, 26th, 27th, 28th, 29th, 30th, 31st and 32nd Place (tie) - $135 USD Each


HOMECOMING

ALL DAY SUNDAY

Sunday June 11, 2023

10:00am - LATE


WHERE: BATL Pickering

WHAT: Big Screens, Food, Drinks, Games, and Celebration of the Community of Axe Throwing.


TICKETS: $30 USD Per Person

  • Homecoming is an all day spectator party held On-Site at the Wilson Cup Finals.
  • Spectators can watch the Wilson Cup Finals live indoors or via the live stream which will be projected on big screens outdoors for all to see as well.
  • Large Beer tents for celebrating with plenty of shade.
  • Outdoor fun and games to keep you entertained between matches.
  • Food vendors for meal purchase all day.
  • Bars open starting at 11am and going all day inside and outside.
  • Photo booths and photographers will be on site ready to capture your moments and memories.
  • No dress code! Keep it summer casual (unless you want to wear a suit in June.)




AXE PROM & AWARDS CEREMONY

MONDAY 

Monday June 12, 2023

6:00pm - LATE


WHERE: Westin Harbour Castle Ballroom, Toronto Ontario

WHAT: A 'Semi-Formal' Awards Gala to celebrate the IATC 2023 Tournament Winners


DRESS CODE: Semi-Formal

TICKETS: Will Be Announced Soon


Get Directions

  • A 'Semi-Formal' GALA Style Event with food, drinks, DJ and bars inside the famous Westin Harbour Castle ballroom.
  • Presentation of all the awards and trophies of the IATC 2023, including the crowning of the 2023 IATC Champion and the final presentation of the Wilson Cup.
  • Tickets can be purchased once announced.
  • Dress code is Semi-Formal so dress to impress.
  • Only ticket holders are allowed to attend.
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We have updated AxeScores to address bugs present within the system. Please refer to the list below for all changes made in this update.


AXESCORES PATCH NOTES FOR DECEMBER 1, 2022


Revised the process for starting new seasons to allow greater flexibility


Greater flexibility allows IATF members to configure IATF Standard and Premier leagues to run shorter than 7 weeks, and to configure Recreational leagues to choose Standard, Premier and Big Axe rules in an easier way.


FIXED 7 WEEK LEAGUE SEASON LIMITATION


Fixed the limitation of having to create a season with 7 weeks before then decreasing the number of weeks.


FIXED PLAYER PROFILE DISPLAY ISSUES


Fixed an issue that caused some player profiles to not display as expected in the app and on AxeScores.com


FIXED OFFLINE MATCH EXTRA ROUNDS ISSUE


Fixed an issue where match rounds and throws recorded offline can lead to extra rounds and throws in a match.


FIXED LANE DISPLAY ISSUES WITH FORFEIT AND PLAY MATCHES


Fixed an issue where Forfeit with Play matches did not progress correctly on the lane displays.

We continue to improve and refine the AxeScores platform on both the website and app, follow us on our website and socails to get updates on major AxeScores patches and new features.


If you have an AxeScores issue to report, please email us with all the information on the issue at info@iatf.com. You can download the AxeScorres app here.


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It's almost time for the 2023 IATF Regional Tournaments! Across the world, players will gather on Jan 29, 2023 to compete for prize money and coveted spots in the 2023 IATC (International Axe Throwing Championships) Round 2 of the Wilson Cup.


REGISTRATION FEES


The fee to register is $80 USD, and 50% of all registration fees collected for each tournament will go towards the prize pools for each tournament.  Each tournament will have a prize pool payout for the top 8 throwers. And, as described in this earlier update, the first place finishers will receive an automatic spot in the 2023 Round 2 of the Wilson Cup*.


*Automatic qualification to Round 2 of the Wilson cup is only available to throwers who have completed an IATF sanctioned league season by Jan 28th 2023.


REGIONAL REGISTRATIONS


Are you ready to compete for the glory? No matter where you are on January 29, 2022, you can secure your spot for one of these tournaments. Click the links below to choose your region and follow the links to signup.

IATF Regions Graphic

These are the nine regions in the IATF as of Oct 2022

GOOD LUCK TO EVERYONE


We also wanted to be the first to wish you all the best of luck in these tournaments, and we can't wait to see you at the 2023 IATC - International Axe Throwing Championships.

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Two short weeks ago, we announced that, on January 29, 2023, 9 Regional hosts would open their venues for the IATF Regionals Tournaments - a highly anticipated day of global competition happening in your backyard. And, the excitement continues to mount as registration opens on November 1st, 2022! So mark that date in your calendar and be sure to register early!

These competitions pave the way to the International Axe Throwing Championships, and this year has been made even more exciting with the addition of an automatic entry into Round 2 of the International Axe Throwing Champion’s Wilson Cup for Regionals winners.

As promised, here are the rest of the details! But first, if you missed the dates and the 9 Regionals Hosts announcement, you can catch up on these details here.

Where and When You Can Register to Compete

Registration opens November 1st, 2022, at 2 PM ET

Registration for all Regional Tournaments, happening on January 29th, 2023, will be managed through the IATF this year in order to streamline the entire process. On November 1, 2022, from 2 pm, you can register through our website, at www.iatf.com. We will put out an updated social post with all the venues and their registration links when registration opens. Registration will also be available via accessible links on the home page or via the tournament page (clicking on “Tournaments” in the main navigation bar).

Tournament Registration Fees and Value

Registration Fees are set at $80 USD

All Regionals Tournament registration fees are set at $80 USD, and 50% of all registration fees, collected, for each tournament will go toward the CASH prize pools at that tournament. Each tournament will have a prize pool payout for the top 8 throwers. And, as indicated above, the first-place finisher in each tournament will receive an automatic spot in 2023 Round 2 of the Wilson Cup (more details below).

Pool Play Round Robin Format - Followed By Single Elimination

Back by popular demand, this year's IATF Regionals tournaments at the 9 Host locations will be following a Pool Play Round Robin format. This format, by design, gives players more matches and better value. It further strengthens the competitive opportunities by guaranteeing each thrower 3 matches, with a minimum of 50% of competitors playing in at least 4 matches.

How does Pool Play Work?


This format starts with a group stage, with all players divided into groups of 3 and 4 depending on the tournament size. Each player will throw 3 matches within the group in a 3 out of 5 round match format before any elimination takes place. Once all Group Stage matches are complete, the top 2 throwers from each group move onto a single elimination tournament bracket.

Guaranteed Wilson Cup Round 2 Entry

As detailed in the original announcement post, all ‘Regionals’ first-place winners will receive the prize money, and the coveted “skip the line” guaranteed spot in Round 2 of the 2023 International Axe Throwing Championships Wilson Cup in Toronto, Canada.

While anyone can participate and win these Regional Tournaments and the prize money and accolades they come with, the guaranteed Round 2 entry is only applicable to IATF throwers who have competed in an IATF-sanctioned league season (Standard or Premier Ruleset League) between March 12, 2022, and Jan 28, 2023. As a further reminder, as last year’s Wilson Cup winner has already received a guaranteed spot in Round 2, they cannot take advantage of this additional placement prize. If a winner doesn’t meet the requirements for this guaranteed entry per the details above, it will be given to the next eligible winner (second place, third place, and so on).

REMINDER: Any player who wins a Round 2 entry into the Wilson Cup must still also compete in Round 1 for seeding purposes.

If you’re looking to plan out the rest of your road to the International Axe Throwing Championships, make sure you bookmark the IATC Dates Announcement and review the last Regionals Announcements.

We’re looking forward to watching all the competitions during regionals, and we wish you all the best of luck!

As always, if you have any additional questions, please send them to info@iatf.com, and we will get back to you.

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IATF REGIONALS ARE COMING!

The countdown has begun! It’s been four months since 256 competitors from all 9 IATF Regions came together to celebrate community, competition, and the best axe throwers in the world at the 2022 International Axe Throwing Championships in Toronto; only four months since we bestowed the Wilson Cup and the title of World’s Best Axe Thrower to Dave Cycon. Now, we’re looking to see how the competitive field will be shaped for 2023. Who will be the next champion?

We’re excited to start announcing details about the IATF Regionals Tournaments. The IATF Regionals are a set of nine tournaments held on a single day across the IATF regions of the world. Regionals have always come with the opportunity to compete with the best, win prize money, and make your name and skills known throughout the world. This year, the stakes are even higher with the addition of a guaranteed qualification for Round 2 of the International Axe Throwing Championship’s Wilson Cup. This is the same for all nine tournament winners.

In this first post, we outline the core details of this highly anticipated set of tournaments: the dates, entry and winning requirements, and of course, the venues sanctioned to host in their regions. More importantly, stay tuned to our socials and website, over the next few weeks, for more announcements detailing: registration fees, how to register and reserve your spot in the regional tournament of your choice, the tournament format, and more. Please also refer to the FAQ section for answers to all the common questions.

TOURNAMENT HOSTS & DATES:

Review the details below to determine which axe-throwing venue is hosting your regional tournament this year. For any questions on how regions are setup, please review the following link: https://internationalaxethrowingfederation.com/regions/

REGION

MEMBER

CITY

DATE

WEST

TRUE NORTH

LETHBRIDGE, AB

CANADA

January 29, 2023

SOUTHWEST

LA Ax

Los Angeles, CA
USA

January 29, 2023

SOUTH

Urban Axes

Austin, TX
USA

January 29, 2023

CENTRAL

Detroit Axe

Detroit, MI

USA

January 29, 2023

EAST

Ace Axe

Pittsburgh, PA
USA

January 29, 2023

SOUTHEAST

BATL LoSo

Charlotte, NC

USA

January 29, 2023

NORTHEAST

BATL Port Lands

Toronto, ON

CANADA

January 29, 2023

PACIFIC

Maniax

SYDNEY, NSW

AUSTRALIA

January 29, 2023

EUROPEAN

SKEETERS

London, ENG
UNITED KINGDOM

January 29, 2023

ELIGIBILITY AND PARTICIPATION REQUIREMENTS

While these tournaments and their prize money are open to anyone, eligibility to participate in the International Axe Throwing Championships and the Wilson Cup, as well as entry into Rounds 1 & 2 of the IATC Wilson Cup, require that a player has completed at least one official IATF league (Standard or Premier ruleset) qualifying season. This includes the new Marathon Leagues format. Recreational leagues do not qualify.

FAQS

Am I Restricted To Throwing In My League’s Region?


No, you are not restricted to any specific regional tournament. Throwers are welcome to register and throw in any single regional tournament.

What Will The Prizes Be?


There are 9 Regional Tournaments, and the First Place winner of each region will receive a guaranteed Qualification to Round 2 of the IATC Wilson Cup. On top of that, each regional tournament will have a prize pool, reflecting 50% of the registration fees, and will pay out the top 8 places.

Can Anyone Participate Even If They Don’t Qualify For The IATC?


Yes, anyone can participate and play for the prize pools. However, as specified, players must have participated in an IATF Sanctioned League (Standard or Premier Ruleset) to win guaranteed qualification for Round 2 of the IATC Wilson Cup. In the event that a non-qualifying player wins their tournament, the Round 2 entry would immediately pass onto the next qualifying winner in order (to the second place winner as long as they qualify and the third place winner if they do not.).

What Happens If a Non-IATF Qualifying Thrower Wins Their Regional Tournament?


As stated above, anyone can participate and win the prize money. However, in the event that a non-qualifying player wins their tournament, the Round 2 entry would immediately pass onto the next qualifying winner in order (to the second place winner as long as they qualify and the third place winner if they do not.).

Will The First Place Winners Skip Round 1 of the Wilson Cup?


No. Winners that automatically qualify for Round 2 of the IATC Wilson Cup must still participate in Round 1 for seeding purposes, but their qualification for Round 2 is still guaranteed.

What Is The Cutoff Date For Completing A Sanctioned League Season?


To be eligible for the automatic qualification for an IATC Round 2 spot, a player must have completed a qualifying IATF league between March 12, 2022, and January 28th, 2023.

How Were Host Venues Selected?


Venues were selected, among all IATF Member organizations, based on their central location in their regions. Specifically, the IATF calculated the concentration of throwers in each region and matched that with a venue that represents a central location to support the necessary size of the tournaments.

What Happens If Last Year's IATC Wilson Cup Winner Takes First Place?


The winner of the IATC 2022 Wilson Cup was already awarded an automatic qualification to round 2 of this year’s championships. As such, they are ineligible to win another Round 2 qualification. In the event that they win their Regional Tournament, the Round 2 qualification spot would immediately pass onto the next qualifying winner in order (to the second place winner as long as they qualify and the third place winner if they do not.).

We’ll be sharing more details in the coming weeks so stay tuned to our social and website channels, so you don’t miss out on registration, and your chance to compete for the coveted Wilson Cup by qualifying through the regional tournaments. We will be announcing details on registration fees, how to register and reserve your spot in the regional tournament of your choice, the tournament format, and more.

As always, if you have any additional questions, please send them to info@iatf.com, and we will get back to you.

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Following feedback from the community, we very recently committed to enhancing and clarifying the language and the imagery for rulesets 4.1 - Axe Specifications. We are pleased to now share these enhancements.

While these rules have not gone through any additional changes, the layout, formatting, and accompanying images have been re-designed to provide more clarity on what is and what is not a legal competition throwing axe. Hatchet and Big Axe specifications have also been combined into one page of the rulebook.

These axe specifications are designed to be comprehensive and to provide everybody with the confidence to customize to best suit their needs while maintaining the integrity and entertainment value of this sport. We strongly encourage all throwers, modifiers, and manufacturers to read this newly presented document from top to bottom in order to understand the rules in their entirety.

We here at the IATF are not looking to stifle creativity, nor prescribe that you must throw ours and only our axes for competition. However, we do need to ensure that axes are fair for unified competition and the entertainment value and integrity of the sport.

We are always thankful for the direct engagement of the axe-throwing community and appreciate and encourage all your feedback on these and other rules. Should you still have any questions or feedback, you can send them directly to info@iatf.com.

A REMINDER THAT:

HATCHET DIMENSIONS THAT HAVE NOT CHANGED:

  • weight (1.5-2.5 lbs, total weight head and handle together)
  • handle length (13"-17", from knob to eye)
  • head length (5"- 7", entire length of the head from blade to butt)
  • blade length (3"- 4", entire length of the blade from toe to heel)
  • minimum head height (1.5", measured vertically, parallel to the handle)

HATCHET DIMENSIONS ADDED:

  • maximum head height (4", measured vertically, parallel to the handle)

BIG AXE DIMENSIONS THAT HAVE NOT CHANGED:

  • weight (2.75-3.75 lbs, total weight head and handle together)
  • minimum handle length (25", from knob to eye)
  • head length (6"-7.5", entire length of the head from blade to butt)
  • blade length (3.5" - 4 5/8", entire length of the blade from toe to heel)
  • minimum head height (2", measured vertically, parallel to the handle)

BIG AXE DIMENSIONS ADDED:

  • maximum handle length (32”, from knob to eye)
  • maximum head height (4 5/8", measured vertically, parallel to the handle)

We have also included clarity around what “Grossly Modified” means throughout the document.

IATF RULEBOOK CHANGES

Please click the following link to view the enhanced Rule 4.1 Axe Specifications and remember to read and understand these in their entirety. If you have any questions or require more clarity, please reach out directly via email to info@iatf.com.

We wish you all the best in your ongoing competitions!

VIEW RULEBOOK PAGE

This post contains the dates for stages and events for the International Axe Throwing Championship for the year of 2023, including the return of Axe Prom!


More information and details regarding these events and stages will be released leading up to their respective dates, so stay tuned to the IATF website and social media to keep up to date on everything you need to know when it comes to IATC 2023!

LEAGUE QUALIFICATION PERIOD

The qualification period for IATC 2023 is March 12, 2022 to March 10, 2023.


All IATF Standard and Premier league seasons that complete their playoffs between these dates are eligible for qualification.

REGIONALS

Nine IATF Regional Tournaments will be held on Sunday January 29, 2023. 


Host venues and details will be announced once they have been confirmed.

ROUND 1

Round 1 of the International Axe Throwing Championship for 2023 will be held Sunday March 26, 2023 at all participating IATF venues worldwide.

ROUND 2

Round 1 of the International Axe Throwing Championship for 2023 will begin on Saturday June 10, 2023 and then conclude on Sunday June 11, 2023.

Axe Prom

That's right! Axe Prom will be returning next year! We will be holding this iconic (and much missed) party on June 12, 2023 to celebrate our winners and the conclusion of IATC 2023!

Still have questions? Email us at info@iatf.com.

VIEW RULEBOOK PAGE

This post describes the paths to qualify for the 2023 International Axe Throwing Championship. 


For a more detailed discussion of how these paths have evolved over the past few years please refer to the Rules & Guidelines section 6.4 under “The Road to the IATC” titled “Qualification Paths Discussion”.

The Championship

The International Axe Throwing Championship (IATC) is an annual tournament that brings together great players from around the globe to compete for the Wilson Cup.

The tournament is divided into two Rounds. Round 1 is played at many host venues internationally. The results of Round 1 determine which competitors advance to Round 2 and determine their seeding in Round 2. The format of Round 2 is a seeded double elimination bracket, hosted in Toronto, which takes place over two days in June.

Competing in the IATC

To compete in the IATC, competitors must qualify during the Qualification Period prior to the IATC. The qualification period for IATC 2023 is March 12, 2022 to March 10, 2023.


There are two primary ways to qualify: winning selected tournaments and league performance.

Qualification via Tournaments

The previous year’s IATC Champion qualifies for the next IATC. In addition, they are guaranteed to advance to Round 2, with their seeding determined by their Round 1 results.


Each of the nine IATF Regions hosts a Regional Tournament in January. The winners of these tournaments qualify for the IATC. In addition, they are guaranteed to advance to Round 2, with their seeding determined by their Round 1 results.


Competitors who qualify via tournaments are removed from consideration for qualification via league performance.

Qualification via League Performance

IATF member organizations host qualifying league seasons (see below) throughout the Qualification Period. Any number of competitors may qualify for IATC by participating in an IATF member organization’s leagues. However, each member organization will advance a limited number of competitors to Round 2. Each member organization will have the opportunity to advance at least one competitor. Additional advancing competitors are determined by the organization’s total league participation as a percentage of the total IATF league participation.


In order to qualify, competitors must participate in at least three league seasons at one IATF member organization within the Qualification Period. These league seasons can be Standard rules or Premier rules seasons.


A competitor who finishes in the Top 8, by Champs Points (see below), in a Premier rules season qualifies for IATC. Once a competitor meets this qualification criteria, they are removed from consideration for any other league performance qualification.


A competitor who achieves an average of 70 or better in three non-concurrent seasons, Standard rules or Premier rules, hosted by one organization, qualifies for IATC. Once a competitor meets this qualification criteria, they are removed from consideration for Standard rules league performance qualification.


A competitor who finishes in the Top 4, by Champs Points (see below), in a Standard rules season qualifies for IATC.


All qualifiers via league performance compete in Round 1. The results of Round 1 determine which competitors advance to Round 2 and determine their seeding in Round 2.

What is considered a qualifying league season?

Players are considered for IATC qualification if the league seasons in which they participate meet all the following criteria:

  1. The season is hosted by an IATF member organization in good standing
  2. The season is not designated as Recreational
  3. The season is played using either IATF Standard or IATF Premier rulesets
  4. The round robin consists of matches where each player competes in 28 matches
  5. The season concludes with a double elimination playoff tournament

What are Champs Points?

Champions Points (Champs Points) are awarded to players at the end of every Standard and Premier qualifying league season, based on where they place at the end of round robin play (see the table below) and additional Champs Points are awarded based on playoff performance (see the table below).

Round Robin Rank

Champs Points

1st

16

2ND

15

3RD

14

4TH

13

5TH

12

6TH

11

7TH

10

8TH

9

9TH

8

10TH

7

11TH

6

12TH

5

13TH

4

14TH

3

15TH

2

16TH

1

Playoff Finish Position

Champs Points

1st

8

2ND

4

3RD

2

4TH

1

For a Qualification Path Flowchart click the button below:

Still have questions? Email us at info@iatf.com.

VIEW RULEBOOK PAGE