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/

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.