"I was an arcade rat as a kid and currently own four machines of my own, and I travel around to tournaments and play competitively," said Clinton, 35, who has been playing pinball ever since he can remember.
In August, Clinton won the Papa 11 award in his division in Pittsburgh, taking home a pinball trophy and a $1,000 cash prize.
He's now entered in the 2008 Canadian Pinball Competition being held at The Playdium Store here in Etobicoke on Ronson Drive.
The top prize is a World Poker Tour Pinball Machine by STERN Pinball Inc. with a retail value of $4,700.
Clinton said he wants to add that pinball machine to his growing collection at home, which includes one gaming machine with special sentimental value.
"I have Pinbot which was the game when I was a kid," Clinton said. "I remember playing it in a hell hole of a bus station terminal."
Len Keywood, general manager of the Playdium Store said the 2008 Canadian Pinball Competition is drawing attention from all different levels of players and even people outside of the GTA.
"There's a whole cult of pinball players out there, so there's various leagues and regular get togethers where people are participating (in pinball)," Keywood said.
Keywood said that the idea to host the competition came from customer interest.
"There's a number of leagues in existence today and now with the new store and the proper format we thought it's just a natural scenario to be able to host the tournament."
As far as a fear of pinball being replaced by other digital gaming options, both Keywood and Clinton did not seem to see it as a problem.
Clinton said there is a "niche market of people interested in this."
Keywood was quick to say how different playing pinball is to other video games.
"It's a completely different scenario," said Keywood. "It's something you can't replicate with the home video game. It's a completely different experience."
Keywood said he too has been playing pinball for most of his life and his idea to own the wholesale store, Playdium, came from that initial interest.
Keywood said the Playdium Store draws a lot of companies, but that the general public are also interested in owning pinball machines for a recreational purpose in their homes.
"There's a major interest," said Keywood. "It's one of those retro products from the 70's that sort of took a back seat to the video games in the 80's and now is making a fairly big resurgence."
The competition will begin Friday with the first set of qualifying rounds from 2 to 8 p.m. Saturday will host a variety of events including the second set of qualifying rounds, a free children's tournament for kids 15 and under, a charity competition for the media, and a Funland Arcade auction.
The finals for the main competition will take place on Sunday.
Gary Stern, president of the only pinball manufacturer left in the world, STERN Pinball Inc. will be giving out the prizes Sunday night.
For more information or to sign up for the competition visit www.theplaydiumstore.com.