The International Federation of Tiddlywinks Associations promotes and oversees the conduct of World Tiddlywinks Championships™ and other competitions involving accredited tiddlywinks associations.
The membership of IFTwA consists of the head of each of the IFTwA-accredited tiddlywinks associations (currently, ETwA Chairman, Harley Jones and NATwA Secretary-General, Dave Lockwood) and the IFTwA Secretary-General elected by them. Rick Tucker of NATwA is the current IFTwA Secretary-General.
IFTwA was formed on 16 June 1963 by the English, Scottish, and Irish Tiddlywinks Associations, at the Tiddlywinks Congress held at the Cobden Hotel in Birmingham, England.
IFTwA-Accredited Tiddlywinks Associations
To be accredited by IFTwA, tiddlywinks associations are required to:
- Play the game according to the official Rules of Tiddlywinks.
- Use quality equipment (squidgers, winks, pot, and mat) that meet requirements stated in the Rules of Tiddlywinks. Official equipment can ordinarily be purchased from the accredited tiddlywinks associations.
- Exhibit a satisfactory norm of play upon observation and review by one or more winkers designated by IFTwA.
The following tiddlywinks associations are currently accredited by IFTwA:
Individuals wishing to form an accredited tiddlywinks association should contact IFTwA. It is recommended that such individuals participate in tournaments conducted by an accredited association to understand the level of play involved; learn the rules; gain experience in playing the game; and begin to develop tiddlywinks strategy and tactics.
World Tiddlywinks Championships
World championships held under the purview of IFTwA include the following:
- World Singles Tiddlywinks Championships
- World Pairs Tiddlywinks Championships
- World Team Tiddlywinks Championships
See IFTwA’s policy and guidance for conducting world tiddlywinks championships.
Statistics and Ratings
International tiddlywinks ratings are maintained by ETwA. These ratings include games played in tournaments conducted by IFTwA-accredited tiddlywinks associations, that are open to any winker, and also IFTwA-sanctioned world championships.
Individual tiddlywinks associations maintain their own statistics for tournaments they hold.
Official Rules of Tiddlywinks
IFTwA sanctions approved versions of the official Rules of Tiddlywinks, which are maintained by ETwA in consultation with other tiddlywinks associations and IFTwA.
Association Coordination Activities
IFTwA acts as a broker across accredited tiddlywinks associations, to arbitrate disputes and to respond to questions concerning tiddlywinks competitions involving two or more associations or their members.