/// NXL Great Lakes Open.
“THEY HAD BECOME THE COMEBACK KINGS”
Let’s talk about paintball! This event had a
very unique layout that would give way to
a variety of games. With only one bunker
consistently safe to go to on Dorito side, and
a bunch of large heads up and cross shot
lanes on snake side, this field was for the
most part, a pocket layout. Teams would
stack the center, bumps became difficult and
most of the attack came through the center.
This kind of layout lead to either slow, low
point games, but sometimes gave way to
exciting points with creative center field
cuts by craftier players. Of course there are
always those super aggressive, in your face
snake players that still figured out ways to
push the pace and attack the snake. Players
like Alex Goldman, Justin Cornell and Chad
George were exciting to watch, with the
continuation of no coaching, Pro games were
enjoyable to watch. Compared to the “true
semi” format of the late psp, creating a lot
of random individual play and variables, the
return to 10 bps ramp was a sigh or relief.
The pro style was restored, and you could
see the mastery of communication, zoning
and teamwork once again. A few teams were
most notable to watch, Impact, 187 crew,
and Damage. Impact, who over the past few
seasons proved they are a consistent top tier
team, continued to stun. Let’s be honest, they
are Yankees of paintball, but not just being a
team of all-stars. You can feel the closeness,
the comradely every time you’re near them.
Their focus, their commitment to being true
professionals is remarkable. I was fortunate
enough to share the same hotel as them the
past few events. When you get back during
the evening, you’d find them meeting. When
you’d leave for dinner upon returning you’d
find them where you last left them, hard at
work. For this reason I believe they are one
of the few true “professional” teams. Another
team becoming more and more impressive
is the young and ever hungry Upton 187.
This team, nipping at the heels of the top
teams for over two seasons has become
undeniably strong. Recently becoming more
competitive, by making it onto Sunday and
winning some tough matches. Being last
year’s relegation kings they are now a force
to be reckoned with. Finally, I think a lot of
fans would agree Damage showed signs of
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///
Summer 2015
potential to return to what they once were.
After losing a few key players, and almost
disbanding completely, the team decided to
take matters upon themselves to keep the
legend alive. Even with only six core players
remaining, and a slew of new Division one
pickups, the team was starting to look like
a younger version of its former selves. With
solid technical lock down play, great lanes
and teamwork, and excellent game breaking
ability from the Edwards brothers, I have
no doubt they’ll become a powerhouse once
again. Let’s talk about semi-pro, this would
be a meat grinder of an event. With no easy
brackets, and what seemed like a very penalty
heavy field, it was anyone’s game in this.
Seriously, day-to-day, you could not tell who
would win, or even move on out of prelims.
Field two saw lots of ties and lots of brackets
with teams moving on 2-2, 2-1-1, 2-0-2, with
bizarrely unpredictable games. Seemingly
most dominant and consistent were Portland
Uprising, and DMG, both not being strangers
to top four. Uprising, assisted by new young
Ironmen pickups, looked precise. A team of
players who are no stranger to pro caliber
games or late Sunday play. In the past few
events, they had become the comeback
kings, refusing to lose and bringing back a
lot of matches that stood on the brink. With
great teamwork, and clutch individual play
from a very talented roster, I knew I’d see
them on Sunday. The other two teams who
rounded out the top 4 were Bloodhounds,
a tough team that’s been together, and
Chicago Distortion. Bloodhounds took 4th
once again, a spot they are no stranger too.
A versatile and hardworking team, it’s only a
matter of time before they pass their Sunday
2nd round plateau. Chicago Distortion, a
team that’s no strangers to the D1 podium of
seasons past. Winning their first 3 games in
prelims, they seemed to be the team to beat,
leaving first in their bracket. They would
only lose one game, to a gritty and talented,
but inconsistent New York Outlaws. With
the unexpected 6-1 loss perhaps, Distortion
would now know where their weaknesses
lied. Giving them the knowledge necessary to
succeed on Sunday and defeat a strong
Seattle Uprising.
Locker
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