X-Factor continued to look hot in the quarterfinals, wiping the turf with Breakout Spa in yet another 6-0 mercy match. But the fireworks started in the rest of the field as the remainder of the quarterfinal matchups were all decided by one point margins. Fit edged out Houston Heat in a heartbreak match 5-4, and the TonTons, fighting to keep their organization alive, battled to the finish for a 5-4 upset over Red Legion.
Perhaps the most anticipated match of the year came next, as Impact and Damage went head-to-head. The matchup brought some of the most intense paintball of the season, the grudge between the two squads palpable, and it was Impact who broke in the end. Tied at two, the match looked to be headed to overtime when a major penalty was assessed on Justin Cornell, ending the match in a swing point, and sending Impact packing for the event and dispelling their shot at a medal in the series rankings as well.
The semifinals shaped up with a Texas showdown between Paintball Fit and X-Factor, and two determined juggernauts in Damage versus the TonTons.
X-Factor couldn’ t find an answer for the kids from Dallas, as Fit sailed past them with a 5-2 victory. But on the other side of the set, a war was waged. Damage and the TonTons would scrap all the way into overtime, and despite the crafty play of Hugo Verhaeghe in the snake and a hard press by Fabrice Colombo, Damage ultimately issued heartbreak to the Frenchmen, taking the 5-4 win.
Hot out of battle, Damage came into the finals with momentum and a point to prove. They toppled Paintall Fit 4-2 for the gold, silenced the critics, and made a statement to the league as a whole.
But Fit was not completely denied. With their second place finish, they secured the series title, reclaiming the one spot over Red Legion and another chance to pop the champagne on center stage once again.
PbM
Photo By Matt Clayton, shot on 35mm film www. paintball. media
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