Paintball Media Magazine February 2025 | Page 45

While the Pro action in the ICPL is where all of the cameras are at , the Amateur division is where you ’ ll find the heart of our sport .
Lockout was solid all weekend . They did have one slip-up against the Warboyz on the mounds field during the prelims and took a loss to AAF , but beyond that they were nearly perfect . They dominated six out of their eight games . Going into the semifinals , they took a shot from Roadies Factory ( the Georgia boys who had a hardfought weekend of their own , coming home with a silver for their part in the 5-Man ), but came back hard against the local TRIBE to earn their finals berth .
But it was the boys from South Carolina who made the sleeper run . They dropped their first two matches to Lockout and Lockout Canada respectively , but then they went on a run . They would wipe AAF off the field in a perfect game , and then win their next nine games consecutively , giving them a virtually uncontested run at the amateur division gold medal .
One of the things that Classic events offer that other majors lack is the opportunity to commune with current and retired professional players alike . The scope of the event is scaled-down creating an atmosphere that , while still competitive , is far more relaxed . People hang out in their tents throughout the day and intermingle , making it a more social environment than major events in other series and a rare opportunity to enjoy the community . But with it also comes the in-fighting and other challenges of legacy , old-school paintball that makes one question if it is worth the effort .
Players must have been well-behaved at the Classic Cup . Following the event , with a great deal of excitement from the classic and mechanical loyalists , ICPL announced that they will be returning for 2025 / 6 with a scaled-back series . Dates can be found on the Major League Paintball and NXL webpages .
We look forward to seeing you there .

PbM

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