The 2021 Sunshine Stata Major was the first major event in the NXL ’ s new format which includes two “ Amateur Open ” events and four major events . As the name would imply , the Amateur Open events do not include Pro or Semipro teams , while the Major events are open to all levels of play including the top tier divisions . For this event 129 Xball teams spread across six divisions , plus 63 more five and ten-man teams would compete against the best in their class . These 192 teams would play on eight airball fields spread across the large flat , grass property .
The Pro Division
As always in the NXL , the Pro division featured 20 of the world ’ s best paintball teams at the Sunshine State Major . Iconic teams like Dynasty , the Ironmen , Edmonton Impact , Houston Heat , Moscow Red Legion and Los Angeles Infamous would do battle for three days to take their best shot at winning the first Major event of the season . Would one of these teams win the event , or would one of the up-and-coming teams like Columbus LVL , San Diego Aftermath , Seattle Thunder , Baltimore Revo or ac : Dallas get their first big win ?
The preliminary rounds in the Pro division saw some major surprises . Houston Heat lost their two Friday games and failed to qualify for the ocho-finals . San Diego Dynasty lost their first two games as well but made in to Sunday on point differential tiebreakers . San Diego Aftermath , coached by Mike Hinman , looked strong out of the gate with two big wins , then lost their next two . They also made the Sunday cut . Moscow Red Legion , playing with a make-shift squad due to COVID-19 flying restrictions out of Europe , won their first three games before losing their last preliminary round game to Tampa Bay Damage .
Photo by Brian Wolfe
www . paintball . media
091