2004 Mardi Gras Open
The 2004 Mardi Gras Open was a paintball tournament held from 12 to 15 February 2004 at the Alario Center in the New Orleans area of Louisiana, United States. Produced by Paintball Sports Promotions (PSP), it combined five-player competition with National Xball League (NXL) matches.[1][2]
PSP status
[edit]PSP organised the Mardi Gras Open ahead of its main tournament series, which began at Pomona in March. During the event's final rounds, Steve Rabackoff purchased the Mardi Gras Open from PSP.[1]
Five-player competition
[edit]Four classifications competed: Professional, Amateur, Novice and Rookie. The scoring system awarded four points per elimination, two per surviving player, twenty for a flag pull and fifty for a flag hang, with a maximum of 100 points per game.[3]
The following totals are final-round points.[3]
| Division | Position | Team | Final-round points |
|---|---|---|---|
| Professional | 1 | Legacy | 292 |
| 2 | Naughty Dogs | 206 | |
| 3 | Ferg's Paintball | 100 | |
| 4 | Godspeed | 20 | |
| Amateur | 1 | Blackout | 200 |
| 2 | Diesel/Shocktech | 140 | |
| 3 | Evil Odyssey | 132 | |
| 4 | Doc's Raiders | 59 | |
| Novice | 1 | Momma's Boys | 284 |
| 2 | Diesel | 210 | |
| 3 | Surge | 92 | |
| 4 | Spent All-stars | 44 | |
| Rookie | 1 | Blackout Kidz | 290 |
| 2 | Fuel | 206 | |
| 3 | Swat Paintball.com | 100 | |
| 4 | Ratco Factory | 24 |
Professional and Amateur
[edit]All four Professional teams advanced to the finals. Legacy won all three final-round games, finishing ahead of Naughty Dogs, which had led the preliminary round with 770 points.[3]
Four of the six Amateur teams advanced. Blackout qualified fourth before winning the division with 200 final-round points, ahead of Diesel/Shocktech.[3]
Novice and Rookie
[edit]Twelve Novice teams advanced into three semi-final groups. The group winners progressed alongside one wild-card team. Momma's Boys and Dislexic Dogs tied on 212 semi-final points; Momma's Boys received the final place through its higher preliminary ranking. Momma's Boys then won all three final-round games.[3]
Sixteen Rookie teams advanced into four semi-final groups. Blackout Kidz qualified for the finals with 224 points and won all three final-round games to take the title.[3]
National Xball League
[edit]Rain prevented NXL play on Saturday. A Thursday match between Oakland and Miami was deferred because of insufficient daylight.[1]
Selected documented results were:[1]
| Day | Team | Score | Opponent |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thursday | Miami Effect | 9–8 | Los Angeles Ironmen |
| Thursday | Philadelphia Americans | 8–8 | Detroit Strange |
| Friday | Baltimore Trauma | 9–8 | Chicago Aftershock |
| Friday | Detroit Strange | 13–6 | Los Angeles Ironmen |
| Sunday | Miami Effect | 9–8 | New York Xtreme |
Legacy expansion
[edit]The NXL announced Legacy as its first expansion franchise during the event. Owned by Gary Shows, San Diego Legacy was scheduled to begin NXL competition at Pomona.[1]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- Dawn Mills, WARPIG — Mardi Gras Open 2004, 12–15 February 2004. Contemporary report covering PSP's involvement, the tournament sale, NXL results and Legacy's expansion franchise.
- PBLeagues — PSP Events archive. Mardi Gras Open, 12–15 February 2004.
- WARPIG — Mardi Gras Open 2004 scoreboard. Five-player preliminary, semi-final and final results.