Alexander Berdnikov
Alexander Berdnikov (also transliterated as Aleksandr Berdnikov), known by the nickname Maloy, is a Russian professional paintball player associated with Russian Legion, also known as Boston Red Legion and Moscow Red Legion. He competed in the American professional tournament circuit and represented Russia in international paintball competition.[1][2]
Berdnikov was ranked first in the 2012 Paintball Access professional player rankings and was named captain of the Russian national team in 2017.[3][4]
Paintball career
[edit]Russian Legion
[edit]Berdnikov joined Russian Legion during its development as an international professional team.
In an August 2012 interview, Russian Legion coach Maxim Preobrazhenskiy identified Berdnikov among the younger players who joined the organisation during its earlier American competition period.[2]
Russian Legion won the 2006 NXL championship and Paintball World Cup during this period.[2]
Berdnikov continued competing with the organisation during the following years.
The official Russian Legion roster published by Social Paintball on 23 February 2012 listed him as player number 11.[1]
The same roster separately identified Alexey Berdnikov as player number 10.
2012 season
[edit]Berdnikov competed for Russian Legion during the 2012 Paintball Sports Promotions professional season.
A December 2012 team statement published by Social Paintball identified him as the number-one ranked player in the Paintball Access professional player rankings.[3]
The statement also confirmed that the team's Russian players, including Berdnikov, had renewed their contracts for the 2013 season.
2013 season
[edit]A March 2013 PSP preseason guide identified Berdnikov as one of Moscow Red Legion's key players.
The guide listed him as number 11, playing a back position, and recorded his Paintball Access ranking as first.[5]
He remained part of the team's experienced playing group during its rebuilding period.
International competition
[edit]Russian national team
[edit]Berdnikov represented Russia in international tournament paintball.
On 16 June 2016, the Russian Paintball Federation included him in its published national squad for the 2016 World Championship in England.[6]
The squad also included Konstantin Fedorov, Kirill Prikhidni, Vasiliy Panteleev and Pavel Lukashuk.
2017 national team captain
[edit]On 15 May 2017, the Russian Paintball Federation announced its national team for the 2017 World Championship.
Berdnikov was named captain of the nine-player squad.[4]
The selected players included Konstantin Fedorov, Kirill Prikhidni, Pavel Karsliev and Vasiliy Panteleev.
Playing reputation
[edit]Berdnikov has been associated with the nickname Maloy in paintball publications.
A historical player profile published by Iconic Paintball described his role within Russian Legion as an experienced player relied upon for eliminations, field control and tactical decision-making.[7]
His 2012 Paintball Access ranking provides a contemporary measure of his individual performance during the PSP professional season.[3]
See also
[edit]- Russian Legion
- Kirill Prikhidni
- Konstantin Fedorov
- Vasiliy Panteleev
- Pavel Karsliev
- Paintball Sports Promotions
- National Xball League
References
[edit]- Social Paintball, "Official 2012 Russian Legion/Boston Red Legion PSP Roster", 23 February 2012.
- Social Paintball, "Russian Legion's Past, Present, and Future with Head Coach Maxim Preobrazhenskiy", 14 August 2012.
- Social Paintball, "Russian Legion Announces Changes for 2013", 26 December 2012.
- Russian Paintball Federation, "Candidates for the Russian National Team for the 2017 World Championship", 15 May 2017.
- Social Paintball, "Moscow Red Legion – 2013 PSP Preseason Guide", 4 March 2013.
- Russian Paintball Federation, "Russian Men's National Team for the 2016 World Cup in England", 16 June 2016.
- Iconic Paintball, historical professional player profiles. Alexander Berdnikov, also known as Maloy.