Chris Cioffi
Chris Cioffi is a Maltese competitive paintball player and administrator who serves as president of Malta Paintball. He has been involved in the development of competitive speedball in Malta, representing Maltese teams in tournaments in Italy, France and the United Kingdom.[1][2]
Cioffi has competed with Southclan Malta, HBI Malta and international HBI squads. In September 2026, he represented the Malta national paintball team at the country's inaugural United Paintball Federation (UPBF) World Championship appearance in Dreux, France.[3]
Playing career
[edit]Southclan and early international competition
[edit]Cioffi was involved in Malta's competitive speedball community during the 2010s, playing for Southclan Malta.
In May 2016, he travelled to Sicily with Southclan to participate in the Sicilian Paintball Cup. The Maltese squad included Chris Cioffi, Jesmond Cioffi and Albert Vella.
Organised by the Sicilian Paintball League, the event featured three-player speedball at Lo Spazio Siracusa and woodsball in Palazzolo Acreide.[4]
NXL Europe (2021–2024)
[edit]Cioffi competed at the 2021 NXL European Championships in Chantilly, France, representing HBI How Big is Paintball 3 in the Amateur 3-Man division.
The team recorded two victories from eight matches and finished seventh among nine competitors.[5]
In September 2022, he returned to the European Championships in Dreux, competing with HBI in the Open 10-Man division.
The team recorded three victories on the field and one forfeit victory during the preliminary stage, finishing sixth among seven teams.[6]
Cioffi continued competing internationally with HBI Malta, including the CPS Champions Paintball Series "Living the Dream" tournament in Rome on 20–21 April 2024.
Following the event, he described the challenges of facing experienced professional and semi-professional opposition and the importance of continuing to improve Malta's competitive standard.[7]
2026 European Championships
[edit]Cioffi participated in the 2026 NXL European Championships at Ace Paintball in Dreux, France.
He competed with The Leftovers III in Division 4 Xball, finishing 18th among 19 teams.
The team faced Ballistix, Sabotage, PBL Murcia and GCO Factory Team during the preliminary stage.[8]
Paintball administration
[edit]Malta HBI Extreme Sports Club
[edit]Cioffi served as president of the Malta HBI Extreme Sports Club, an affiliate of the Association of Maltese Arms Collectors and Shooters (AMACS).
The association's published 2024–2025 committee identified Cioffi as president, alongside secretary Jesmond Cioffi and other officials.
The club subsequently adopted the name Valletta Paintball Club.[9]
Malta Paintball
[edit]Cioffi became president of Malta Paintball, a registered voluntary organisation responsible for developing organised competitive paintball in Malta.
Under his presidency, the organisation pursued international competition, domestic training facilities and the establishment of a national representative programme.[1][2]
In 2026, Malta Paintball competed in Division 5 of the Central Premier Paintball Series (CPPS) in the United Kingdom, while preparing to enter the UPBF World Championship for the first time.
In August 2026, Cioffi publicly discussed the organisation's plans to develop regular competitive training in Malta and provide opportunities for Maltese players to compete internationally.[1]
The organisation also worked to connect Maltese players living overseas with the national team programme.
Malta national team
[edit]Cioffi was a member of Malta's inaugural national squad at the 2026 UPBF World Championship, held in Dreux on 2–3 September.
The tournament marked Malta's first appearance in the international Nations Cup competition.
Malta competed in the men's Xball division, facing Great Britain, Belgium, South Africa and Switzerland.
The national team finished 20th among 20 countries, losing all four preliminary matches but scoring points against South Africa and Switzerland.[3][10]
Cioffi was one of eight players selected for the inaugural squad.
As Malta Paintball president, he also represented the organisation publicly during preparations for the tournament, describing the country's debut as the beginning of a longer-term effort to develop international competitive paintball in Malta.[1]
Selected tournament appearances
[edit]| Year | Tournament | Team | Division | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Sicilian Paintball Cup | Southclan Malta | 3-Man | Participated |
| 2021 | NXL European Championships | HBI How Big is Paintball 3 | Amateur 3-Man | 7th of 9 |
| 2022 | NXL European Championships | HBI | Open 10-Man | 6th of 7 |
| 2024 | CPS Champions Paintball Series, Rome | HBI Malta | Xball | Participated |
| 2026 | UPBF World Championship | Malta | Men's Xball | 20th of 20 |
| 2026 | NXL European Championships | The Leftovers III | Division 4 Xball | 18th of 19 |
See also
[edit]- Malta Paintball
- Malta national paintball team
- Paintball in Malta
- Southclan Malta
- HBI Malta
- United Paintball Federation
- NXL Europe
- Central Premier Paintball Series
References
[edit]- MaltaSport, Rowen Camilleri, "Malta to make historic debut at Paintball Nations Cup in France", 13 August 2026.
- Malta Paintball, "About Us", official organisational information.
- Malta Paintball, "Malta's First Nations Cup: Building from Dreux", 9 October 2026.
- Malta Paintball, "Southclan Takes Maltese Paintball to the Sicilian Paintball Cup", 31 May 2016.
- Malta Paintball, "Chris Cioffi Competes at the 2021 NXL European Championships in France", 7 September 2021.
- Malta Paintball, "Maltese Players Compete in Xball and 10-Man at the 2022 NXL European Championships", 19 September 2022.
- Malta Paintball, "HBI Malta Competes at CPS in Rome", 22 April 2024.
- Malta Paintball, "Malta Paintball's Involvement Across Three Divisions at the 2026 NXL European Championships", 11 October 2026.
- Association of Maltese Arms Collectors and Shooters, "Valletta Paintball Club", organisational history and 2024–2025 committee.
- PBLeagues, "2026 NXL European Championships", official tournament rankings.