Millennium Series
The Millennium Series was an international speedball tournament circuit operating in Europe from 1999 to 2017. It was one of Europe's principal professional and amateur paintball competitions, bringing together teams from across Europe and other regions for a series of tournaments contributing towards annual championships.[1]
Established in 1999, the Millennium Series combined established European paintball tournaments into a coordinated international circuit. Its events became known for their large tournament venues, spectator facilities and participation by leading European and American teams.[1][2]
The series concluded in 2017 and was succeeded by NXL Europe in 2018 following its acquisition by the National Xball League (NXL).[7][8]
History
[edit]Establishment and early years
[edit]The Millennium Series was established in 1999, with French paintball organiser Laurent Hamet playing a leading role in its creation. The circuit brought together several existing European tournaments within a common championship structure.[1]
During its early years, the series featured events in France, the United Kingdom, Germany, Portugal, Sweden and other European countries.
The 2000 season included the 7-Man World Cup in Toulouse, France, where professional, amateur and novice teams competed. Contemporary reporting by WARPIG documented international participation, extensive spectator facilities and the involvement of major American professional teams. Avalanche won the professional competition.[2]
The 2000 Campaign Cup in England attracted leading European teams alongside American competitors. Avalanche won the professional division, followed by the Ugly Ducklings and Russian Legion.[3]
By 2001, the circuit was attracting teams from countries including Russia, Denmark, Sweden, France, Germany, Portugal, Poland and the United States. The Millennium Series event in Portugal that year featured 48 teams.[4]
Development of the competition
[edit]The Millennium Series developed from its original seven-player tournament structure into a competition incorporating different formats and divisions.
During its later years, the principal divisions included:
- Champions Paintball League (CPL): The highest professional division.
- Semi-Professional League (SPL): Competition immediately below the professional division.
- Division 1: Advanced divisional competition.
- Division 2: Open divisional competition.
- Division 3: Lower-level divisional competition.
- Division 4: Entry-level divisional competition.
The competition structure included season rankings, with teams earning points according to their results at individual tournaments. Promotion and relegation arrangements operated between certain divisions.[5][6]
The playing format evolved towards five-player, timed, multi-point matches similar to X-Ball.
Final season in 2017
[edit]The final Millennium Series season took place in 2017, with four principal tournament events:
| Event | Location | Country |
|---|---|---|
| Mediterranean Cup | Puget-sur-Argens | France |
| European Masters | Bitburg | Germany |
| Campaign Cup | London-Gatwick | United Kingdom |
| World Cup | Paris-Chantilly | France |
The final season featured the Champions Paintball League, Semi-Professional League and four divisional categories.[5]
Competition operated under World Paintball Organisation (WPBO) rules, including restrictions on the quantity of paintballs players could carry onto the field. The 2017 regulations introduced the WPBO 500 limited-paint format across the divisions.[6]
The final tournament took place at Chantilly in September 2017, concluding the Millennium Series championship.[7]
Transition to NXL Europe
[edit]In September 2017, the Millennium Series and the American National Xball League announced an agreement that would bring the European tournament circuit under the NXL organisation.
The announcement followed the final Millennium Series tournament at Chantilly. Contemporary reporting confirmed that the European competition would continue under the name NXL Europe beginning in 2018.[7]
The transition was intended to bring European and American tournament paintball closer together through more consistent competition rules and formats.
NXL Europe began operating in 2018 as the successor to the Millennium Series, retaining an international European championship structure.[8]
Significance
[edit]The Millennium Series provided a regular international championship circuit for European tournament paintball over 18 seasons.
Its competitions brought together professional and amateur teams from numerous countries and created opportunities for European teams to compete against established American professional organisations.[2][4]
The series also contributed to the development of tournament presentation, spectator facilities and organised European league competition.
Its historical results, team records and tournament rankings document an important period in the development of competitive speedball.
See also
[edit]- National Xball League
- NXL Europe
- X-Ball
- Speedball
- Campaign Cup
- European Paintball Federation
- History of tournament paintball
References
[edit]- Paintball Win Count, NXL Europe / Millennium Series, historical professional tournament results, 1999–2017.
- WARPIG, Simon Stevens, 7-Man World Cup, Toulouse 2000.
- WARPIG, Simon Stevens, Campaign Cup 2000.
- WARPIG, Chris Remuzzi, Millennium Series Portugal 2001.
- Millennium Series official archive, 2017 team profile and tournament records.
- Millennium Series, 2017 competition rules and application regulations, updated 6 February 2017.
- Paintball.fi, Kimmo Kainulainen, Millennium Series yhteen NXL:n kanssa, 21 September 2017.
- Major League Paintball, NXL Europe, official league history.