Texas Storm
Texas Storm, also known as TX Storm, was an American tournament paintball team associated with Texas. The team competed in the National Professional Paintball League (NPPL), Paintball Sports Promotions (PSP) and the European Millennium Series, with documented tournament appearances extending from the 1990s into the 2010s.[1][2][3]
Texas Storm won Division I at the 2004 NPPL Denver Open and 2004 Millennium Series Málaga tournament. The team also finished second in the 2012 NPPL Division I season standings.[4][5][6]
History
[edit]Early history
[edit]Texas Storm was active in American tournament paintball by the early 1990s.
An advertisement published in the December 1991 issue of Paintball Planet magazine listed Texas Storm among teams sponsored by C.M. Support, the manufacturer of ViewLoader equipment. Other teams identified in the advertisement included the Boonie Rats, PMI Piranhas and Florida Terminators.[1]
Texas Storm also appears in recollections of Texas woodland tournament competition during the transition from pump-action to semi-automatic paintball markers.[7]
The team's precise founding date has not been established.
NPPL competition (1997–2002)
[edit]Texas Storm was competing nationally in the NPPL by 1997.
At the 1997 NPPL Las Vegas Open, the team reached the amateur 10-man finals against Enemy, Farside and Fatal Swoop.
Texas Storm finished second with 128 points, behind Enemy on 216 points.[2]
The team continued competing in national tournaments during the early 2000s.
At the 2001 NPPL Atlantic City event, Texas Storm participated in the Amateur A 10-man division. Contemporary WARPIG reporting identified the team among the leading amateur competitors during the preliminary rounds.[3]
In 2002, Texas Storm appeared in both amateur and professional 10-man rankings published by WARPIG.
The team's amateur results totalled 39 ranking points across four tournaments. A separate professional entry was recorded at the World Cup.[8]
Avery Amaya was identified as captain of Texas Storm in contemporary coverage of the 2002 World Cup. Amaya also assisted with commentary during the X-Ball exhibition tournament.[9]
X-Ball and international competition (2003–2004)
[edit]Texas Storm participated in the early development of divisional X-Ball competition.
At the 2003 PSP Los Angeles Open, the team competed in Division I X-Ball against opponents including Jax Warriors, Brimstone Smoke and Nasty.[10]
The organisation subsequently competed in the NPPL Super 7 format.
At the 2004 NPPL Denver Open, Texas Storm advanced through the Division I elimination rounds.
The team defeated Farside in the semi-finals before facing Colorado Shooters in the championship match.
Texas Storm won two consecutive games against Colorado Shooters, securing first place in Division I.[4]
The team also competed internationally during 2004.
At the Millennium Series tournament in Málaga, Spain, Texas Storm won Division I, finishing ahead of Dorian Golak 1, Kellys and Ugly Ducklings.[5]
Later competition (2011–2012)
[edit]Texas Storm remained active in the NPPL during the early 2010s.
At the 2011 NPPL Chicago Open, held at CPX Sports in Illinois, Texas Storm finished first in the Division I preliminary rankings.
The team subsequently reached the final against Dynasty 2.
Texas Storm won the opening game, while the second ended in a tie. Dynasty 2 won the deciding game and secured the championship through the tournament's points-based tiebreaking system.
Texas Storm finished second.[11]
The following year, Texas Storm competed in the 2012 NPPL Division I championship.
At the season-ending World Paintball Championships in Las Vegas, the team finished second behind TCP Machine.
Texas Storm also finished second in the overall 2012 Division I season standings, behind Camp Pendleton Raiders and ahead of TCP Machine and Dynasty 2.[6]
The team's subsequent competition history and present organisational status have not been conclusively established.
Equipment and sponsorship
[edit]Texas Storm was associated with several paintball equipment manufacturers during its competitive history.
A December 1991 advertisement documented ViewLoader sponsorship of a team using the Texas Storm name.[1]
During the early 2000s, Bob Long produced a Texas Storm edition of the Bob Long Intimidator electronic paintball marker.
Examples of the Texas Storm Intimidator are preserved in contemporary equipment discussions and paintball collectors' archives.[12]
Notable personnel
[edit]- Avery Amaya – Captain of Texas Storm, documented during the 2002 World Cup.[9]
Selected tournament results
[edit]| Year | Tournament or series | Division | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | NPPL Las Vegas Open | Amateur 10-man | 2nd [2] |
| 2004 | NPPL Denver Open | Division I | 1st [4] |
| 2004 | Millennium Series Málaga | Division I | 1st [5] |
| 2011 | NPPL Chicago Open | Division I | 2nd [11] |
| 2012 | NPPL World Paintball Championships, Las Vegas | Division I | 2nd [6] |
| 2012 | NPPL season standings | Division I | 2nd overall [6] |
See also
[edit]- National Professional Paintball League
- Millennium Series
- Paintball Sports Promotions
- Farside (paintball team)
- Bob Long Intimidator
- List of historically significant paintball teams
References
[edit]- Paintball Planet – December 1991, p. 27, ViewLoader sponsorship advertisement.
- WARPIG – 1997 NPPL Las Vegas Open, Tournament Results.
- WARPIG – 2001 NPPL Atlantic City, Tournament Report.
- WARPIG – 2004 NPPL Denver Open, Bill Mills and Dawn Mills, July 2004.
- PBHub – Millennium Series Málaga 2004, Final Results, 10 October 2004.
- Social Paintball – San Diego Dynasty Wins the 2012 NPPL World Paintball Championships, Bea Paxson, 8 October 2012.
- M.Carter.Brown – OFGs of MCB: What Was Paintball Like in the Transition from Pump to Semi?, 24 July 2021.
- WARPIG – 2002 NPPL Ten-Man Season Rankings.
- WARPIG – X-Ball at World Cup 2002, Bill Mills.
- WARPIG – 2003 PSP Los Angeles Open, Tournament Report.
- WARPIG – 2011 NPPL Chicago Open, Tournament Report, 20–22 May 2011.
- Paintball Vault – Bob Long Texas Storm Intimidator, Historical Equipment Listings.