Editing 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 ==

=== Russian Legion ===

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 ===

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 ===

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 ==

=== Russian national team ===

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 ===

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 ==

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 ==

* [[Russian Legion]]
* [[Kirill Prikhidni]]
* [[Konstantin Fedorov]]
* [[Vasiliy Panteleev]]
* [[Pavel Karsliev]]
* [[Paintball Sports Promotions]]
* [[National Xball League]]

== References ==

# [https://www.socialpaintball.com/2012/02/23/official-2012-russian-legionboston-red-legion-psp-roster/ Social Paintball, "Official 2012 Russian Legion/Boston Red Legion PSP Roster", 23 February 2012.]
# [https://www.socialpaintball.com/2012/08/14/russian-legions-past-present-and-future-with-head-coach-maxim-preobrazhenskiy/ Social Paintball, "Russian Legion's Past, Present, and Future with Head Coach Maxim Preobrazhenskiy", 14 August 2012.]
# [https://www.socialpaintball.com/2012/12/26/russian-legion-announces-changes-for-2013/ Social Paintball, "Russian Legion Announces Changes for 2013", 26 December 2012.]
# [https://www.rfpaintball.ru/news/detail.php?ID=700 Russian Paintball Federation, "Candidates for the Russian National Team for the 2017 World Championship", 15 May 2017.]
# [https://www.socialpaintball.com/2013/03/04/moscow-red-legion-2013-psp-preseason-guide/ Social Paintball, "Moscow Red Legion – 2013 PSP Preseason Guide", 4 March 2013.]
# [https://rfpaintball.ru/news/detail.php?ID=480 Russian Paintball Federation, "Russian Men's National Team for the 2016 World Cup in England", 16 June 2016.]
# [https://www.iconicpaintball.com/history Iconic Paintball, historical professional player profiles. Alexander Berdnikov, also known as Maloy.]

== External links ==

* [https://www.socialpaintball.com/2012/02/23/official-2012-russian-legionboston-red-legion-psp-roster/ Russian Legion 2012 professional roster]
* [https://www.rfpaintball.ru/news/detail.php?ID=700 Russian national team announcement, 2017]

[[Category:Russian paintball players]]
[[Category:Professional paintball players]]
[[Category:Paintball players]]