1987 NSG North American Championship
The 1987 NSG North American Championship, advertised as the 5th Annual Survival Game North American Championship, was a paintball tournament organised by National Survival Game in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States, from 9 to 12 October 1987.[1][2]
Thirty-three 15-player teams from the United States and Canada entered. The Wild Geese of New Hampshire won the championship and US$20,000. Navarone–Apocalypse finished second, followed by Direct Hit of Ohio.[2]
Organisation
For 1987, National Survival Game replaced regional qualification with direct entry into a consolidated championship. Advertising promoted the event as “The Big Splat” and guaranteed each team at least three games.[1]
The advertised entry fee was US$1,300 per team, including 4,800 paintballs and 300 carbon-dioxide cartridges. A US$325 non-refundable deposit was required.[1]
The total prize fund was US$40,000, distributed among the first six teams.[2]
Equipment and format
Teams used stock .68-calibre paintball pistols powered by individual 12-gram carbon-dioxide cartridges. Barrels could not exceed 24 inches, and muzzle velocity could not exceed 290 feet per second.[2]
Teams were assigned to divisions by a blind draw. The contemporary report described four-team groups, with group winners advancing to subsequent stages. Results were determined by points earned during play.[2]
Four fields were used, and games were scheduled to last 45 minutes. Teams could inspect the fields before competition.[2]
Competition
Teams arrived before the opening games on Saturday, 10 October. Rain affected the first day, followed by cool conditions on Sunday. Nine teams remained in contention on Monday, when the championship concluded.[2]
The contemporary report stated that the three-day playing schedule was completed without delays.[2]
Results
| Position | Team | Location reported | Prize |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wild Geese | New Hampshire | US$20,000 |
| 2 | Navarone–Apocalypse | California | US$10,000 |
| 3 | Direct Hit | Ohio | US$5,000 |
| 4 | Landsharks | New York | US$2,500 |
| 5 | Bushwackers | California | US$1,500 |
| 6 | Bushwackers | Texas | US$1,000 |
Source: Front Line, November 1987.[2]
The fifth- and sixth-placed Bushwackers were separate teams identified with California and Texas respectively.[2]
A subsequent Action Pursuit Games profile independently confirmed the Wild Geese's championship victory. Team member Ed Derrickson described it as a collective achievement rather than the contribution of an individual most valuable player.[3]
See also
References
- National Survival Game advertisement, “The Big Splat: The 5th Annual Survival Game North American Championship”, Front Line, September 1987.
- “The 5th Annual Survival Game North American Championship”, Front Line, November 1987, p. 25.
- Debra L. M. Byrd, “Wild Geese”, Action Pursuit Games, February 1988, pp. 16–17 and 72.Add United States tournament, American decade and results categories; standardise the year category and verify dates, equipment rules and prize placements against contemporary reports.