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Created page with " '''HBI Malta''' was a Maltese competitive paintball team associated with the international '''HBI''' (How Big Is Paintball) organisation. Based in Żejtun, Malta, the team competed in the National Xball League Europe European Championships between 2022 and 2024, as well as tournaments in Italy.[1][2] HBI Malta participated in Division 3 Xball during the 2022 and 2023 European Championships before moving to Division 4 in 2024, finishing 16th among 24..."
 
Update HBI with verified 2022–2024 European Championships results, reported Italian tournament appearances and PBLeagues listings of 15 players and five staff; distinguish historical membership, registration and facility plans from event rosters and founding dates.
 
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'''HBI''', registered in competition as '''HBI Malta''', is a Maltese tournament paintball team. Its [[PBLeagues]] profile identifies Żejtun as its home town and records appearances at the [[NXL European Championships]] in 2022, 2023 and 2024. [1]


'''HBI Malta''' was a Maltese competitive [[paintball]] team associated with the international '''HBI''' (How Big Is Paintball) organisation. Based in Żejtun, Malta, the team competed in the [[NXL Europe|National Xball League Europe]] European Championships between 2022 and 2024, as well as tournaments in Italy.[1][2]
The team competed in Division 3 Xball in 2022 and 2023, followed by Division 4 Xball in 2024, when it finished 16th among 24 teams. [1]
 
HBI Malta participated in Division 3 Xball during the 2022 and 2023 European Championships before moving to Division 4 in 2024, finishing 16th among 24 teams.[1]


== History ==
== History ==


=== Formation and 2022 European Championships ===
=== Registration and 2022 competition ===


HBI Malta was registered with [[PBLeagues]] on 31 May 2022, listing Żejtun as its home town. The registration date is the earliest documented appearance of the team under this name, rather than a confirmed founding date.[1]
HBI Malta's PBLeagues profile records registration on 31 May 2022. This is a database registration date rather than a confirmed team founding date. [1]


Maltese player [[Chris Cioffi]] had previously competed with the wider HBI organisation at the [[2021 NXL European Championships]] in Chantilly, France, representing HBI How Big Is Paintball 3 in the Amateur 3-Man division.[3]
At the 2022 European Championships, held from 15 to 18 September, HBI Malta entered Division 3 Xball. It lost its four preliminary matches against United Strasbourg, ENERGY, Consilium Dei Zuerich and Trash Pandas, each by 0–4, and finished 32nd among 32 teams. [1][2]


HBI Malta entered the [[2022 NXL European Championships]] at Ace Paintball in Dreux, France, held from 15 to 18 September.
A Team HBI announcement dated 17 September 2022 described the tournament as HBI Malta's first NXL experience and referred to the forthcoming opening of an HBI Malta home field. The announcement documents a planned facility rather than a confirmed opening date. [3]


Competing in Division 3 Xball, the team faced United Strasbourg, ENERGY, Consilium Dei Zuerich and Trash Pandas.
=== 2023 competition ===


HBI Malta lost all four preliminary matches by scores of 0–4, finishing 32nd among 32 teams.[4]
HBI Malta returned to the European Championships in 2023, again entering Division 3 Xball. Its preliminary results were defeats against Monkey Family, Outlaw Kings and Ronholt Detonation by 0–4, and Mambang Di Awan by 1–5. The team finished 33rd among 33 entries. [1][4]


Chris Cioffi also competed in the separate Open 10-Man tournament with the wider HBI squad, which finished sixth among seven teams.[4]
A Malta Paintball account also records HBI Malta's participation in the MacDev Cup at Paintball La Fortezza in Rome on 26 November 2023. The account does not supply a final placing. [5]


=== 2023 season ===
=== 2024 competition ===


HBI Malta returned to Dreux for the [[2023 NXL European Championships]], held from 30 August to 3 September.
According to Malta Paintball, HBI Malta competed at the CPS Champions Paintball Series ''Living the Dream'' event in Rome on 20–21 April 2024. Its account describes the team's participation but does not provide final standings. [6]


The team again competed in Division 3 Xball, playing four preliminary matches:
At the 2024 European Championships, HBI Malta entered Division 4 Xball. Its preliminary matches were played on 31 August and 1 September. [7]


{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
! Opponent
! Opponent !! HBI Malta score !! Result
! Score
! Result
|-
|-
| Monkey Family
| Consilium Dei Zuerich 2 || 3–1 || Win
| 0–4
| Loss
|-
|-
| Outlaw Kings
| Hannover Painthers Red || 1–3 || Loss
| 0–4
| Loss
|-
|-
| Ronholt Detonation
| C.O.P. 60 || 2–2 || Draw
| 0–4
| Loss
|-
|-
| Mambang Di Awan
| Redball 2 || 0–2 || Loss
| 1–5
| Loss
|}
|}


HBI Malta finished 33rd among 33 teams.[1][5]
The team finished 16th among 24 entries. [1][7]


The same tournament featured [[HBI W]] in the professional [[Women's National Xball League]] division. Maltese player [[Jovana Roncevic]] competed with HBI W, which reached the semi-finals and finished fourth among five teams.[5]
== Documented players and staff ==


On 26 November 2023, HBI Malta competed at the MacDev Cup, held at Paintball La Fortezza in Rome, Italy.[6]
The PBLeagues Members listing records 15 players and five staff. The following tables reproduce the listed names and event counts. They are historical team listings, rather than a single event roster or confirmation of current membership. A dash indicates that no event count was displayed. [1]


=== 2024 season ===
=== Players ===


HBI Malta participated in the CPS Champions Paintball Series "Living the Dream" tournament in Rome on 20–21 April 2024.
{| class="wikitable"
! Name !! Events listed
|-
| Andrew Attard || 2
|-
| [[Chris Cioffi]] || 3
|-
| Danilo Russo || 1
|-
| Dominik Sylla || 1
|-
| Emmanuel Giordano || 2
|-
| Gianmarco Tamburini || 1
|-
| Jesmond Cioffi || 2
|-
| Kyle Magri || 1
|-
| Leonardo Pernice || 1
|-
| Lo Giudice Sebastiano || 1
|-
| Lorenzo Reggiani || 1
|-
| Luis Gallardo || —
|-
| Matteo Parisotto || 1
|-
| Nicola Pol || 1
|-
| Stefano Zappulla || 3
|}


Following the event, Chris Cioffi described the experience of competing against established international opposition and the team's efforts to improve its competitive performance.[7]
=== Staff ===


In August, HBI Malta returned to the [[NXL European Championships]] at Ace Paintball in Dreux.
{| class="wikitable"
 
! Name !! Events listed
The team entered Division 4 Xball, competing on 31 August and 1 September.
|-
| Dominic Dunham || 3
|-
| Erik Bergseie || 3
|-
| Jacob Simonsson || 1
|-
| Johan Romberg || 1
|-
| Nelson Zappulla || 1
|}


HBI Malta opened with a 3–1 victory over Consilium Dei Zuerich 2 before losing 1–3 to Hannover Painthers Red.
PBLeagues identifies these five individuals as staff without specifying their duties. [1]


On the second day, the team drew 2–2 with C.O.P. 60 and lost 0–2 to Redball 2.
== Tournament record ==
 
The team finished 16th among 24 competitors, recording one victory, one draw and two defeats.[1][8]
 
This was HBI Malta's highest documented placing across its three NXL European Championships appearances.
 
== Training facilities ==
 
HBI Malta was associated with [[Epic Fields Paintball]], a paintball training facility in Burmarrad, Malta.
 
On 17 September 2022, Team HBI Paintball published an announcement referring to the development of a home field in Malta.[9]
 
The playing area included protective netting, inflatable paintball bunkers and a prepared playing surface suitable for speedball practice.
 
Epic Fields was also used by [[Southclan Malta]], whose 2024 PBLeagues registration identified it as the team's home field.[10]
 
Chris Cioffi documented training activity at Epic Fields during January 2024.
 
In September 2024, Cioffi announced the end of the team's use of the facility. The available records do not establish the permanent closure of the business.[10]
 
== Organisation ==
 
The HBI name was also associated with the '''HBI Extreme Sports Club''', a Maltese voluntary organisation registered under VO/2222.[11]
 
On 23 October 2024, the HBI Extreme Sports Club amalgamated with the Malta Tactical Airsoft Club, an affiliate of the Association of Maltese Arms Collectors and Shooters (AMACS).
 
The combined organisation became the Malta HBI Extreme Sports Club, later renamed [[Valletta Paintball Club]].[12]
 
Chris Cioffi served as president of the combined club during the 2024–2025 period, with Jesmond Cioffi as secretary and Jovana Roncevic as treasurer.
 
These organisational changes are distinct from HBI Malta's tournament registration and should not be interpreted as evidence that the competitive team itself formally merged or ceased operating.
 
== Tournament results ==


{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
! Year
! Year !! Tournament !! Division !! Recorded result
! Tournament
! Division
! Position
|-
|-
| 2022
| 2022 || NXL European Championships || Division 3 Xball || 32nd of 32. [1]
| [[NXL European Championships]]
| Division 3 Xball
| 32nd of 32
|-
|-
| 2023
| 2023 || NXL European Championships || Division 3 Xball || 33rd of 33. [1]
| [[NXL European Championships]]
| Division 3 Xball
| 33rd of 33
|-
|-
| 2023
| 2023 || MacDev Cup, Rome || Not specified || Participation reported; placing not supplied. [5]
| MacDev Cup, Rome
| Not established
| Participated
|-
|-
| 2024
| 2024 || CPS Champions Paintball Series, Rome || Not specified || Participation reported; placing not supplied. [6]
| CPS Champions Paintball Series, Rome
| Not established
| Participated
|-
|-
| 2024
| 2024 || NXL European Championships || Division 4 Xball || 16th of 24. [1]
| [[NXL European Championships]]
| Division 4 Xball
| 16th of 24
|}
|}
Results are based on official PBLeagues records and contemporary tournament reporting.[1][4][5][6][7][8]


== See also ==
== See also ==


* [[Paintball in Malta]]
* [[Paintball in Malta]]
* [[Southclan Malta]]
* [[Southclan (Malta Paintball Team)]]
* [[HBI W]]
* [[Chris Cioffi]]
* [[Chris Cioffi]]
* [[Epic Fields Paintball]]
* [[Epic Fields Paintball]]
* [[Valletta Paintball Club]]
* [[Malta Paintball]]
* [[NXL Europe]]
* [[NXL Europe]]


== References ==
== References ==


# [https://pbleagues.com/team/6eVms1Un1MOUO5fi PBLeagues, "HBI Malta", official team profile and tournament history.]
# [https://pbleagues.com/team/6eVms1Un1MOUO5fi HBI Malta: team profile, tournament history and Members listing]. PBLeagues. Members listing checked on 27 October 2026.
# [https://www.maltapaintball.org/news/maltese-players-compete-in-xball-and-10-man-at-the-2022-nxl-european-championships Malta Paintball, "Maltese Players Compete in Xball and 10-Man at the 2022 NXL European Championships", 19 September 2022.]
# [https://pbleagues.com/team/roster/fWCVPrFHplu4MIJS HBI Malta at the 2022 European Championships]. PBLeagues, official match results.
# [https://www.maltapaintball.org/news/chris-cioffi-competes-at-the-2021-nxl-european-championships-in-france Malta Paintball, "Chris Cioffi Competes at the 2021 NXL European Championships in France", 7 September 2021.]
# [https://www.facebook.com/TeamHBIpaintball/posts/523015353157838/ HBI Malta's first NXL experience and planned home field]. Team HBI, Facebook, 17 September 2022.
# [https://pbleagues.com/team/roster/fWCVPrFHplu4MIJS PBLeagues, "HBI Malta at the 2022 European Championships", official match results.]
# [https://pbleagues.com/team/roster/PeR41GDcPZnl9Sst HBI Malta at the 2023 European Championships]. PBLeagues, official match results.
# [https://www.maltapaintball.org/news/jovana-reaches-the-womens-semi-finals-at-the-2023-nxl-european-championships Malta Paintball, "Jovana Reaches the Women's Semi-Finals at the 2023 NXL European Championships", 5 September 2023.]
# [https://www.maltapaintball.org/news/hbi-malta-competes-at-the-macdev-cup-in-rome HBI Malta Competes at the MacDev Cup in Rome]. Malta Paintball, account carrying a dateline of 27 November 2023.
# [https://www.maltapaintball.org/news/hbi-malta-competes-at-the-macdev-cup-in-rome Malta Paintball, "HBI Malta Competes at the MacDev Cup in Rome", 27 November 2023.]
# [https://www.maltapaintball.org/news/hbi-malta-competes-at-cps-in-rome HBI Malta Competes at CPS in Rome]. Malta Paintball, account carrying a dateline of 22 April 2024.
# [https://www.maltapaintball.org/news/hbi-malta-competes-at-cps-in-rome Malta Paintball, "HBI Malta Competes at CPS in Rome", 22 April 2024.]
# [https://pbleagues.com/team/roster/3BkH0bew1Pr8Oosl HBI Malta at the 2024 European Championships]. PBLeagues, official match results.
# [https://www.maltapaintball.org/news/malta-players-compete-in-two-divisions-at-the-2024-nxl-european-championships Malta Paintball, "Malta Players Compete in Two Divisions at the 2024 NXL European Championships", 9 September 2024.]
# [https://www.facebook.com/TeamHBIpaintball/posts/523015353157838/ Team HBI Paintball, announcement concerning the development of HBI Malta's home field, 17 September 2022.]
# [https://www.wikipaintball.com/index.php/Epic_Fields_Paintball WikiPaintball, "Epic Fields Paintball", historical facility records.]
# [https://cvocms.2iltd.com/Organisations/Directory Office of the Commissioner for Voluntary Organisations, directory entry for HBI Extreme Sport Club, VO/2222.]
# [https://www.amacs-malta.org/clubs/mtac/ Association of Maltese Arms Collectors and Shooters, "Valletta Paintball Club", official club history.]


== External links ==
== External links ==


* [https://pbleagues.com/team/6eVms1Un1MOUO5fi HBI Malta on PBLeagues]
* [https://pbleagues.com/team/6eVms1Un1MOUO5fi HBI Malta on PBLeagues]
* [https://www.facebook.com/TeamHBIpaintball/ Team HBI Paintball on Facebook]
* [https://www.facebook.com/TeamHBIpaintball/ Team HBI on Facebook]


[[Category:Paintball teams]]
[[Category:Maltese paintball teams]]
[[Category:Maltese paintball teams]]
[[Category:European paintball teams]]
[[Category:Maltese paintball history]]
[[Category:Paintball in Malta]]
[[Category:Paintball in Malta]]
[[Category:Paintball on Malta]]
[[Category:2020s in Maltese paintball]]

Latest revision as of 08:39, 27 October 2026

HBI, registered in competition as HBI Malta, is a Maltese tournament paintball team. Its PBLeagues profile identifies Żejtun as its home town and records appearances at the NXL European Championships in 2022, 2023 and 2024. [1]

The team competed in Division 3 Xball in 2022 and 2023, followed by Division 4 Xball in 2024, when it finished 16th among 24 teams. [1]

History

[edit]

Registration and 2022 competition

[edit]

HBI Malta's PBLeagues profile records registration on 31 May 2022. This is a database registration date rather than a confirmed team founding date. [1]

At the 2022 European Championships, held from 15 to 18 September, HBI Malta entered Division 3 Xball. It lost its four preliminary matches against United Strasbourg, ENERGY, Consilium Dei Zuerich and Trash Pandas, each by 0–4, and finished 32nd among 32 teams. [1][2]

A Team HBI announcement dated 17 September 2022 described the tournament as HBI Malta's first NXL experience and referred to the forthcoming opening of an HBI Malta home field. The announcement documents a planned facility rather than a confirmed opening date. [3]

2023 competition

[edit]

HBI Malta returned to the European Championships in 2023, again entering Division 3 Xball. Its preliminary results were defeats against Monkey Family, Outlaw Kings and Ronholt Detonation by 0–4, and Mambang Di Awan by 1–5. The team finished 33rd among 33 entries. [1][4]

A Malta Paintball account also records HBI Malta's participation in the MacDev Cup at Paintball La Fortezza in Rome on 26 November 2023. The account does not supply a final placing. [5]

2024 competition

[edit]

According to Malta Paintball, HBI Malta competed at the CPS Champions Paintball Series Living the Dream event in Rome on 20–21 April 2024. Its account describes the team's participation but does not provide final standings. [6]

At the 2024 European Championships, HBI Malta entered Division 4 Xball. Its preliminary matches were played on 31 August and 1 September. [7]

Opponent HBI Malta score Result
Consilium Dei Zuerich 2 3–1 Win
Hannover Painthers Red 1–3 Loss
C.O.P. 60 2–2 Draw
Redball 2 0–2 Loss

The team finished 16th among 24 entries. [1][7]

Documented players and staff

[edit]

The PBLeagues Members listing records 15 players and five staff. The following tables reproduce the listed names and event counts. They are historical team listings, rather than a single event roster or confirmation of current membership. A dash indicates that no event count was displayed. [1]

Players

[edit]
Name Events listed
Andrew Attard 2
Chris Cioffi 3
Danilo Russo 1
Dominik Sylla 1
Emmanuel Giordano 2
Gianmarco Tamburini 1
Jesmond Cioffi 2
Kyle Magri 1
Leonardo Pernice 1
Lo Giudice Sebastiano 1
Lorenzo Reggiani 1
Luis Gallardo —
Matteo Parisotto 1
Nicola Pol 1
Stefano Zappulla 3

Staff

[edit]
Name Events listed
Dominic Dunham 3
Erik Bergseie 3
Jacob Simonsson 1
Johan Romberg 1
Nelson Zappulla 1

PBLeagues identifies these five individuals as staff without specifying their duties. [1]

Tournament record

[edit]
Year Tournament Division Recorded result
2022 NXL European Championships Division 3 Xball 32nd of 32. [1]
2023 NXL European Championships Division 3 Xball 33rd of 33. [1]
2023 MacDev Cup, Rome Not specified Participation reported; placing not supplied. [5]
2024 CPS Champions Paintball Series, Rome Not specified Participation reported; placing not supplied. [6]
2024 NXL European Championships Division 4 Xball 16th of 24. [1]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. HBI Malta: team profile, tournament history and Members listing. PBLeagues. Members listing checked on 27 October 2026.
  2. HBI Malta at the 2022 European Championships. PBLeagues, official match results.
  3. HBI Malta's first NXL experience and planned home field. Team HBI, Facebook, 17 September 2022.
  4. HBI Malta at the 2023 European Championships. PBLeagues, official match results.
  5. HBI Malta Competes at the MacDev Cup in Rome. Malta Paintball, account carrying a dateline of 27 November 2023.
  6. HBI Malta Competes at CPS in Rome. Malta Paintball, account carrying a dateline of 22 April 2024.
  7. HBI Malta at the 2024 European Championships. PBLeagues, official match results.
[edit]
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