Central Premier Paintball Series

Central Premier Paintball Series (CPPS) is a British competitive paintball tournament series based near Penkridge, Staffordshire, England. It is one of the United Kingdom's principal tournament paintball competitions, providing a structured divisional league for teams ranging from beginners to experienced competitive players.[1][2]

The series operates at CPPS Paintball Park, a purpose-built tournament venue at Rodbaston Drive, Penkridge, which has hosted both domestic competitions and international events organised by NXL Europe.[3][4]

CPPS operates a multi-round annual season with divisions organised according to playing experience and competitive level. Its competition structure includes introductory categories, Division 5 through Division 2, and an Elite Division.[1][5]

The series has also hosted additional tournament formats, including seven-player and ten-player competitions.

Central Premier Paintball Series
Name	Central Premier Paintball Series
Abbreviation	CPPS
Alternative historical name	Central Professional Paintball Series
Sport	Paintball
Competition type	Tournament paintball league
Country	United Kingdom
Region	England
Venue	CPPS Paintball Park
Location	Rodbaston Drive, Penkridge, Staffordshire
Established	Active by 2013; precise founding date not independently established
Competition format	Divisional tournament paintball
Annual rounds	Five principal rounds (2026)
Divisions	Elite, Division 2, Division 3, Division 4, Division 5 and Breakout (2026)
International events hosted	NXL Europe British Invitational
Website	okpb.co.uk

History

Establishment

The Central Premier Paintball Series developed as a competitive tournament league serving the British paintball community.

The competition was operating by 2013, when the Staffordshire and District paintball team returned to tournament competition and began participating in CPPS events at Rodbaston College.[6]

A subsequent crowdfunding appeal published in connection with the team's 2015 season described the competition as the Central Professional Paintball Series and stated that its events attracted more than 110 teams per round.[6]

The precise date on which CPPS was established has not been independently confirmed.

The surviving records demonstrate that it had developed into a substantial British tournament series by the middle of the 2010s.

Development of the league

CPPS established a divisional competition structure intended to accommodate players and teams with different levels of experience.

Unlike single-division tournaments, the series provided progression from introductory categories into increasingly competitive divisions.

The structure enabled new teams to enter tournament paintball without immediately competing against established high-level teams.

An overview published by British paintball retailer Just Paintball described CPPS as a leading British tournament competition, operating five principal rounds each year alongside additional events.[2]

The same account described the league's introductory Break-in and Breakout categories, followed by Division 5 and the higher divisions.

Competition during the 2010s

By 2015, CPPS was attracting teams from across the United Kingdom.[6]

Historical competition documentation includes a seven-player event schedule from 2016, demonstrating that the organisation also supported tournament formats outside its regular divisional structure.[7]

The series continued to develop its facilities and competition infrastructure during the following years.

Its permanent venue near Penkridge became an established destination for British competitive paintball.

International tournament hosting

CPPS expanded its role beyond domestic competition by hosting events associated with NXL Europe.

The venue hosted the NXL Europe British Invitational in July 2023.

In its official preview of the 2023 European season, the National Xball League described CPPS as one of the continent's leading tournament venues, identifying five natural-grass NXL fields and one fully turfed field.[3]

The 2023 British Invitational attracted professional, semi-professional and women's teams competing in the European championship series.[4]

CPPS again hosted the British Invitational from 2 to 5 July 2026.[8]

The event brought international teams to the Penkridge facility for professional and divisional competition.

These events were organised as part of NXL Europe's international circuit and should be distinguished from the domestic CPPS league.

Competition structure

Annual season

CPPS operates a multi-round championship season.

The 2026 competition comprised five principal rounds, with events taking place from March through October.[1]

Individual rounds may be spread across multiple weekends to accommodate the number of participating divisions and teams.

The league maintains standings and match results throughout the season.

Teams compete for individual round results and season championship positions.

Divisions

The league's 2026 competition structure included six principal divisions.[1]

Division	Description
Elite Division	Highest domestic competitive category
Division 2	Advanced divisional competition
Division 3	Intermediate-to-advanced divisional competition
Division 4	Developing competitive teams
Division 5	Entry-level competitive division
Breakout	Introductory competition for newer tournament teams

The exact divisional structure and eligibility requirements have changed over time.

Earlier descriptions of the league also identify a Break-in introductory category.[2]

Division names and competition formats should therefore be interpreted in the context of the relevant season.

Match formats

CPPS uses timed, point-based tournament paintball formats played on inflatable-bunker fields.

The competition rules distinguish between introductory categories and higher-level race-format divisions.

In 2026, the rules identified Division 4 through Elite as race divisions, with specific procedures governing penalties and the award of points.[5]

Introductory categories operate under modified rules intended to accommodate developing players.

The official rules should be consulted for the precise format applicable to each division and season.

Season standings

CPPS maintains competition results and standings for its annual championship.

Its published results system records preliminary matches, wildcard rounds, quarter-finals, semi-finals and finals, depending on the competition structure.[9]

The 2026 standings system identifies match outcomes and points awarded for wins, draws and losses.

The results provide a historical record of participating teams and their performances across the season.

Individual season results are best documented in separate annual competition articles rather than reproduced in full here.

CPPS Paintball Park

Location

CPPS events are held at CPPS Paintball Park, located at Rodbaston Drive near Penkridge in Staffordshire, England.

The venue is situated in the English Midlands, north of Birmingham.

It provides dedicated facilities for competitive paintball and has hosted both domestic and international tournaments.

Playing fields

The venue is known for its natural-grass tournament fields.

In 2023, NXL Europe reported that CPPS had five grass fields constructed to NXL specifications and one fully turfed field.[3]

The facility also includes team pit areas and other infrastructure required for tournament competition.

The availability of multiple fields enables different divisions and events to operate simultaneously.

Its permanent playing surfaces and tournament infrastructure distinguish it from temporary competition venues.

Training and practice

The CPPS facility also supports tournament practice and field bookings.

The venue's registration system includes arrangements for private field bookings.[1]

This allows teams to use competition-style fields outside scheduled tournament rounds.

Such facilities provide opportunities for teams to practise on inflatable-bunker layouts and prepare for upcoming competitions.

Rules and administration

Competition regulations

CPPS publishes competition regulations governing player eligibility, equipment, penalties and match administration.

The 2026 rules include provisions covering:

Divisional competition formats
Player rosters and guest players
Paintball markers and equipment
Penalties and match procedures
Player conduct and etiquette
Age requirements
Competition-specific restrictions

The rules also include local amendments applicable to CPPS events.[5]

Equipment and safety

CPPS requires participating teams to comply with its equipment and safety regulations.

Its 2026 registration information identifies compliance with UK Paintball Sports Federation guidelines as a requirement.[1]

The competition operates under site-paint requirements, meaning teams must use paintballs supplied or approved for the venue.

The published rules establish division-specific marker velocity and rate-of-fire restrictions.

For example, the 2026 Breakout and Break-in regulations specify a maximum velocity of 280 feet per second and semi-automatic firing capped at eight balls per second.[5]

These introductory-category limits should not be interpreted as applying to every CPPS division.

Player identification

The 2026 league information states that a UKPL identification card is required for Division 5 and above.[1]

Player identification requirements form part of the league's administrative arrangements.

The exact registration requirements may vary between seasons.

Relationship with British paintball

CPPS provides a competitive structure through which British teams can participate in regular tournament paintball.

Its divisional system accommodates teams entering the sport as well as more experienced competitors.

The league's five-round season provides opportunities for regular competition, player development and progression through the divisions.

CPPS is a tournament organiser and should not be confused with a national governing body.

Its role is distinct from that of organisations responsible for wider sporting governance or industry representation.

Relationship with NXL Europe

British Invitational

The CPPS venue has hosted the NXL Europe British Invitational, one of the major international tournament events held in the United Kingdom.

The 2023 British Invitational took place from 7 to 9 July.

NXL Europe's official season preview identified CPPS as the venue for the second event of its three-round European championship season.[3]

The competition included professional, semi-professional and women's divisions.

2026 event

The 2026 NXL Europe British Invitational took place from 2 to 5 July at the CPPS venue in Penkridge.[8]

The event included men's professional five-player and three-player competition, women's professional competition and semi-professional divisions.

The tournament attracted teams from across Europe.

Contemporary coverage in Paintball Media Magazine described CPPS as one of Europe's established international tournament venues.[10]

Although held at CPPS, the British Invitational formed part of the NXL Europe championship rather than the domestic CPPS season.

Historical significance

The Central Premier Paintball Series has contributed to the development of competitive paintball in the United Kingdom through its regular tournament programme and permanent playing facility.

Its divisional structure has provided a pathway for new teams to enter competitive paintball and progress toward higher levels of competition.

The Penkridge venue has also supported the wider European tournament scene by hosting international competitions.

The series is notable for:

Operating a multi-round British tournament championship
Providing introductory and advanced competitive divisions
Maintaining dedicated tournament paintball facilities
Supporting team training and regular competitive participation
Hosting major NXL Europe events
Providing an established venue for domestic and international tournament paintball

Timeline

Year	Event
2013	CPPS documented as an active tournament series at Rodbaston College, Penkridge
2015	Contemporary account describes CPPS as attracting more than 110 teams per round
2016	Historical CPPS documentation includes a seven-player tournament schedule
2023	CPPS hosts the NXL Europe British Invitational
2026	CPPS operates a five-round domestic championship across six principal divisions
July 2026	CPPS hosts the NXL Europe British Invitational

References

"CPPS — Central Paintball Premier Series", CPPS official website, 2026. League information, annual rounds, divisional structure, registration requirements and venue details.
"What's Going On in the UK?", Just Paintball. Overview of British tournament paintball, describing the CPPS divisional system, introductory categories, venue and annual competition structure.
"The NXL Europe Season Preview: New Growth through the Major League of Paintball", National Xball League, 7 April 2023. Official account of the 2023 NXL Europe season, including the CPPS venue, its playing fields and the British Invitational.
"Feel the Joy? Pro Teams Try to Catch Joy Division at the British Invitational", National Xball League, 5 July 2023. Official preview of the British Invitational held at CPPS.
"CPPS Rules", CPPS official website, 2026. Competition rules covering divisions, penalties, equipment, player rosters and introductory competition formats.
"Staffordshire and District Paintball Academy", Crowdfunder, circa 2015. Historical account documenting CPPS participation from 2013, the use of Rodbaston College grounds and the reported scale of the series.
"CPPS 7-Man 2016 Sunday Schedule", CPPS, 2016. Historical tournament schedule documenting seven-player competition.
"2026 NXL Europe British Invitational", National Xball League, 2026. Official event information confirming the dates, venue and divisions of the 2026 British Invitational.
"CPPS Season Results", CPPS official website, 2026. Published competition results, divisional standings and match information.
"NXL Europe British Invitational 2026", Paintball Media Magazine, August 2026, p. 68. Contemporary coverage of the British Invitational at CPPS.

External links