1996 ZAP International Amateur Open
The 1996 ZAP International Amateur Open was an amateur paintball tournament held at Three Rivers Paintball in Pennsylvania from 8 to 11 August 1996. Promoted as the sixth annual ZAP International Open, it was organised by Debra and Ryan Krischke through Team Effort Events. Bite 'Em Black won the novice five-player competition, Team Raptor won the amateur five-player competition, and the Green Dragons won the amateur ten-player competition.[1][2]
Organisation
[edit]The event formed part of the annual International Amateur Open, with ZAP Paintballs supplying the tournament paint. Advance publicity anticipated more than 800 competitors and US$60,000 in sponsored prizes.[1]
A novice five-player division was introduced for 1996. Organiser Debra Dion Krischke also revised the amateur eligibility rules. Players considered too experienced to compete could instead participate as judges or coaches.[1]
Competition format
[edit]The five-player competition was scheduled for Thursday and Friday, using a centre-flag format and ten-minute games. The ten-player competition took place on Saturday and Sunday, using two flags and twenty-minute games. Each team was scheduled to play between seven and thirteen games.[1]
Both formats used divisional competition and International Amateur rules, previously known as IPPA rules. All competitors were required to use ZAP tournament paint, and officiating crews included NAPRA-certified judges.[1]
Additional scheduled activities included a five-player pump-marker tournament, target shooting, a public speedball arena and Gotya three-player speedball for players aged 13–22.[1]
Kingman International offered a US$10,000 prize if the ten-player championship was won by a team whose members all used Spyder semi-automatic markers.[1]
Results
[edit]Novice five-player
[edit]| Place | Team |
|---|---|
| 1 | Bite 'Em Black |
| 2 | Criminal Mischief |
| 3 | Rapid Fire |
| 4 | The Family |
Amateur five-player
[edit]| Place | Team |
|---|---|
| 1 | Team Raptor |
| 2 | Dragoons |
| 3 | TAGG Team |
| 4 | Thunder Chickens |
Amateur ten-player
[edit]| Place | Team |
|---|---|
| 1 | Green Dragons |
| 2 | SOB's |
| 3 | Thunderstorm |
| 4 | Virginia Gentlemen I |
Source for all three divisions: WARPIG.[2]
Trade show and associated events
[edit]Advance publicity advertised more than 60 trade-show booths, a players' party and the Ms. International Paintball competition.[1]
The accompanying Paintball Industry Conference attracted more than 130 attendees. Discussions included field-paint-only and bring-your-own-paint policies. Products displayed during the event included prototypes of the Palmer Blazer, Angel V6 and Component Concepts Revolution, alongside the Smart Parts Shocker.[2]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- Staff report, “The 6th Annual ZAP International Open”, Action Pursuit Games, August 1996, pp. 30–32.
- “The ZAP International Amateur Open”, WARPIG, contemporary event coverage, August 1996.