1993 ZAP International Amateur Open

The 1993 ZAP International Amateur Open was an amateur paintball tournament held at Three Rivers Paintball in the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, area. Organised by Debra Dion Krischke and Ryan Krischke of Team Effort Events, the four-day event attracted 80 five-player teams and 40 ten-player teams from the United States and Canada. Outta Control won the five-player competition, while Nemesis won the ten-player competition.[1][3]

Organisation

The tournament was an edition of the annual International Amateur Open. ZAP Paintballs served as its principal sponsor and supplied the tournament paint, marking the company's second consecutive year of sponsorship.[1][3]

Competition followed standard International Paintball Players Association and Lively Productions rules. The judging staff included Dennis Day, Mark Stiffler, Reggie Denner, T. W. Squires and Lee Draper, supported by amateur and professional players recruited from across the United States.[1][3]

Reggie Denner and Mark Stiffler of the North American Paintball Referees Association conducted a referee-training class at the Pittsburgh Sheraton North, the tournament's headquarters hotel.[1]

Five-player competition

The 80 entrants were divided into 20 groups of four teams. Four preliminary rounds reduced the field to 16 semi-finalists, from which four teams advanced to a three-game final round.[1]

The finalists were Outta Control of California, the Maniacs of West Palm Beach, Florida, the Rad Busters of Virginia and the Arch Angels of St Louis.[1]

Outta Control recovered from a scoreless opening finals game against the Arch Angels by defeating the Rad Busters 100–0. An 80–36 result against the Maniacs in their last game secured the championship with 180 points.[1]

Finalists' results

Place	Team	Final-round points
1	Outta Control	180
2	Maniacs	158
3	Rad Busters	124
4	Arch Angels	48

Source: Action Pursuit Games.[1]

Ten-player competition

The 40 teams were divided into ten groups of four. Teams were reranked after the opening preliminary round and played a second preliminary round. The top eight then contested a single-game semi-final. The four winners advanced to the championship bracket, while the other four played for fifth to eighth place.[1]

Nemesis of Florida, Avant Garde of Virginia, Personal Vendetta of Alberta, Canada, and Black Reign of Indianapolis reached the championship bracket. Nemesis and Avant Garde entered the last game level on 124 points. Both won their final matches, but a penalty for an over-velocity marker reduced Avant Garde's score and gave Nemesis the title.[1]

Leading final standings

Place	Team
1	Nemesis
2	Avant Garde
3	Personal Vendetta
4	Black Reign (Indianapolis)
5	Thunderstorm
6	Storm
7	Indianapolis Sewer Rats
8	Lightning Force

Source: Action Pursuit Games.[1]

Additional competitions and awards

Gary's Guerrillas received the five-player Tippmann Sportsmanship Award, while Team I.C.E. received the ten-player award.[1]

Pro Team Products sponsored a target-shooting competition. Team Venom of Maryland won the five-player team competition, with its player Rich Mann taking the individual award. Gary's Guerrillas won the ten-player team competition, and Chris McKee of Gary's Guerrillas won the individual award.[1]

Zany ZAP Awards

Award	Five-player recipient	Ten-player recipient
New Kids on the Block	Team Sadisfaction	Black Hats
Cool Team	Personal Vendetta	Body Count
Dapper Dan	Shadow Company A and B	Black Watch
Long Distance Runners	Apple Dumpling Gang	Apple Dumpling Gang
Best Referee	Brian Stowers	Tom Cole

Source: Action Pursuit Games.[1]

Trade show and social events

The event included a paintball trade show, speedball arena, manufacturers' reception and player party. Trade-show participation required a second vendors' tent to accommodate the exhibitors.[1]

National Paintball Supply sponsored the trade show. National Paintball Supply East and Indian Springs Paintball helped sponsor the industry dinner and reception. Brass Eagle hosted the player party, with refreshments also supplied by the Pittsburgh Brewing Company.[3]

Media coverage

Contemporary reporting recorded coverage by two local network television affiliates, national distribution of an Associated Press photograph and tournament feature, and a Boston radio interview with Debra Dion Krischke.[2]

See also

• International Amateur Open
• Three Rivers Paintball
• ZAP Paintballs

References

1. Ken "Hollywood" Gilder, “Party Time in Pittsburgh: The 1993 Zap International Amateur Open”, Action Pursuit Games, January 1994, pp. 62–70 and 72.
2. Ken "Hollywood" Gilder, “Paintball Gets National Media Attention”, Action Pursuit Games, January 1994, p. 70.
3. Ken "Hollywood" Gilder, “To Those Who Made It All Possible”, Action Pursuit Games, January 1994, p. 71.