Editing Paintball Sports Promotions (section)

== History ==

=== Formation and NPPL-sanctioned competition, 2001–2002 ===

PSP formed in 2001 when promoters producing NPPL-sanctioned tournaments joined together to negotiate collectively with the league and pool their resources. The NPPL established sanctioning requirements and competition rules, while the promoters produced the individual tournaments.[1][2]

The arrangement followed disagreements over tournament standards, sanctioning fees and the relationship between player representatives and promoters. Cooperation allowed investment in shared infrastructure, including netting, field equipment and a compressed-air system reported to cost more than US$200,000.[1][2]

Relations deteriorated during negotiations for the 2002 season. The Los Angeles Open retained NPPL sanctioning, but the Las Vegas Open took place without it. In May, the organisations reached an agreement restoring NPPL sanctioning for the remaining Chicago Open, Atlantic City Open and World Cup.[2]

=== Independent circuit and X-Ball, 2003–2005 ===

For 2003, NPPL, Inc. announced a separate seven-player series. PSP continued five-player and ten-player tournaments while adding X-Ball. Both organisations initially used the NPPL name, reflecting competing claims to its ownership and historical use.[3]

The original NXL began professional franchise-based X-Ball competition in 2003, with matches held alongside PSP tournaments. PSP also offered divisional X-Ball outside the professional franchise structure.[3][4]

The Mardi Gras Open hosted the opening NXL competition in 2003 and 2004. Although produced by PSP, it was a stand-alone tournament outside the five-event PSP series.[6]

World Cup moved to Disney's Wide World of Sports in 2003. Its programme included five-player, ten-player, divisional X-Ball, collegiate competition and the NXL championship. Philadelphia Americans won the inaugural NXL championship.[4]

Professional NXL competition and PSP divisional X-Ball remained distinct. Boston Red Legion entered the NXL for 2005 after competing successfully in PSP X-Ball in 2004. The NXL's 2004 championship final also received television coverage on ESPN2.[5]

=== Format changes and NXL integration, 2006–2008 ===

PSP expanded its main calendar to six events in 2006, adding the Texas Open. Divisional X-Ball replaced double-elimination preliminary brackets with group competition, providing teams with more guaranteed matches.[6]

The NXL opened participation beyond its existing franchise teams through invitations and introduced individual tournament trophies and prizes. Five-player X-Ball also replaced PSP's traditional five-player format, using best-of-three pairings as an intermediate step towards longer X-Ball matches.[6]

Championship procedures varied between seasons. In 2007 and 2008, NXL results before World Cup determined championship seeding, while the World Cup competition decided the professional title. Los Angeles Ironmen won both championships.[7][8]

Divisional teams separately accumulated ranking points towards season championships. Consequently, a divisional World Cup winner was not necessarily the corresponding season champion.[7][8]

=== PSP professional RaceTo competition, 2009–2012 ===

PSP's 2009 announcement designated its professional competition as “Pro Race to 7 (Formerly NXL)” and introduced Semi-Pro RaceTo-7. Divisions 1 and 2 used RaceTo-5, Division 3 used RaceTo-4, and five-player competition adopted RaceTo-2 match scoring.[9]

Some contemporary coverage continued using the NXL name, despite PSP's revised professional designation.[10]

The national calendar contracted from five events to four in 2009. World Cup moved from Disney's Wide World of Sports to Fantasy of Flight in Polk City, Florida. The four-event calendar continued in 2010 and 2011 before returning to five events in 2012.[11][12]

Live internet coverage became part of PSP's event presentation. Following a webcast at the 2008 World Cup, the 2009 Phoenix Open used a multi-camera production with commentary and interviews.[10]

Severe weather disrupted the 2012 Galveston Island Open. Its unfinished professional competition was completed on 19 April at the Phoenix venue, before the separate Phoenix Open began. Tampa Bay Damage won the rescheduled Galveston final.[13]

Houston Heat subsequently won Phoenix, the Mid-Atlantic Open and World Cup, securing the 2012 professional season championship.[14]

=== Champions and Challengers, 2013–2014 ===

PSP introduced a two-tier professional structure in 2013. Teams initially competed together at Dallas, with the top ten qualifying for Champions at the following event. Other professional teams entered Challengers alongside additional entrants.[15]

Both divisions used the same playing format and rules. After the second event, the leading two Challengers teams earned promotion for the following tournament, replacing two relegated Champions teams.[15]

Dynasty won the 2013 professional season championship, finishing seven points ahead of Edmonton Impact. Impact won the 2014 season title.[16][17]

Event victories remained separate from season championships. The Champions and Challengers structure also allowed teams to move between professional divisions during the same season.[15]

=== Final season and suspension, 2015 ===

PSP announced changes for 2015 that removed outside coaching and introduced semi-automatic firing for professional players. Chief operating officer Lane Wright discussed these decisions in a December 2014 interview.[19]

The [[2015 PSP Dallas Open]] took place from 13–15 March at Cousins Paintball in Forney, Texas. It drew 116 teams across eight divisions and was affected by heavy rain and muddy conditions. Los Angeles Infamous defeated Houston Heat 5–4 in the professional final.[18]

PSP announced five national tournaments for 2015:[22]

{| class="wikitable"
! Event !! Announced dates !! Venue !! Outcome
|-
| [[2015 PSP Dallas Open]] || 13–15 March || Cousins Paintball, Forney, Texas || Held
|-
| [[2015 PSP Nashville Open]] || 1–3 May || Sharp Springs Natural Area, Smyrna, Tennessee || Cancelled
|-
| [[2015 PSP Mid-Atlantic Open]] || 18–21 June || Outdoor Xtreme Chesapeake City, Maryland || Did not take place
|-
| [[2015 PSP Chicago Open]] || 7–9 August || CPX Sports, Joliet, Illinois || Did not take place
|-
| [[2015 PSP World Cup]] || 15–18 October || Fantasy of Flight, Polk City, Florida || Did not take place
|}

On 1 May, Paintball Media reported that PSP had apparently suspended its season and published a separate three-event calendar for the revived NXL.[20]

Negotiations concerning an NXL acquisition of PSP did not result in a completed transaction. On 19 May, Paintball Media reported that the proposed acquisition would not proceed.[21]

The revived NXL's tournaments were separate from the uncompleted PSP calendar. In particular, the NXL World Cup was not the cancelled PSP tournament announced for Fantasy of Flight.[20][22]