Editing US Paintball League (section)

== History ==

=== Formation (2009) ===

In December 2008, Pacific Paintball announced the liquidation of its assets, including the NPPL Super 7 World Series.

The announcement followed financial difficulties that prevented the organisation from continuing its previous operations.

In January 2009, representatives of 16 professional teams established the US Paintball League to continue national seven-player tournament competition.

The new organisation appointed former NPPL president [[Chuck Hendsch]] as commissioner.

Camille Lemanski was named general manager, while Tom Cole, another former NPPL president, was appointed ultimate judge.[1][2]

The USPL adopted a player-owned structure intended to give participating professional teams greater involvement in league management.

Its organisers proposed lower entry fees, larger prize packages and greater opportunities for amateur teams.

The league also announced plans for eastern and western regional conferences, although its final 2009 tournament schedule differed from the original six-event proposal.[1][5]

=== Huntington Beach Surf City Open ===

The USPL held its inaugural tournament from 3 to 5 April 2009 at Huntington Beach, California.

The venue had previously hosted the opening event of the NPPL Super 7 World Series.

The competition featured professional and amateur seven-player divisions, alongside five-player competition.

[[DC Arsenal]] won the professional division, defeating [[San Diego Dynasty]] in the finals.

Dynasty Entourage won Division 1, Arsenal Predators won Division 2 and Sadistik won Division 3.[3]

=== West Coast Open ===

The second USPL national tournament was the West Coast Open, held from 24 to 26 July 2009 at SC Village in Corona, California.

The event continued the league's seven-player professional and amateur competitions.

It formed part of the four-event national championship season.[6]

=== DC Challenge ===

The third tournament took place from 28 to 30 August 2009 at Pev's Paintball Park in Aldie, Virginia.

The competition included professional and amateur seven-player divisions, five-player competition and a pump division.

DC Arsenal won the professional division, with Oakland Blast finishing second and San Diego Dynasty third.

Dynasty Entourage won Division 1, Arsenal Predators won Division 2 and Wired won Division 3.

Devotion won the five-player Division 3 competition, while Indy Mutiny won the pump division.[7][8]

=== Las Vegas World Championships ===

The fourth and final tournament of the 2009 season took place from 16 to 18 October at the Riviera Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada.

The event was promoted as the Las Vegas World Paintball Championships.

The competition included professional and amateur seven-player divisions, five-player competition and open pump play.

The tournament also incorporated a trade exhibition, continuing the commercial exhibition format associated with previous NPPL championships.[9]

=== Return to NPPL branding ===

During 2009, the USPL obtained rights to the NPPL name.

For the 2010 season, the national tournament circuit operated under the NPPL identity.

The change restored the established league name while continuing national seven-player competition.

The NPPL subsequently operated through 2013 before announcing the suspension of its national series in 2014.[4][10]