Editing 1987 International Air Pistol Open

The '''1987 International Air Pistol Open''' was a 15-player [[paintball]] tournament held on 18–19 July 1987 at National Survival Game–New York in Newburgh, New York, United States. Organised by field owner [[Jerry Braun]], it attracted 32 teams from the United States and Canada and offered US$22,000 in guaranteed cash prizes.[1]

[[Navarone]]–Armageddon won the tournament, followed by Land Sharks II, the Texas Boonie Rats and Canada's Unknown Rebels.[1]

== Organisation and venue ==

Entry was open regardless of a team's home-field affiliation or sponsorship. Braun guaranteed the cash prize fund irrespective of the number of entrants. Equipment dealers and manufacturers also exhibited products.[1]

Four woodland fields were reserved and modified for the competition. They combined natural cover with occasional plywood structures.[1]

== Competition format ==

Teams fielded 15 players and could register five alternates. Games used a 45-minute capture-the-flag format.[1]

The 32 teams were divided into eight preliminary groups of four. Eight teams advanced to a second group stage, followed by a four-team final stage. Scores were reset between stages.[1]

=== Scoring ===

{| class="wikitable"
! Action
! Points
|-
| Elimination of an opposing player
| 2 per player, to a maximum of 30
|-
| First capture of the opposing flag
| 10
|-
| Successful flag return
| 60
|-
! Maximum per game
! 100
|}

Source: the contemporary tournament report in ''Front Line''.[1]

=== Equipment restrictions ===

Only .68-calibre paintball pistols were permitted. Rifles and constant-air systems were prohibited, barrels could not exceed 7.5 inches, and the velocity limit was 325 feet per second. Markers underwent inspection and chronograph testing before competition.[1]

=== Officiating ===

Seven non-playing referees were assigned to each game. They communicated eliminations by radio to a control desk, recording players by armband colour and number.[1]

Eliminated players had five minutes to leave the field and report to the desk. Failure to report within that period incurred a two-point team penalty.[1]

== Tournament progression ==

The following teams advanced from the preliminary stage.[1]

{| class="wikitable"
! Second-stage group
! Teams
|-
| I
| Land Sharks II; Navarone–Apocalypse; HeadHunters; Boonie Rats
|-
| II
| Combat Crew; Navarone–Armageddon; Wild Geese; Unknown Rebels
|}

Land Sharks II, Boonie Rats, Navarone–Armageddon and Unknown Rebels advanced to the final stage.[1]

== Results ==

{| class="wikitable"
! Position
! Team
! Award
|-
| 1
| [[Navarone]]–Armageddon
| US$15,000 and championship trophy
|-
| 2
| Land Sharks II
| US$5,000 and second-place trophy
|-
| 3
| Texas Boonie Rats
| US$2,000 and third-place trophy
|-
| 4
| Unknown Rebels
| Safety equipment supplied by [[JT Racing]]
|}

The placements and awards were documented in ''Front Line''. JT Racing was also identified as Navarone–Armageddon's sponsor.[1]

== Subsequent event ==

A later history published by the World Classic Paintball League records another Air Pistol Open at the New York field in 1988.[2]

== See also ==

* [[Navarone]]
* [[Jerry Braun]]
* [[National Survival Game]]
* [[Big Apple Tournament of Champions]]

== References ==

# [https://oldpaintballmagazines.smugmug.com/Front-Line/1987/September “The First International Air Pistol Open”, ''Front Line'', September 1987, pp. 5–7. Digitised issue hosted by Old Paintball Magazines.]
# [https://www.playwcpl.com/wcpl-ny-an-historic-field World Classic Paintball League, ''WCPL NY: An Historic Field'', March 2023.]

== External links ==

* [https://oldpaintballmagazines.smugmug.com/Front-Line/1987/September Digitised September 1987 issue of Front Line]

[[Category:Paintball tournaments in the United States]]
[[Category:Paintball in New York]]
[[Category:1980s in American paintball]]
[[Category:Paintball tournament results]]
[[Category:1987 in paintball]]