Editing 1987 NSG North American Championship

The '''1987 NSG North American Championship''', advertised as the '''5th Annual Survival Game North American Championship''', was a [[paintball]] tournament organised by [[National Survival Game]] in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States, from 9 to 12 October 1987.[1][2]

Thirty-three 15-player teams from the United States and Canada entered. The [[Wild Geese (paintball team)|Wild Geese]] of New Hampshire won the championship and US$20,000. [[Navarone|Navarone–Apocalypse]] finished second, followed by Direct Hit of Ohio.[2]

== Organisation ==

For 1987, National Survival Game replaced regional qualification with direct entry into a consolidated championship. Advertising promoted the event as “The Big Splat” and guaranteed each team at least three games.[1]

The advertised entry fee was US$1,300 per team, including 4,800 paintballs and 300 carbon-dioxide cartridges. A US$325 non-refundable deposit was required.[1]

The total prize fund was US$40,000, distributed among the first six teams.[2]

== Equipment and format ==

Teams used stock .68-calibre paintball pistols powered by individual 12-gram carbon-dioxide cartridges. Barrels could not exceed 24 inches, and muzzle velocity could not exceed 290 feet per second.[2]

Teams were assigned to divisions by a blind draw. The contemporary report described four-team groups, with group winners advancing to subsequent stages. Results were determined by points earned during play.[2]

Four fields were used, and games were scheduled to last 45 minutes. Teams could inspect the fields before competition.[2]

== Competition ==

Teams arrived before the opening games on Saturday, 10 October. Rain affected the first day, followed by cool conditions on Sunday. Nine teams remained in contention on Monday, when the championship concluded.[2]

The contemporary report stated that the three-day playing schedule was completed without delays.[2]

== Results ==

{| class="wikitable"
! Position
! Team
! Location reported
! Prize
|-
| 1
| [[Wild Geese (paintball team)|Wild Geese]]
| New Hampshire
| US$20,000
|-
| 2
| [[Navarone|Navarone–Apocalypse]]
| California
| US$10,000
|-
| 3
| Direct Hit
| Ohio
| US$5,000
|-
| 4
| Landsharks
| New York
| US$2,500
|-
| 5
| Bushwackers
| California
| US$1,500
|-
| 6
| Bushwackers
| Texas
| US$1,000
|}

Source: ''Front Line'', November 1987.[2]

The fifth- and sixth-placed Bushwackers were separate teams identified with California and Texas respectively.[2]

A subsequent ''Action Pursuit Games'' profile independently confirmed the Wild Geese's championship victory. Team member Ed Derrickson described it as a collective achievement rather than the contribution of an individual most valuable player.[3]

== See also ==

* [[National Survival Game]]
* [[Wild Geese (paintball team)]]
* [[Navarone]]
* [[1987 International Air Pistol Open]]

== References ==

# National Survival Game advertisement, “The Big Splat: The 5th Annual Survival Game North American Championship”, ''[[Front Line (paintball magazine)|Front Line]]'', September 1987.
# “The 5th Annual Survival Game North American Championship”, ''Front Line'', November 1987, p. 25.
# Debra L. M. Byrd, “Wild Geese”, ''[[Action Pursuit Games]]'', February 1988, pp. 16–17 and 72.

[[Category:Paintball tournaments in the United States]]
[[Category:Paintball in Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:1980s in American paintball]]
[[Category:Paintball tournament results]]
[[Category:National Survival Game]]
[[Category:1987 in paintball]]