The day might have begun with a drizzle but that just wasn’t enough to put a damper on anybody’s spirit. All 12 local teams had arrived in full strength with ample time before the commencement of the first game to gear up and get themselves mentally psyched for the adrenaline-packed day ahead. As part of the SPNS ritual, players and referees also got pumped up and in the zone to the sound of “30 Seconds”, which added a lot more oopmh! to the already-charged atmosphere.

With the stage brilliantly set up by the main sponsor and organiser, Red Dynasty Paintball Park, players, supporters and spectators alike were all eager for the day to get started and the whitewashed bunkers to get painted. The event facilitators all proudly decked out in white shirts provided by apparel sponsor, Thorb, were going to help make this event a superb one. For this leg of the Singapore Paintball Novice Series 09 (SPNS 09), each team comprising a seven-player roster with five first team players and two reserve players, was to play Speedball based on a 5-on-5 format. All teams were expected to play 8 qualifying rounds to determine which 8 teams would qualify for the quarter-finals and then proceed to vie for the championship title. Apart from gunning to win the Championship title for SPNS 09 Leg 3, teams were also out to win the Overall Championship for SPNS 09. Other awards up for grabs this leg were the Top Gun award as well as the Most Valuable Player (MVP) award.

Unlike previous legs, this third and final leg was interestingly slated to be a day of surprises. With defending champions, Red West returning with a new line up comprising some familiar faces and at least one fresh, inexperienced player and even one freelancer in the mix, it soon became clear that Leg 3 could possibly be anybody’s game. Dark Militia, a team fully staffed with experienced players and having been consistent with training for this last tournament, looked set to tip the scale in their favor. If it was any SPNS to win, Leg 3 was it. After all, having been the runner-up in the last leg, Dark Militia appeared visibly tired. However, it could also jolly well have been the underdogs - the Contract Killers led by Captain and Top Gun, Mohamed Shakil Samsul Ariffin, who are obviously not going down without a fight. Having played together for several legs prior, these young and absolutely gung-ho individuals seemed to have fine-tuned their chemistry over the ensuing months to give the hot favorites a run for their money.

And so the event progresses with several obvious highlights running through. While it was a close fight between several teams during the qualifiers, teams like Red West and Dark Militia were obviously leading the pack. At the end of the qualifying rounds, only eight teams made it through successfully – Red West, Dark Militia, Contract Killers, Five-O, Evil Avengers, Black Aces, Seek N Strike and Ares. Recognition and acknowledgement however, must still be given to X-Factor, Berserkers: Sons of Odin, Seek & Destroy and Karma Troopers for being part of SPNS 09 Leg 3 as well as their having the courage to join in the fierce battles.

Other highlights include Red West mercilessly trouncing its opposition in the beginning, winning every single game during the qualifiers, but then their luck (some might call it that) began to wane a little during the quarter-finals when Team Ares, made up of teenagers, decided they would do whatever they could to shatter their opponents’ winning streak. Though Ares had not done enough to get through to the next round, they did do their part in rattling their opponents’ confidence just a little.

During the quarter-finals between the Contract Killers and Evil Avengers, the intensity and excitement of all three games was electrifying. Upon completion of the first match, Evil Avengers found themselves one up. However, the second game had not ended in the latter’s favour when neither team had managed to eliminate the opposition completely thus finishing off with a dreaded tie. At the end of the third and final match, though the Contract Killers had won, both the accumulated Match Point and Elimination Difference scores were tied. But based on a count-back in the qualifying rounds, the Contract Killers could only thank their lucky stars as Head Marshall, Junaidi officiated the score sheet in their favour, giving the 4th spot in the Semi-Finals to them.

As Lady Luck began to smile on the Contract Killers, the semi-finals between undefeated Champions Red West and the latter made the crowd ecstatic. This game would either make or break the momentum that Red West had been riding on all this while. It was up to the Contract Killers to break them down. Though every member in Red West appeared confident and prepared, it was clear that the previous loss in momentum coupled with team member, Gerald Lee’s injury which consequently caused the team a dip in its strength, the effect of nerves began to rear its ugly head. Sadly for Red West, it was during this crucial stage of the tournament when the team started to falter in its tracks, costing them the opportunity to defend their title once more.

Action and tension was also all over at the Dark Militia camp. Pitted against yet another determined team blessed with youth and vigor, Dark Militia would have at least questioned themselves once or twice about the possibility of making a costly mistake. After all, Red West had been defeated not too long ago. But they had come too far as a team to even entertain such pessimism. So choosing to remain unyieldingly and collected, Dark Militia finished off the Five-O boys in a swift match. By the end of the semi-finals, there had already been a slight upset where defending champion - Red West was to play Five-O for 3rd placing.

The fight for 1st and 2nd placing was now down to two teams that had never before won the title of Champion in the history of SPNS.

By this time, spectators and players were now eagerly anticipating the results of the Finals under the cool shade provided by infrastructure sponsors, Redbull. With all the hype surrounding this final battle, it was not surprising that nerves would get in the way of the players. Both sides vying for the unprecedented championship were keenly aware of the stakes as well as each other and this served as a hindrance during the game, especially for the younger Contract Killers. Several unforced errors had been committed resulting in the latter letting slip the chance to clinch the victory for the first time. As for Dark Militia, victory never tasted sweeter. They had worked hard for this day and many felt that they deserved every lingering feeling of victory.

Congratulations once more, Dark Militia!

Despite not clinching the Championship for this leg of SPNS 09, Red West did not go home empty-handed. Having been ranked first for the qualifying rounds of all three legs of the series this year, Red West had since accumulated a total 561 points. They were thus awarded the Overall Champion Team award for 2009 for their hard work and effort throughout the year. In the spirit of rewarding players for their enthusiasm in paintball, Tai Jit Wei from Berserkers: Sons of Odin, who, by the way, is relatively new to the sport was also voted Most Valuable Player (MVP) by the majority of teams who had the privilege of playing against his team.

The final standings of SPNS 09 Leg 3 are as follows:

Champion - Dark Militia
1st Runner Up  - Contract Killers
2nd Runner Up - Red West
3rd Runner Up - Five-O
Leg 3 MVP - Tai Jit Wei (Berserkers: Sons of Odin)
Top Gun - Mohamed Shakil Samsul Ariffin (Contract Killers)

We would like to give special thanks to everyone who had helped to make SPNS09 Leg 3 a resounding success. Appreciation goes out to Paintball Association (Singapore), Singapore Sports Council and National Parks for collaborating with us and giving us their utmost support. We would also like to thank our kind sponsors, Red Dynasty Paintball Park, Thorb, Redbull and media partner, Tilt. See you next year!

Words by Nadine