NOMINEES FOR Game of the Year
Impact vs. Infamous, sUNSHINE sTATE tECHNICAL bATTLE.
Watch the Full Match on GoSports.com
The Finals match at the NXL Sunshine State Major gave fans one of the greatest displays of technical and nuanced play of the season. The match was all about minimizing mistakes and striking viciously at any crack shown in the opponents guard. Alex Goldman was critical for Impact as they mounted their comeback after going down early. Infamous took the early lead through Thomas Taylor and Greg Siewers, but ultimately a few untimely mistakes were taken advantage of by Impact. Advanced laning strategies, zone control, and gun fighting was critical during the low scoring 2-1 match, and Impact was able to win largely because of the elite play Goldman provided on an difficult to play and barebones snake layout.
The Finals match at the NXL Sunshine State Major gave fans one of the greatest displays of technical and nuanced play of the season. The match was all about minimizing mistakes and striking viciously at any crack shown in the opponents guard. Alex Goldman was critical for Impact as they mounted their comeback after going down early. Infamous took the early lead through Thomas Taylor and Greg Siewers, but ultimately a few untimely mistakes were taken advantage of by Impact. Advanced laning strategies, zone control, and gun fighting was critical during the low scoring 2-1 match, and Impact was able to win largely because of the elite play Goldman provided on an difficult to play and barebones snake layout.
LVL VS. IMPACT, wINDY cITY sHOCKER.
Watch the full match on GoSports.com
When Columbus LVL came into the Windy City Major in Chicago, they were one of the worst performing teams of the pro division through the first two events. The Chicago event, as well as this match specifically, was the critical point of LVL's development as a franchise and served as the blueprint for the vicious, attacking style they have adopted with great success since. Impact went up early in this match, but Columbus was able to consistently win in the snake behind elite play from Dany Schonauer and tie the game to send it to overtime. In the overtime point, LVL overcame a relentless push from Kyle Spicka and Nick Levial through the snake to endure and beat the historically dominant Edmonton Impact. This would be a critical win during their cinderella run in Chicago and strong finish at World cup.
When Columbus LVL came into the Windy City Major in Chicago, they were one of the worst performing teams of the pro division through the first two events. The Chicago event, as well as this match specifically, was the critical point of LVL's development as a franchise and served as the blueprint for the vicious, attacking style they have adopted with great success since. Impact went up early in this match, but Columbus was able to consistently win in the snake behind elite play from Dany Schonauer and tie the game to send it to overtime. In the overtime point, LVL overcame a relentless push from Kyle Spicka and Nick Levial through the snake to endure and beat the historically dominant Edmonton Impact. This would be a critical win during their cinderella run in Chicago and strong finish at World cup.
NYX vs. Heat, pHILLY sTREET bRAWL.
Watch the full match on GoSports.com
This match was a street brawl, plain and simple. Before going on to win the Mid Atlantic Major, Heat faced their biggest adversity of the event during the ochofinals match against NYX where they were pushed to the brink of elimination by the scrappy and brawling squad. NYX spent the early portion of the match down points, and looking as if they had no answer for the well-oiled machine that is Houston Heat. However, they wouldn't go down quietly and charged back behind their classic aggressive, trash-talking style. This match was loaded with overshooting, heated verbal exchanges, and a desperate but noble comeback from NYX late in the match in which they tied the game 7-7 with just 17 seconds left. However, destiny called, and the relentless hammer of Houston, Konstantin Fedorov, ended NYXs comeback run with an emphatic 17 second point win to avoid overtime.
This match was a street brawl, plain and simple. Before going on to win the Mid Atlantic Major, Heat faced their biggest adversity of the event during the ochofinals match against NYX where they were pushed to the brink of elimination by the scrappy and brawling squad. NYX spent the early portion of the match down points, and looking as if they had no answer for the well-oiled machine that is Houston Heat. However, they wouldn't go down quietly and charged back behind their classic aggressive, trash-talking style. This match was loaded with overshooting, heated verbal exchanges, and a desperate but noble comeback from NYX late in the match in which they tied the game 7-7 with just 17 seconds left. However, destiny called, and the relentless hammer of Houston, Konstantin Fedorov, ended NYXs comeback run with an emphatic 17 second point win to avoid overtime.
Impact vs. Ironmen, dOWN gOES THE cHAMP.
Watch the full match on GoSports.com
Impact was coming off their event one win in Florida and looking for a repeat performance at the Mid Atlantic Major in Philadelphia. On the other side of the field, the Los Angeles Ironmen were trying to reaffirm their identity as a top contender in the pro division. Rookie head coach, Nikki McEvers, would draw up a game plan centered around a relentless but controlled attack that pushed Impact out of their typical, slow-paced comfort zone. The game became a back and forth slug fest, but Impact slowly chipped away at the Ironmen and pulled out to a two point lead with just over 5 minutes left. It was the Ironmen's youngest player, Payton Tabada, that looked like a long-tenured veteran as he methodically pushed down the snake to help tie the game at 5-5. The Ironmen would then steal a quick point and go up for the first time in the match, but Impact would fire back quickly and tie the game 6-6. With only a minute left, Nikki would draw up a play the sent LJ Parrish and Payton Tabada slicing down the field to win the point with just 9 seconds left and win the match.
Impact was coming off their event one win in Florida and looking for a repeat performance at the Mid Atlantic Major in Philadelphia. On the other side of the field, the Los Angeles Ironmen were trying to reaffirm their identity as a top contender in the pro division. Rookie head coach, Nikki McEvers, would draw up a game plan centered around a relentless but controlled attack that pushed Impact out of their typical, slow-paced comfort zone. The game became a back and forth slug fest, but Impact slowly chipped away at the Ironmen and pulled out to a two point lead with just over 5 minutes left. It was the Ironmen's youngest player, Payton Tabada, that looked like a long-tenured veteran as he methodically pushed down the snake to help tie the game at 5-5. The Ironmen would then steal a quick point and go up for the first time in the match, but Impact would fire back quickly and tie the game 6-6. With only a minute left, Nikki would draw up a play the sent LJ Parrish and Payton Tabada slicing down the field to win the point with just 9 seconds left and win the match.
Dynasty vs. XFactor, The Comeback.
Watch the full match on GoSports.com
Looking for their second straight World Cup victory after securing the season title earlier in the event, San Diego Dynasty walked into the World Cup Finals match looking nearly unbeatable, but XFactor was playing their best event of the year and was ready to kill the Dragon. In a word, this game was perfect; it was a back and forth match that was fought both on the field between players, and off the field between two of paintball's greatest coaches of all time, Kevin Bredthauer and Ryan Brand. XFactor took control early and by the halfway point of the match, were leading 4-2 and looking like a World Cup victory was within reach. But, as we learned dozens of times over the last 20 seasons, never count out Dynasty until the final horn sounds. Behind one of the best single game performances of the season, Marcello Margott helped drive Dynasty back from the brink as San Diego viciously fought back to win the World Cup and become the first repeat champions since 2017.
Looking for their second straight World Cup victory after securing the season title earlier in the event, San Diego Dynasty walked into the World Cup Finals match looking nearly unbeatable, but XFactor was playing their best event of the year and was ready to kill the Dragon. In a word, this game was perfect; it was a back and forth match that was fought both on the field between players, and off the field between two of paintball's greatest coaches of all time, Kevin Bredthauer and Ryan Brand. XFactor took control early and by the halfway point of the match, were leading 4-2 and looking like a World Cup victory was within reach. But, as we learned dozens of times over the last 20 seasons, never count out Dynasty until the final horn sounds. Behind one of the best single game performances of the season, Marcello Margott helped drive Dynasty back from the brink as San Diego viciously fought back to win the World Cup and become the first repeat champions since 2017.