Paintball Sports Promotions will present the 2003 L.A. Open Paintball Tournament March 5-9 at Fairplex. The teams competing are among the top in the world, including the Chicago Aftershock, which has won more championships that any other professional paintball team in the world. Other teams featured in the non-stop action event are the L.A. Ironmen, former World Cup Champions, N.Y. Xtreme, 2001 World Series Champions, and Baltimore Trauma who can boast a perfect season last year. Also competing will be the Oakland Assassins, winner of the major series title and U.S. World 7-Man title twice in a row. Two new teams are among the contenders, the Detroit Thunder and Miami Effect.

            The 5-man, 10-man and X-Ball tournament will be held in the infield at Fairplex Park.  PSP is also offering a standard 10-man competition and expects to field 96 teams from around the country. Spectators can view the games free of charge. The tournaments begin at 10 a.m. and continue until 10 p.m. daily.  Parking is at gate 17.

            This is Paintball Sports Promotions’ first tournament held at Fairplex. The professionals will vie for prizes totaling $30,000. They will also accumulate points for the World Cup to be held in Orlando in October where 450 teams are expected to compete.

Amateurs and rookies will be competing for cash and prizes totaling $160,000. PSP member and one of the show’s organizers, Jerry Braun said, “This is paintball played at its highest level.” Braun said that paintball, founded in 1981, is the third most popular alternative sport in the world preceded only by inline skating and skateboarding.

            In conjunction with the tournament, PSP will be sponsoring a tradeshow with more than 20 vendors offering the latest paintball gear including markers, goggles, and masks. The tradeshow is also open to the public free of charge.