Malta Players Compete in Two Divisions at the 2024 NXL European Championships

Players from Malta competed in both Division 4 Xball and Amateur 3v3 at the 2024 NXL European Championships, held at Ace Paintball in Dreux, France, from 28 August to 1 September.

HBI Malta entered the Division 4 Xball competition, while Southclan Malta competed in Amateur 3v3. The two entries gave Malta a presence in different tournament formats, with both teams recording victories during the weekend.

HBI Malta in Division 4 Xball

HBI Malta competed on Saturday 31 August and Sunday 1 September, finishing sixteenth among 24 teams.

The team opened with a 3 to 1 victory against Consilium Dei Zuerich 2, before losing 1 to 3 against Hannover Painthers Red.

On Sunday morning, HBI Malta drew 2 to 2 with C.O.P. 60. Its final preliminary match ended in a 0 to 2 defeat against Redball 2.

Across four matches, HBI Malta recorded one win, one draw and two defeats. The opening victory and drawn match provided positive results against international opposition in a division featuring teams from Europe and further afield.

Southclan Malta in Amateur 3v3

Southclan Malta competed on Sunday 1 September, finishing twenty-fifth among 28 teams in the Amateur 3v3 division.

The team played eight games and recorded two victories, beating HBI Sicilia and Les ducs de nantes.

Its other games ended in defeats against LTunited., Wild Hogs Berlin, LTunited, Sweet Killers, Consilium Dei Zuerich 4 and arctics army.

The three-player format placed the team in a different style of competition from Xball, with a compact lineup and a busy afternoon schedule. Southclan Malta’s two wins gave the squad positive moments during a demanding tournament.

International experience for Malta’s players

Competing in Dreux gave both teams the opportunity to test themselves against opponents from different countries and paintball communities.

HBI Malta and Southclan Malta took part as club teams in their respective NXL divisions. Their participation brought players from Malta onto the European tournament stage and added to their experience of international competition.

The final placings reflected a challenging weekend, but both squads came away with wins and practical lessons from playing against a broad range of opponents.

Thank you to the players and everyone who supported the teams’ participation, including the friends and families who helped make the journey to France possible.