Ichiban One has Hard Corps fun

After showing steady improvement through the first two tournaments between the screens, Ichiban I stepped up to Ichi-blast the competition in Gualo Rai over the weekend as they eliminated all comers to win the Gatorade 5 Man Pro Jam at Hard Corps Paintball.

While Ichiban I was not without flaw in the opening rounds of action, they were untouchable in the opening round of the finals as they pulled off a major upset when they skunked heavily favored Team Hard Corps, 100-0, in less than two minutes during the first of the two shootouts.

With the big lead in hand, the Ichiban gang lost a bit of focus in the second shootout, but Team Hard Corps’ 86-10 victory in nearly four minutes was not enough to overcome the first set loss.

The tournament’s five-man capture-the-flag format electrified the spectators that lined the fence and cheered on their friends and family free of charge, while the local boys who maneuvered upon their opponents using the cover of the same inflatable targets that the pros use for the third time ever on Saipan.

After the first two rounds, it was Team Hard Corps who looked to be in control after cruising into the shootout by leading the Pro Jam with 642, while Ichiban I managed just 491. Team Citius just missed out on the finals with a third place finish after racking up 372 points, while Team Recon bagged fourth with 254. Ichiban II brought up the rear with a strong finished in fifth place after compiling 189.

For their efforts on the course, Ichiban earned $500 in cash from Gatorade and the Hard Corp Paintball trophy, while Team Hard Corps took home a Delta .68 paintball marker and a trophy. Third place was good to the Citius, as they left with an Empire 4+5 Action Pack with 4 Pods in addition to a trophy and five complimentary field passes to Hard Corp Paintball.

Organizer Robert Hazlett said that he plans to schedule the next major event at the Gualo Rai facility in April, but has not yet released any details. He said that he wouldn’t have been able to pull off the event without the support from the folks at Pepsi, Gatorade, Pacific Trading Co., the hard work from the members of Team Chaos, who officiated the event, and the volunteers who spent the better part of the day under the sun ensuring that everyone had a good time.

The tournament has been a hit in the growing paintball community, and while the competitors wait for next month’s tournament dates and times to be announced, Hazlett said that they can take advantage of Hard Corps Paintball’s weekend hours for open play from11am to 5pm. With the tournament stirring up so much excitement and the paintballs out of stock, Hazlett said that he will have to wait until he receives the next shipment on Wednesday, March 29, before opening up the course again.

Anyone 12-and-over can play, but if players are under 18 years of age, they need to have their parents sign a waiver. The cost to hit the field running is just $10, and those without their own markers can rent the BT4 Combat for $15.

For more information about this past weekend’s Pepsi 5 Man Pro Jam or any of the other events at the course, contact the professionals at Hard Corps Paintball by calling 234-0774 or by stopping in to their Gualo Rai shop on Middle Road across the street and next to the Shell stations.