This weekend, the Aruba Open 2025 Paintball Event kicks off, bringing together teams from multiple countries for an international tournament.
Rayon Henriquez, President of the Aruba Paintball Federation, explained that twelve teams will compete, four of which are from Aruba. Other teams come from Brazil, Mexico, the United States, Hawaii, Panama, and several additional countries.
It has been nearly twenty years since Aruba last hosted an international paintball tournament. This motivated Henriquez to establish the Aruba Paintball Federation to organize the event. The tournament has government support and is recognized by the Aruba Sport Unie (ASU).
Each team includes between 17 and 20 participants, combining players and staff.
According to Indy Chan of Hot Triggers Paintball & Airsoft Supply, the tournament will begin with a practice day on September 26th. During practice, teams face each other and gauge their performance while keeping key strategies confidential.
Practice runs from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm, allowing each team to present itself and familiarize players with the field. Chan noted that knowing the field is important because conditions differ from location to location. In Aruba, matches are held on artificial turf, which differs from the natural surfaces used in other countries. Teams also need to account for local weather conditions, making this preparation essential.
In the afternoon, there will be a meeting, which will be followed by a live music event with a DJ, food, and drinks. The Aruba Paintball Federation hosts these activities to raise funds for 2026, when an Aruban team is set to represent the country at an international competition in France.
