posted Jun 22nd, 2026 - The Paraclete XP Summer Classic 2026 was easily completed with the three remaining competition rounds on Sunday morning. NMP PCH HayaBusa won the second day of competition by three points over the Golden Knights and four points over Arizona Airspeed. However, the Belgian team was unable to overcome the seven-point deficit from Saturday, when the Golden Knights had established the lead that ultimately secured the overall victory.

All three teams finished the competition with record averages for their current lineups. The Golden Knights improved on their previous best average of 24.6, recorded at the FAI Outdoor World Cup 2025, by 1.5 points to reach 26.1 in Raeford. NMP PCH HayaBusa raised its lineup record from 23.7, achieved at the same World Cup event in Teuge last year, to 25.7. Arizona Airspeed continued its rapid progress as well, improving from a 21.6 average at the USPA Nationals 2025 to 24.9 at the XP Summer Classic.

The Golden Knights claimed the overall victory, while both NMP PCH HayaBusa and Arizona Airspeed succeeded in narrowing the gap to the U.S. national team in the 4-way Open Class. The strong performances by all three teams also validated a project that Golden Knights captain Jesse Stahler and HayaBusa captain Dennis Praet had developed together. The joint training camp at the Golden Knights' training center in Laurinburg, held immediately before the competition, brought the same three teams together for a week of intensive preparation. Judging by the results in Raeford, the collaborative approach proved highly effective and helped all three teams reach new performance levels at the XP Summer Classic.

XP Summer Classic 2026			1		2		3		4		5		6		7		8		9		10		Total	Avg
Rank	AAA/Open/Advanced Class		L,O,15,10		8,G,17		13,1,21		K,2,E,B		14,18,A		20,Q,J,F		4,H,6		9,N,12		3,16,11		M,D,5,P		Total	Avg
1	Golden Knights	US	23		25		23		31	-1	21		31		24		25		20		38		261	26.1
2	NMP PCH HayaBusa	BE	24		23		22	-1	27	-3	20	-1	33		22		25		23		38		257	25.7
3	Arizona Airspeed	US	23		21		20		29		18		32		24		24		20		38		249	24.9
4	Couples Therapy	US	11	-2	11	-1	11	-1	16	-1	12	-1	19	-2	13	-1	15		12		21	-1	141	14.1
5	Redline XP	US	10	-1	16		12	-2	16		13		16	-2	14	-1	14		12		16	-1	139	13.9
6	Platinum XP	US	10		11		11		15		10		16		11		12	-1	10		16		122	12.2
Rank	AA/Intermediate Class		9,21		13,P,D		20,K,11		M,1,C		N,22,18		15,8		6,4		L,B,19		2,O,J		G,H,7		Total	Avg
1	Larry's Illegitimate Children	US	6		4	-1	5	-1	10		3	-1	4		5	-1	6		6		7		56	5.6

The three team captains accepted an invitation to join another NSL Live Talk after discussing their situations and the logistics of the joint training camp while they were still in Laurinburg last week. The video of that earlier conversation was published on June 18th. It was purely a coincidence that the follow-up discussion took place on Father's Day, as all four participants in the NSL Live Talk have children of various ages.

This time, however, the conversation was about more than just evaluating the performances at the XP Summer Classic, where the scoring averages on a relatively fast competition draw already told a compelling story. What drew the attention of NSL News even more was the positive dynamic among the three teams and the spirit of cooperation they displayed throughout the week.

The atmosphere became evident during the joint training camp in Laurinburg and continued throughout the competition in Raeford. The teams trained together, shared ideas and experiences, enjoyed each other's company, and carried that camaraderie all the way to the D'Annunzio family's PK's Grill & Pub after Round 10 and the awards ceremony had concluded.

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NSL Live Talk with Jess Stahler, Dennis Praet, Joey Marshall after Round 10

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The three teams also share a common objective that extends beyond winning their first or next world championship title. All of them recognize that the French Aethers currently set the standard in international 4-way competition. Their pace, consistency, and technical quality have become the benchmark for the rest of the world.

The determination to close the gap to the Aethers has created a unique environment among the three challengers. While they remain fierce competitors on the leaderboard, they have also developed a cooperative and friendly rivalry that benefits all of them. At the same time, their relationship with the French team is equally positive, reflecting a broader culture of mutual respect among the world's elite 4-way competitors.

In that sense, the XP Summer Classic was about more than scores and standings. It demonstrated how competition at the highest level can drive collaboration, accelerate improvement, and strengthen relationships among teams that are all pursuing the same goal: reaching the standard currently represented by the Aethers.