OpTic improve to 9-0 in CDL Stage 2 Major qualifying

OpTic Texas survived a stiff test from the Paris Gentle Mates but kept their unbeaten mark intact with a 3-2 victory on Friday as Week 5 of qualifying for the Call of Duty League Stage 2 Major began.

Texas improved to 9-0, well clear of the second-place Miami Heretics, who improved to 5-3 with a 3-0 sweep of the Riyadh Falcons.

In the day’s other match, last-place Cloud9 New York slipped past the Toronto KOI 3-2.

The 12 Call of Duty League teams are playing a full qualifying round robin to determine seeding for the second major of the season, to be held March 27-29 in Marston Green, England, as part of the DreamHack Birmingham event.

The top six teams in qualifying head straight into the Stage 2 Major playoffs, while the teams in seventh through 10th place will compete in a play-in round.

The Stage 2 Major champion will receive $150,000 and 100 Call of Duty League points, while the runner-up will get $90,000 and 75 CDL points.

On Friday, OpTic produced a 250-165 victory on Colossus Hardpoint before Paris took Raid Search and Destroy 6-5 and Scar Overload 2-1. Texas rallied to capture Scar Hardpoint 250-200 and Scar Search and Destroy 6-5.

Miami bested Riyadh 250-233 on Scar Hardpoint, 6-5 on Raid Search and Destroy and 6-2 on Scar Overload.

Toronto opened with a 250-166 win on Scar Hardpoint. New York replied by taking Colossus Search and Destroy 6-3 and Exposure Overload 5-4. The KOI extended the series by prevailing 250-154 on Colossus Hardpoint, but Cloud9 closed out the victory by a 6-4 count on Raid Search and Destroy.

The remaining Week 5 matches:

Saturday

–G2 Minnesota vs. Carolina Royal Ravens

–Vancouver Surge vs. Toronto KOI

–Los Angeles Thieves vs. Cloud9 New York

–Paris Gentle Mates vs. Boston Breach

Sunday

–G2 Minnesota vs. Boston Breach

–Vancouver Surge vs. Miami Heretics

–Riyadh Falcons vs. Los Angeles Thieves

–FaZe Vegas vs. Carolina Royal Ravens

Call of Duty League Stage 2 Major qualifying standings (match record, map differential)

1. OpTic Texas, 9-0, +20

2. Miami Heretics, 5-3, +6

3. Los Angeles Thieves, 4-3, +6

4. GS Minnesota, 4-3, +1

5. Riyadh Falcons, 4-4, +2

6. Toronto KOI, 4-5, 0

7. Carolina Royal Ravens, 3-4, -3

8. Vancouver Surge, 3-4, -5

9. Boston Breach, 3-5, -6

T10. FaZe Vegas, 3-5, -4

T10. Paris Gentle Mates, 3-5, -4

12. Cloud9 New York, 2-6, -13

–Field Level Media