Cloud9 escape last place in CDL Major 2 qualifying

Cloud9 New York recorded their first victory in qualifying for the Call of Duty League Stage 2 Major, edging the Paris Gentle Mates 3-2 on Friday.

In other action as Week 3 got underway, the Carolina Royal Ravens rallied past the Boston Breach, and the Riyadh Falcons downed FaZe Vegas.

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, Cloud9 opened with a 250-215 win on Blackheart Hardpoint and a 6-3 victory on Exposure Search and Destroy. The Gentle Mates pulled even with a 6-2 win on Den Overload and a 250-213 decision on Colossus Hardpoint. New York claimed the decisive fifth map, Scar Search and Destroy 6-3.

Boston captured Colossus Hardpoint 250-189, but Carolina replied by taking Exposure Search and Destroy 6-5. The Breach moved to the verge of a victory by claiming Den Overload 4-0, but the Royal Ravens recovered with a 250-109 win on Den Hardpoint and a 6-2 triumph on Raid Search and Destroy.

After Riyadh claimed Colossus Hardpoint 250-220, Vegas captured Den Search and Destroy 6-2. The Falcons sealed the series with a 3-1 victory on Exposure Overload and a 250-102 rout on Blackheart Hardpoint.

The weekend schedule:

Saturday

--Riyadh Falcons vs. G2 Minnesota

--Toronto KOI vs. Miami Heretics

--Vancouver Surge vs. Carolina Royal Ravens

--OpTic Texas vs. Los Angeles Thieves

Sunday

--Toronto KOI vs. Paris Gentle Mates

--FaZe Vegas vs. Boston Breach

--Miami Heretics vs. Cloud9 New York

--Vancouver Surge vs. OpTic Texas

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

1. Los Angeles Thieves, 4-0, +10

2. OpTic Texas, 4-0, +9

3. Paris Gentle Mates, 3-1, +5

4. Riyadh Falcons, 3-2, +3

5. G2 Minnesota, 2-2, 0

6. FaZe Vegas, 2-3, 0

7. Carolina Royal Ravens, 2-3, -4

8. Miami Heretics, 1-2, -1

9. Vancouver Surge, 1-2, -3

10. Toronto KOI, 1-3, -5

11. Cloud9 New York, 1-3, -7

12. Boston Breach, 1-4, -7

--Field Level Media