Dramatic play highlights Week 3, Day 2 of CDL Stage 1 Major qualifiers

Field Level Media|published: Sun 11th January, 04:37 2026

A backlit keyboard is part of the gear online video game streamer Jordan Woodruff uses in his Gilbert home. Jordan Woodruff

FaZeVegas' sweep to victory was the exception on Saturday as two other matches went the five-map distance on the second day of Week 3 of Call of Duty League 2026: Stage 1 Major qualifiers.

Vancouver Surge and Paris Gentle Mates each won by 3-2 over Boston Breach and Cloud9 New York, respectively. For Vancouver, it was the first victory after three defeats. Paris and FaZeVegas each recorded a third victory in four matches, with the latter shutting out OpticTexas 3-0.

A group of 12 teams will play seven matches during qualifying, each win earning them 10 CDL points. While all 12 qualify for Major 1, Jan. 29-Feb. 1 in Dallas, the results will determine whether teams begin the major in the upper or lower bracket.

FaZe Vegas opened its sweep of OpTic Texas with a 250-174 victory on Scar Hardpoint, followed by closer victories in Colossus Search and Destroy (6-4) and Den Overload (5-3).

Vancouver Surge rallied after losing to Boston Breach in the first two maps, 250-205 on Scar Hardpoint and 6-3 on Exposure Search and Destroy. The Surge had to win the next three maps without a loss, and did just that, winning on Exposure Overload by a dramatic 3-2 margin to stay alive, then downing Boston 250-179 in Den Hardpoint and 6-1 in Den Search and Destroy to take the match.

Paris Gentle Mates and Cloud9 New York staged a tight battle, as Paris won the opening match, Den Hardpoint, by just 250-249, and New York responded with a 6-5 win on Colossus Search and Destroy and 5-4 on Exposure Overload.

But the Gentle Mates answered with a 250-136 victory on Colossus Hardpoint before closing the match by handing New York a 6-2 setback on Exposure Search & Destroy.

Week 3 of qualifiers continues Sunday with three matches:

--G2 Minnesota vs. Carolina Royal Ravens

--Vancouver Surge vs. OpTic Texas

--Toronto KOI vs. Los Angeles Thieves

Call of Duty League 2026: Stage 1 Major qualifiers standings (match record, map differential)

1. FaZeVegas, 3-1, plus-2

2. Paris Gentle Mates, 3-1, plus-6

3. OpTic Texas, 3-1, plus-3

4. Riyadh Falcons, 3-2, plus-1

5. Toronto KOI, 2-1, plus-3

6. Los Angeles Thieves, 2-1, plus-2

7. Boston Breach, 2-2, zero