OpTic Texas emerges with hard-fought win at CDL Stage 2 major qualifying

OpTic Texas won a five-map battle with GS Minnesota on Saturday, the second day of Week 1 matches in qualifying for the Call of Duty League Stage 2 Major.

Other winners on Day 2 were Paris Gentle Mates, FaZe Vegas and the Los Angeles Thieves.

The 12 Call of Duty 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.

Paris Gentle Mates downed the Riyadh Falcons 3-1 on Saturday, dropping the opener on Colossus Hardpoint 250-194 before running together wins on Colossus Search and Destroy 6-2, Den Overload 4-3 and Scar Hardpoint 250-93.

Daniel "Ghosty" Rothe recorded 91 kills and a plus-20 kill-death differential for Paris, while fellow American Travis "Neptune" McCloud had 89 kills and a plus-12 K-D differential. American Arthur "Cellium" Jovel was the only member of the Falcons with a plus K-D differential (83 kills, plus-6).

OpTic Texas rallied for a 3-2 win over G2 Minnesota, which took the first two maps, 250-154 on Den Hardpoint and 6-4 on Scar Search and Destroy. But Texas came back with must wins on Scar Overload (3-1), Scar Hardpoint (250-221) and Raid Search and Destroy (6-5).

Mason "Mercules" Ramsey posted 97 kills and a plus-10 K-D differential, and fellow American Cuyler "Huke" Garland had 103 kills and a plus-9 for OpTic Texas. Kyle "Kremp" Haworth of the United States led Minnesota with 110 kills and a plus-17 differential.

FaZe Vegas swept Toronto KOI 3-0, winning 250-153 on Blackheart Hardpoint, 6-1 on Den Overload and 5-3 on Exposure Search and Destroy.

Zachary "Drazah" Jordan of the United States paced Vegas with 61 kills and a plus-15 K-D differential, teammate Jordan "Abuzah" Francois of Belgium had 55 kills and a plus-12, and Chris "Simp" Lehr of the United States had 60 with a plus-12. No Toronto player had a plus differential.

The Los Angeles Thieves topped the Vancouver Surge 3-1. The Thieves opened with a 250-241 victory on Scar Hardpoint before the Surge drew even with a 6-3 win on Colossus Search and Destroy. Los Angeles then won 7-5 on Den Overload and 250-136 on Exposure Hardpoint.

Thomas "Scrappy" Ernst of the United States led Los Angeles with 104 kills and a plus-28 K-D differential, and teammate Paco "HyDra" Rusiewiez of France had 99 kills and a plus-25. No Vancouver players had a positive K-D differential.

Sunday's matches to conclude Week 1:

--Paris Gentle Mates vs. Miami Heretics

--Riyadh Falcons vs. Boston Breach

--Los Angeles Thieves vs. Carolina Royal Ravens

--G2 Minnesota vs. Cloud9 New York

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

1. OpTic Texas, 2-0, +4

T2. Carolina Royal Ravens, 1-0, +3

T2. Miami Heretics, 1-0, +3

T4. Los Angeles Thieves, 1-0, +2

T4. Paris Gentle Mates, 1-0, +2

6. FaZe Vegas, 1-1, even

7. Cloud9 New York, 0-0, even

8. G2 Minnesota, 0-1, -1

T9. Riyadh Falcons, 0-1, -2

T9. Vancouver Surge, 0-1, -2

11. Boston Breach, 0-1, -3

12. Toronto KOI, 0-2, -6

--Field Level Media