OpTic wins opener at Esports World Cup's CoD MWIII event

OpTic Gaming, whose players captured the Call of Duty League Championship last month, opened play in the Call of Duty Modern Warfare III event at the Esports World Cup with a 3-1 win over OMiT Brooklyn on Thursday in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

The $1.8 million tournament began with 16 teams divided into four groups for double-elimination action involving best-of-five matches. The top two teams in each group advance to the single-elimination playoffs, which will feature best-of-five matches until the best-of-seven final on Sunday.

The winning side will earn $600,000 and 1,000 Esports World Cup club points. The runner-up will receive $320,000 and 600 points.

OpTic, competing in Group A, dropped its first map 250-201 on Rio Hardpoint before taking 6 Star Search and Destroy 6-1, Invasion Control 3-2 and Karachi Hardpoint 250-172.

Next up for OpTic is a matchup with the Carolina Royal Ravens, who swept the Vegas Legion 3-0. Carolina prevailed 250-204 on 6 Star Hardpoint, 6-2 on Highrise Search and Destroy and 3-0 on Invasion Control.

Vegas then stayed alive with a 3-1 win over OMiT in an elimination match.

In Group B, Cloud9 opened with a 3-1 victory over Gentle Mates, and the Vancouver Surge thrashed G2 Esports 3-0. Gentle Mates then topped G2 3-2 in an elimination contest.

The Toronto Ultra downed Stallions 3-0 and the Boston Breach bested Team Heretics 3-1 in Group C. Stallions subsequently ousted Heretics 3-0.

In Group D, the Atlanta FaZe topped Team Falcons 3-0 and 100 Thieves defeated Lore Gaming 3-1. Lore edged Team Falcons 3-2 in a knockout match.

The Friday schedule:

Group A

Winners match -- OpTic Gaming vs. Carolina Royal Ravens

Decider match -- Vegas Legion vs. OpTic Gaming/Carolina Royal Ravens loser

Group B

Winners match -- Cloud9 vs. Vancouver Surge

Decider match -- Gentle Mates vs. Cloud9/Vancouver Surge loser

Group C

Winners match -- Toronto Ultra vs. Boston Breach

Decider match -- Stallions vs. Toronto Ultra/Boston Breach loser

Group D

Winners match -- Atlanta FaZe vs. 100 Thieves

Decider match -- Lore Gaming vs. Atlanta FaZe/100 Thieves loser

Call of Duty Modern Warfare III event at the Esports World Cup group standings

Group A

T1. Carolina Royal Ravens, 1-0

T1. OpTic Gaming, 1-0

3. Vegas Legion, 1-1

4. OMiT Brooklyn, 0-2

Group B

T1. Cloud9, 1-0

T1. Vancouver Surge, 1-0

3. Gentle Mates, 1-1

4. G2 Esports, 0-2

Group C

T1. Boston Breach, 1-0

T1. Toronto Ultra, 1-0

3. Stallions, 1-1

4. Team Heretics, 0-2

Group D

T1. 100 Thieves, 1-0

T1. Atlanta FaZe, 1-0

3. Lore Gaming, 1-1

4. Team Falcons, 0-2

Call of Duty Modern Warfare III event at the Esports World Cup prize pool, with money and Esports World Cup club points

1. $600,000, 1,000 points

2. $320,000, 600 points

3-4. $160,000, 275 points

5-8. $80,000, 60 points

9-12. $40,000, no points

13-16. $20,000, no points -- Team Heretics, OMiT Brooklyn, Team Falcons, G2 Esports

--Field Level Media