Two more improve to 2-0 at CDL Stage 2 major qualifying

Los Angeles Thieves and Paris Gentle Mates joined OpTic Texas atop the standings at the Call of Duty League Stage 2 Major on Sunday, each team winning to improve to 2-0 in the qualifying round.

Boston Breach and G2 Minnesota were the day's other winners, both teams getting their first win of the event to improve to 1-1.

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.

Paris got things started against the Miami Heretics on Sunday, winning 250-224 on Scar Hardpoint before dropping Raid Search and Destroy 6-4. After edging Miami 2-1 on Scar Overload, the Gentle Mates took the match with a 250-172 win on Den Hardpoint.

Daunte "Sib" Gray led the way for Paris, posting 101 kills with 93 deaths for a plus-8 kill-death differential. Only one player for Miami finished with a positive differential. David "RenKoR" Isern of Spain posted a plus-20 differential that was the highest by any player on Sunday.

In the next match, the Riyadh Falcons took the lead against Boston with a 250-204 win on Exposure Hardpoint. But it was all Breach after that, with Boston winning 6-5 on Colossus Search and Destroy, 4-3 on Den Overload and 250-217 on Colossus Hardpoint.

Byron "Nastie" Plumridge of the UK was the match MVP, posting a match-high plus-8 differential in the win. Amer "Pred" Zulbeari of Australia was the only Falcons player with a positive differential -- and just barely at plus-1.

The Thieves were never really threatened their matchup of 1-0 teams against Carolina Royal Ravens, with all four players posting positive differential while winning 250-201 on Colossus Hardpoint, 6-4 on Exposure Search and Destroy, and again 6-4 on Den Overload.

Tyler "aBeZy" Pharris was the best of the LA squad, posting a plus-15 differential with 55 kills as each of the Thieves recorded between 53 and 55 kills. Dylan "Nero" Koch was the only Royal Raven to finish in the black in differential at plus-3. The rest of the Carolina team was a cumulative minus-46 differential.

In the final match of the day, Minnesota topped Cloud9 New York in the latter's first match of the tournament, winning 250-215 on Den Hardpoint, 6-2 on Exposure Search and Destroy, and 3-2 on Scar Overload.

Justice "Estreal" McMillan was the player of the match, posting high totals of 70 kills and a plus-17 differential. Puerto Rico's Jonathan "Nejra" Pabo'n was the best player on the losing side, posting a plus-3 differential for New York.

Play resumes next week with another three-day slate of 11 matches.

Call of Duty League Stage 2 Major week 2 schedule

Friday

--Vancouver Surge vs. FaZe Vegas

--Riyadh Falcons vs. Cloud9 New York

--Toronto KOI vs. Los Angeles Thieves

Saturday

--Toronto KOI vs. G2 Minnesota

--Los Angeles Thieves vs. Boston Breach

--Paris Gentle Mates vs. Carolina Royal Ravens

--OpTic Texas vs. Miami Heretics

Sunday

--Riyadh Falcons vs. Carolina Royal Ravens

--Vancouver Surge vs. Boston Breach

--OpTic Texas vs. Cloud9 New York

--G2 Minnesota vs. FaZe Vegas

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

1. Los Angeles Thieves, 2-0, +5

T2. OpTic Texas, 2-0, +4

T2. Paris Gentle Mates, 2-0, +4

4. G2 Minnesota, 1-1, +2

5. Miami Heretics, 1-1, +1

T6. Carolina Royal Ravens, 1-1, even

T6. FaZe Vegas, 1-1, even

8. Boston Breach, 1-1, -1

9. Vancouver Surge, 0-1, -2

10. Cloud9 New York, 0-1, -3

11. Riyadh Falcons, 0-2, -4

12. Toronto KOI, 0-2, -6

--Field Level Media