Cloud9 New York fended off the Minnesota Rokkr’s comeback attempt and earned a 3-2 win on Friday in the opening round of the Call of Duty League’s Stage 2 Minor event.
All 12 CDL teams are competing in the tournament, which will reward $20,000 and 30 CDL points to the champion. The single-elimination bracket was seeded based on teams’ standing following Major 1. All matches are best-of-five until the grand final on Sunday, which will be best-of-seven.
In the other first-round matches, the Vancouver Surge beat the Boston Breach 3-1, OpTic Texas topped the Vegas Falcons 3-1, and the Los Angeles Guerrillas M8 edged the Miami Heretics 3-2.
The quarterfinal lineup is set for Saturday, with Vancouver opposing the Atlanta FaZe, Texas clashing with the Toronto Ultra, New York facing the Los Angeles Thieves, and the Guerrillas meeting the Carolina Royal Ravens.
On Friday, Cloud9 jumped in front by winning 250-241 on Skyline Hardpoint and 6-5 on Hacienda Search and Destroy. Minnesota pulled level by capturing Protocol Control 3-0 and Protocol Hardpoint 250-214. On the decisive fifth map, Protocol Search and Destroy, New York prevailed 6-2.
Vancouver began with a 250-113 win on Red Card Hardpoint before Boston took Skyline Search and Destroy 6-4. The Surge claimed Vault Control 3-2 and Vault Hardpoint 250-223 to seal the series.
OpTic posted a 250-191 victory on Skyline Hardpoint and a 6-5 win on Red Card Search and Destroy. Vegas extended the series by claiming Vault Control 3-0 before Texas took Red Card Hardpoint 250-102.
Miami logged a 250-170 win on Skyline Hardpoint, but the Guerrillas responded by registering a 6-2 victory on Protocol Search and Destroy and a 3-2 win on Vault Control. The Heretics claimed Protocol Hardpoint 250-146, but the Guerrillas wrapped up the win by taking Red Card Search and Destroy 6-4.
Call of Duty League’s Stage 2 Minor prize pool
1. $20,000, 30 CDL points
2. no money, 20 CDL points
3-4. no money, 10 CDL points
5-8. no money, no CDL points
9-12. no money, no CDL points — Boston Breach, Vegas Falcons, Minnesota Rokkr, Miami Heretics
–Field Level Media