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
