The Atlanta FaZe and Los Angeles Thieves moved within two wins of the season title by capturing victories on Friday at the Call of Duty League Championship Weekend.
In upper-bracket semifinal action at the Galen Center in Los Angeles, the FaZe edged the Seattle Surge 3-2 before the Thieves swept OpTic Texas 3-0. Atlanta and Los Angeles will square off in the upper-bracket final on Saturday.
Lower-bracket play began on Friday with the New York Subliners pulling off a reverse sweep to stun the London Royal Ravens and the Toronto Ultra eliminating the Boston Breach 3-1.
In the second round of the lower bracket on Saturday, Texas will oppose New York and Seattle will meet Toronto.
The lower-bracket third-round match and lower-bracket final will also be contested on Saturday.
Championship Weekend offers a prize pool of $2.55 million, with $1.2 million going to the winners. The tournament has a double-elimination format, and all matches are best-of-five until Sunday’s grand final, which will be best-of-nine.
Seattle opened with a 250-248 win on Tuscan Hardpoint before Atlanta claimed Berlin Search and Destroy 6-2 and Tuscan Control 3-1. The Surge pushed the match to the limit by taking Berlin Hardpoint 250-244, but the FaZe eked out the series victory with a 6-5 decision on Tuscan Search and Destroy.
The United States’ McArthur “Cellium” Jovel had 91 kills and a plus-1.44 kills-deaths ratio for Atlanta.
The Thieves crushed OpTic 250-58 on Gavutu Hardpoint, 6-4 on Berlin Search and Destroy and 3-2 on Gavutu Control.
Sam “Octane” Larew of the U.S. paced Los Angeles with 69 kills and a plus-1.77 K-D ratio.
London appeared to take control by capturing Gavutu Hardpoint 250-214 and Desert Siege Search and Destroy 6-2. However, New York roared back to take Gavutu Control 3-1, Berlin Hardpoint 250-173 and Berlin Search and Destroy 6-4.
The United States’ Matthew “KiSMET” Tinsley logged 97 kills and a plus-1.13 K-D ratio for the Subliners.
Toronto claimed Tuscan Hardpoint 250-170 before Boston rolled to a 6-0 win on Desert Siege Search and Destroy. The Ultra then took Berlin Control 3-2 and Berlin Hardpoint 250-218.
Scotland’s Cameron “Cammy” McKilligan powered Toronto with 101 kills and a plus-1.29 K-D ratio.
The Saturday schedule:
Lower-bracket second round — OpTic Texas vs. New York Subliners
Lower-bracket second round — Seattle Surge vs. Toronto Ultra
Upper-bracket final — Atlanta FaZe vs. Los Angeles Thieves
Lower-bracket third round — Texas/New York winner vs. Seattle/Toronto winner
Lower-bracket final — Upper-bracket final loser vs. lower-bracket third round winner
Call of Duty League Championship Weekend prize pool
1st place: $1.2 million
2nd place: $650,000
3rd place: $320,000
4th place: $160,000
5th-6th place: $80,000
7th-8th place: $30,000 — London Royal Ravens, Boston Breach
–Field Level Media