The New York Subliners escaped a two-map hole and pulled out a 3-2 win over the Minnesota Rokkr in the first round of the Call of Duty League playoffs on Thursday in Las Vegas.
In other opening-round matches, the Atlanta FaZe defeated the Seattle Surge 3-1, OpTic Texas downed the Boston Breach 3-1 and the Toronto Ultra rallied for a 3-2 win over the Los Angeles Thieves.
The top eight teams from the CDL season opened the $2.38 million double-elimination event on Thursday. All matches are best-of-five except for the grand final on Sunday, which will be best-of-nine.
The championship team will earn $1 million, will the runner-up will receive $660,000.
On Thursday, the Rokkr opened with a 250-226 win on Mercado Las Almas Hardpoint and a 6-3 victory on Mercado Las Almas Search and Destroy. However, the Subliners bounced back to capture El Asilo Control 3-1, Zarqwa Hydroelectric Hardpoint 250-66 and Breenbergh Hotel Search and Destroy 6-4.
France’s Paco “HyDra” Rusiewiez logged a team-high 92 kills and a plus-1.31 kill-death ratio for Los Angeles. Kevin “Fame” Bonanno finished with 74 kills for Minnesota.
The Ultra won 250-208 on Zarqwa Hydroelectric Hardpoint, but the Thieves recovered to take El Asilo Search and Destroy 6-1 and El Asilo Control 3-1. Toronto then claimed Al Bagra Fortress Hardpoint 250-207 and Embassy Search and Destroy 6-2.
The United States’ Thomas “Scrap” Ernst wound up with 101 kills and a plus-1.15 K-D ratio for Toronto. Another U.S. player, Dylan “Envoy” Hannon, paced Los Angeles with 103 kills.
The FaZe claimed Embassy Hardpoint 250-112 and Embassy Search and Destroy 6-2 before the Surge won 3-0 on El Asilo Control. Atlanta sealed the match with a 250-232 triumph on Al Bagra Fortress Hardpoint.
The United States’ McArthur “Cellium” Jovel topped the FaZe with 74 kills and a 1.28 K-D ratio. Australia’s Amer “Pred” Zulbeari amassed 72 kills and a 1.09 K-D ratio for Seattle.
OpTic and the Breach exchanged wins to open their match, with Texas taking Breenbergh Hotel Hardpoint 250-168 and Boston capturing Mercado Las Almas Search and Destroy 6-4. OpTic wrapped up the victory by prevailing 3-0 on Breenbergh Hotel Control and 250-192 on Al Bagra Fortress Hardpoint.
Cuyler “Huke” Garland paced Texas with 80 kills, while U.S. countryman and teammate Anthony “Shotzzy” Cuevas-Castro led the club with a plus-1.05 K-D ratio. Mexico’s Eric “Snoopy” Perez recorded 78 kills for the Breach.
The Friday schedule includes four matches:
–Winners-bracket second round — Atlanta FaZe vs. Toronto Ultra
–Winners-bracket second round — OpTic Texas vs. New York Subliners
–Losers-bracket first round — Seattle Surge vs. Los Angeles Thieves
–Losers-bracket first round — Boston Breach vs. Minnesota Rokkr
Call of Duty League playoffs prize pool
1. $1 million
2. $660,000
3. $320,000
4. $160,000
5-6. $80,000
7-8. $40,000
–Field Level Media