The Call of Duty League season started off with a bang in the Kickoff Classic. A single-elimination preseason tournament featuring all 12 teams in the franchised league. There was a lot to see at this tournament. Here is a CDL Kickoff Classic Recap.
The maps, it seemed, were either too hectic or too slow. There was either a lot going on which was great for the viewer, but bad for the pros. Maps like Bocage. With that, there were also maps where little to nothing was going on which was good for the pros, but bad for the fans. All in all, the maps were good to many within the community considering the backlash the developers got from making such maps for the league.
The modes were made to be great for the viewer. As for the pros, it had to have been really stressful. There was so much going on in the hardpoint mode, the observers must have had a field day with their work. The casters could barely keep up. The control and SnD, since loosely based on lives, was a little easier to follow as it was slower-paced.
The Florida Mutineers ended up beating the Los Angeles Guerillas in an alarming 3-1 fashion. Although the first Hardpoint was close, other than that, it was not great for Slasher and co. Owakening played lights out, as he went positive in all four maps.
In the next match, the Seattle Surge ended up dominating the London Royal Ravens. With the leadership of Accuracy, gunny in Mack, and young talent of Sib and Pred, they looked unbeatable scoring a sweep against London.
In this new rivalry, it lived to the expectations. Proving to be one of the best matches in the tournament as it ended up in a close New York 3-2 victory. However, even though they lost, things are looking great for the Breach as they might have discovered a gem in Capsidal.
Although it ended up in a 3-1 victory for the thieves. It could have been a 3-0 sweep easily. The human turret, Octane, was playing lights out. The gunny and movement of Envoy and Drazah also played a huge role as well. All this, along with Kenny’s leadership, there was no way Paris could have won.
What just happened? That’s what everybody thought after the match was played out. The Seattle Surge shocked the entire Call of Duty community in beating the defending world champions handily, 3-1. It was all due to the gun skill of rookies, Pred and Sib, that helped the Seattle Surge win.
Although having a great round one, the Toronto Ultra proved to be too much for the Mutineers as they beat them, 3-1. It was the teamwork and veteran ability of the Ultra that ultimately got them the comfortable match win.
This was also very surprising as Crimsix and Claysters leadership led to the ultimate victory of a sweep, 3-0, beating the Rokkr. The Rokkr made a lot of mistakes while in the game. Hydra and Neptune were just cracked enough to match Standy’s in-game ability.
RIP in the chat if you were an OpTic fan going into this match. It was nothing short of a heartbreaker. The Thieves came out red-hot getting to a 2-0 series lead. And just as we thought a map five was available, the MVP of the match, Drazah, shut it all down.
Even though it was only a 3-1 victory for the Surge, it was a slaughter. Sib, Mack, Accuracy, and Pred all had their own glimpses of brilliance versus the veterans Crimsix and Clayster. However, the new duo of Neptune and Hydra still showed great promise.
This has to be the second-best match of the tournament for many as it went all five maps. It took five of these maps for the Ultra to beat the Thieves. Which surprised many in the community. However, the skill of Cleanx and Insight proved to be the x-factor that the Ultra needed in order to beat the Thieves.
After a surprising victory on map one by the Surge, it all went downhill from there. In the SnD, the Ultra proved to be too much, winning it 6-4. In control, they barely got the victory over the Surge in a 3-2 victory. However, it was the Hardpoint of map 4 that may have shown the true colors of the Seattle Surge as the Surge only managed to get 71 points in the match. Losing it 250-70.
All in all, there were many surprises in the CDL Kickoff Recap when it came to the play of smaller teams within the league. Could this be a fluke? Nobody knows. What it does prove, is that this year is going to be unlike any other year for the Call of Duty League.
Featured Image Courtesy of the Call of Duty League
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