The Atlanta FaZe continued its perfect start to the year’s first major on Saturday, edging the Carolina Royal Ravens 3-2 to improve to 6-0 in qualifying for the Call of Duty League Stage 1 Major.
On the penultimate day of Stage 1 qualifiers, the Toronto Ultra did their best to keep pace with a 3-1 win over the Vegas Legion.
The first major of the 2024 season, the Stage 1 Major concludes the final weekend in January, with all 12 CDL teams traveling to Boston for the in-person playoffs. The grand final takes place Jan. 28.
Seeding for the tournament is determined through a series of qualifying matches. Each team plays seven best-of-five qualifying matches, with the last day of qualifiers Sunday. The top eight teams in qualifying play will advance to the winners bracket in Boston. The ninth- through 12th-place teams in qualifying will begin tournament play in the losers bracket.
On Saturday, Atlanta jumped out to a fast start, winning 250-170 on Skidrow Hardpoint and 6-3 on Highrise Search & Destroy. Carolina responded with a 3-1 win on Karachi Control and a 250-168 victory on Sub Base Hardpoint, but Atlanta took Skidrow Search & Destroy 6-1 to win the match.
The Ultra had far less trouble in their match, winning 250-217 on Sub Base Hardpoint and 6-3 on Skidrow Search & Destroy before the Legion stayed alive with a 3-2 win on Highrise Control. But Toronto sealed the victory with a 250-158 win on Invasion Hardpoint. Toronto finishes qualifying matches at 6-1.
The Miami Heretics also closed out qualifying with a win, sweeping the Los Angeles Guerillas 250-207 on Terminal Hardpoint, 6-5 on Invasion Search & Destroy, and 3-0 on Karachi Control.
The Minnesota Rokkr clinched a spot in the winners bracket in the day’s other match, alternating wins and losses in a 3-2 win over the Seattle Surge. The Rokkr won 250-218 on Skidrow Hardpoint before losing 6-4 on Invasion Search & Destroy. Minnesota bounced back with a 3-2 win on Karachi Control but the Surge took Terminal Hardpoint 250-118. The Rokkr took the decider, 6-3 on Karachi Search & Destroy.
Seven of the eight winners-bracket spots are secured. The Boston Breach can book the final winners-bracket spot in their home major with a win over the New York Subliners on Sunday, the final day of qualifying.
Three matches are scheduled for Sunday:
–Carolina Royal Ravens vs. Los Angeles Thieves
–New York Subliners vs. Boston Breach
–Atlanta FaZe vs. OpTic Texas
Call of Duty League Stage 1 Major qualifying standings with points, match win-loss record and map win-loss record:
1. Atlanta FaZe, 60 points, 6-0, plus-13
2. Toronto Ultra, 60 points, 6-1, plus-12
3. New York Subliners, 50 points, 5-1, plus-6
4. Miami Heretics, 50 points, 5-2, plus-10
5. OpTic Texas, 40 points, 4-2, plus-4
6. Minnesota Rokkr, 30 points, 3-4, zero
7. Seattle Surge, 30 points, 3-4, minus-3
8. Boston Breach, 20 points, 2-4, minus-3
9. Los Angeles Guerrillas, 20 points, 2-5, minus-7
10. Los Angeles Thieves, 10 points, 1-5, minus-9
11. Carolina Royal Ravens, 10 points, 1-5, minus-12
12. Las Vegas Legion, 10 points, 1-6, minus-11
–Field Level Media
