3 Spicy Storylines Heading Into The Stage 5 CDL Major
The fifth and final Major tournament of the 2021 Call of Duty League (CDL) is finally here. The tournament marks the end of online competition for Black Ops Cold War, with the Major and Championship Weekend taking place in an offline environment and in front of fans, much to the delight of the community. The Stage 5 Major is the final time all 12 teams will be competing for prize money and those all-important CDL Points that will eventually determine the eight teams that will advance to the playoffs.
With teams continuing to perfect strategies and with many experiencing an upward turn in form, the Major has the potential to be the most competitive event of the Black Ops Cold War season as teams continue to battle for Playoff qualification while those out of the running look to end the season on a high note.
Major five has all the makings of another immensely exciting tournament and with so much on the line, including several Playoff places, the second LAN of 2021 is the perfect proving ground for the best Call of Duty teams in the world to face off once again. Here are three key storylines to look out for throughout the event.
Can The Dallas Empire Usurp Atlanta FaZe?
One of the main talking points heading into the Stage 5 Major is the recent upturn in form from 2020 CDL champions, the Dallas Empire. Ever since the team controversially dropped Cuyler “Huke” Garland from the team before eventually settling on Reece “Vivid” Drost, the Empire is finally showing signs of that ruthless winning ability that appeared during their 2020 champs campaign. Some may consider that Dallas was drawn into the easier of the two groups for Stage 5, but the team scored the joint-highest win to loss record with four victories, one of which was against the Toronto Ultra, one of few teams that have managed to contend with the juggernauts of the Atlanta FaZe.
The FaZe has been the team to beat throughout the season, winning three of the four Majors that have taken place so far. With Anthony “Shotzzy” Cuevas-Castro beginning to rekindle some of that supreme mechanical ability that saw him become a household name alongside the new addition of Vivid, the Empire has a submachine slaying partnership that could well contend with Atlanta’s tiny terrors.
Under the expert leadership of Ian “Crimsix” Porter, there is every chance that Dallas is able to continue its fine run of form into the Major, where the prospect of defeating the best Black Ops Cold War team could change the pecking order in the days leading up to Championship Weekend.
Minnesota ROKKR: The Dark Horses?
Since finishing fourth at the Stage Two Major, the Minnesota ROKKR has been hovering around the tight mid-table battle and despite showing glimpses of brilliance, the team has struggled to break away from the mid-table and establish itself amongst the frontrunners. A top-six finish at the Stage 4 Major may well have been a turning point for Minnesota, with the team managing to build on the result to score three victories over the course of Stage 5, the most impressive of which was a clinical 3-0 sweep against the Florida Mutineers.
Having departed Atlanta for Minnesota during the off-season, Michael “MajorManiak” Szymaniak has managed to reach those levels that saw him excel as the main assault rifle player throughout 2020. With the Krig 6 in hand, very few players are capable of defeating MajorManiak in a long-distance duel and while he locks down the lanes, the deadly SMG duo of Dillion “Attach” Price and Eli “Standy” Bentz can roam the map and slay the opposition with total ease. There have been several occasions where Minnesota have been able to compete with teams regularly battling it out at the top of the table and with the entire roster seemingly firing on all cylinders, there is every possibility of the ROKKR managing to spring a surprise as it looks to book its place in the playoffs.
Can Seattle End The Season On A High?
It’s no secret that the Black Ops Cold War season has been far from ideal for the Seattle Surge. Despite overhauling its roster in a bid to rebound from a disappointing Modern Warfare season, the Surge has placed no higher than the top eight in each of the four Majors that have taken place so far. It’s not like the team is attempting different strategies in a bid to reverse its fortunes. During Seattle’s Stage 5 encounter against the Dallas Empire, Sam “Octane” Larew, a player synonymous for his skill with an assault rifle, was seen using a submachine gun, much to the confusion of fellow players and fans.
With the Surge out of Playoff contention, the Stage 5 Major is the team’s final opportunity to earn some prize money and despite a sub-optimal record on Black Ops Cold War, is there any way for Seattle to round off another disappointing season on a high note? Considering their first match is against the Paris Legion, there is a chance for the Surge to turn the tide and make a somewhat unexpected run through the loser’s bracket. It’s a tall order, but stranger things have happened in competitive Call of Duty.