Can Subliners Finally Rid Roster Turmoil To Showcase Their True Championship Winning Quality?

It feels like an eternity ago since the New York Subliners grabbed a second-place finish in the Stage 3 Major finals. As quite a formidable opponent, the Subliners looked to be the people's choice to be the team to take FaZe the distance, with friends turned foes and a mixture of flare and finesse being on display.

However, this was the last time their number one line-up appeared alongside each other at the playoffs stage. 

The Subliners had sunk, and have even pointed fingers at each other for abandoning ship just before the epitome of the season. Back-to-back majors without their full-strength line-up had punctured their sails, as they failed to surf up anything better than a top-five finish.

Visa issues for Asim "Asim" Obaild and a mental health break for James "Clayster" Eubanks forced the side to enlist the help of trusted stand-ins and substitutes in the previous two Majors, coincidentally the only two of the year to be played on LAN.

Now, for the first time since forming over eight months ago, the starting New York Subliners roster is to compete on stage together - at the pinnacle of what Call of Duty esports has to offer.

Will it unlock their true potential? Or is the flood too deep to revive the sunken vessel?

Clayster's Return Will Unleash Hydra Once Again

The French phenom, Paco "Hydra" Rusiewiez, hit the ground running when he entered the roster, under the wings of Clayster and unsung hero Asim. Together, the two experienced vets have enabled Paco to run riot on the map, which was evident by the way he dumped the tiny terrors into the lower bracket in the Stage 3 Major.

Click to enlarge

As one of the most exhilarating young players in the entire CDL, Hydra had the community praying on their knees when he was in full flow, although his hype dwindled when his two enablers were removed from the roster. Often being the man needed to tighten up alongside Conor "DiamondCon" Johst and Jacob "Decemate" Cato, Hydra's free-flowing frenzy had been halted.

But now Hydra can be let off his leash once again, and prove why he's the prince that was promised in the CDL.

Oh, and Mack "Mackenzie" Kelley just posted the best numbers in the entire league on Control - yet another breakthrough talent that has found form at the right time for the Subliners.

OpTic's Lower Bracket Fever Can Play Into Subliners' Hands

Just as the Subliners' propellers start to spin, and the captain has returned to lead them to a championship, familiar opponents OpTic Chicago stand in their way.

With the "Delta Duo" back from their coronavirus woes (Seth "Scump" Abner and Dylan "Envoy" Hannon), OpTic are once again in contention for another trophy to add to their historical tally.

However, the upper bracket has been no friend of the Green Wall, and could be Subliners' ticket to unlock some menacing momentum. In their four attempts of progressing through the upper-tier, OpTic have won only one game and suffered defeats at the hands of Dallas Empire and Toronto Ultra. For a team that needs to find some early confidence to embed as a quartet again, Subliners couldn't have asked for a better opening fixture, despite OpTic's obvious presence and quality.

Further down the line for Subliners would see them play Championship favourites FaZe, who, despite being the outright best team in the league, are coming off the back of their worst Major of the year, and the worst placing of their careers for half the roster. Prior to the last major, Clayster's former prodigy Chris "Simp" Lehr and his tiny terror teammate Tyler "aBeZy" Pharris had reached the top four in every event of the CDL - which added to the surprise when they were dumbed from the competition by bottom-placed Seattle Surge. Just like OpTic, there's few better times to play the Atlanta FaZe.

For Subliners, on paper, the road to victory looks to sway out of their favour. However, in reality, it appears that the stars are aligning for them to overcome all of the hurdles they've been thrown and finally be crowned as the Call of Duty World Champions.