Can OpTic Texas Go Back-To-Back At The Minnesota Major?

After securing the first Call of Duty League (CDL) Major of the Vanguard season, OpTic Texas has returned to the top of Call of Duty esports. The Modern Warfare and Black Ops Cold War seasons didn’t go to plan for OpTic but following the unlikely partnership between the Green Wall and Team Envy, this super-charged roster is leading the pack, sitting at the top of the table heading into the second Major of 2022. 

With the Minnesota Major right around the corner, OpTic has continued to impress in various aspects of competitive Vanguard, much to the delight of its devoted fan base. As the only team to win all of its online qualification matches prior to the LAN, momentum is with them. With the competition closing in, can OpTic Texas become back-to-back champions for the very first time in the CDL era?

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A Flawless Stage 2

The second stage of the 2022 season hasn’t been without its close calls for the Green Wall. Despite a reverse sweep at the hands of the London Royal Ravens during Stage 1 qualification matches, OpTic has flicked a switch to become a team capable of beating anyone. Throughout the three weeks of matches leading up to Major 2, OpTic conceded a total of three maps on their way to securing a flawless record of five wins to no losses.

The Green Wall currently sits with an unbeaten record of 12 consecutive victories. If they defeat Seattle Surge in their opening match of the Major, the Green Wall draws level with the Red Militia in what could be another instalment in the storied rivalry between OpTic and FaZe. Based on current form, there’s every chance the Green Wall holds strong against an incredibly tough opponent that will see the team make history with a total of 14 wins without a single loss.

The Resurgence Of Dashy

Since bursting onto the scene during the World War 2 season, Brandon "Dashy" Otell's career has had its ups and downs. From being a dominant slayer during Black Ops 4 to struggles on the OpTic Chicago roster during Black Ops Cold War, it appears he's found his footing on Vanguard under the OpTic Texas banner. As the aggressive assault rifle player on the team, Dashy provides a secondary line of attack alongside the submachine gunners of Seth "Scump" Abner and Anthony "Shotzzy" Cuevas-Castro.

During matches, Dashy is almost always in a position to trade any eliminations that don't go the way of his teammates, allowing the Green Wall to maintain a pace very few teams can match. His mechanical understanding of Vanguard is second to none. By utilising every obscure angle to gain the upper hand over the opposition, a Dashy firing on all cylinders is difficult for any team to come up against. If that online form transitions across to LAN, Dashy will play an instrumental role in ensuring nothing can knock the Green Wall on the main stage.

Scump's Relentless Skill

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Calls for Scump to hang up the controller multiplied following the Black Ops Cold War season despite being the best player for OpTic Chicago. While some of those retirement calls continue to echo, the veteran is showing no signs of slowing down and continues to prove doubters wrong with the MP40 in hand. Often popping up with a string of two or three kills in quick succession, the King is making sure he remains on the throne for the foreseeable future.

With the next generation of talent proving their worth on the big stage, Scump's relentless march of greatness goes to show why it’s not worth discounting the experienced players on a game that suits a faster style of play. Scump is still competing with the very best after over a decade of competing at the pinnacle of the esport and his pairing with Shotzzy is one that's already bearing fruit. His longevity is nothing short of phenomenal and with the opportunity to be a part of a team armed with the longest undefeated streak in the history of the CDL, Scump's slaying is guaranteed to make an impact.

• Read More: Scump Becomes First Player To Win Major On 10 Different Games

Can Any Teams Knock Down The Green Wall?

With the skill gap between all 12 teams closer than it's ever been, a single mistake can lead to a potential disaster for OpTic Texas. Following a second-place finish at the hands of the Green Wall, Atlanta FaZe has a chip on their shoulders as it looks to usurp Texas from the head of the table. The combination of Chris "Simp" Lehr and McArthur "Cellium" Jovel is always going to cause problems and there's a high likelihood of a Major 1 Final rerun if FaZe is on form. 

It's not just Atlanta battling for the top spot. Arguably the biggest resurgence of form comes from the London Royal Ravens, a team that's capitalised on fresh European Challengers talent in order to make an impact. After a third-place finish at the first Major, the Royal Ravens will be mixing it up with OpTic and FaZe once again. Whether they have what it takes to overcome the biggest hurdles in Call of Duty esports remains to be seen.

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