FaZe Vegas bounces again from loss to seize CDL Stage 2 Major

FaZe Vegas rebounded from a loss to OpTic Texas earlier in the day to win the rematch in the grand final 4-1 on Sunday of the Call of Duty League’s Stage 2 Major.

OpTic Texas took a 3-1 victory in the best-of-five upper-bracket final in Marston Green, England. That sent FaZe Vegas to the lower-bracket final, where they beat Toronto KOI 3-1 to earn a spot opposite OpTic Texas in the best-of-seven grand final.

Toronto KOI had eliminated the Los Angeles Thieves 3-0 in the lower-bracket semifinal on Sunday.

The Stage 2 Major, part of the DreamHack Birmingham event, awarded $150,000 and 100 Call of Duty League points to champion FaZe Vegas. OpTic Texas, as the first runner-up collected $90,000 and 75 CDL points.

Vegas’ Jovan “04” Rodriguez of the United States was selected the match MVP. He had a kill-death differential of 118-84 to lead all players. American teammate Chris “Simp” Lehr had 109 kills and a plus-20 differential.

Their team opened the grand final with a 250-184 win on Colossus Hardpoint. Texas drew even with a 6-2 victory on Raid Search and Destroy. But FaZe Vegas then reeled off wins on Scar Overload (4-3), Exposure Hardpoint (250-207) and Exposure Search and Destroy (6-5).

No OpTic Texas players had positive numbers.

The teams met in the upper-bracket final, which OpTic opened with a 250-192 win on Exposure Hardpoint. FaZe Vegas came back with a 6-4 win on Raid Search and Destroy, then Texas took it with wins on Den Overload (6-3) and Scar Hardpoint (250-112).

Cuyler “Huke” Garland of the United States was the match MVP with 101 kills and a plus-26 differential for Texas. All players for Vegas had negative differentials.

FaZe Vegas recovered in the double-elimination playoff format by defeating Toronto KOI 3-1 in the lower-bracket final. Vegas won on Den Hardpoint (250-240), then Toronto triumphed on Exposure Search and Destroy (6-3) before FaZe won on Exposure Overload (5-3) and Exposure Hardpoint (250-225).

Jordan “Abuzah” Francois of Belgium was match MVP with 89 kills and a plus-18 differential for FaZe Vegas.

In the lower-bracket semifinal, Toronto KOI swept the Los Angeles Thieves, winning 250-188 on Den Hardpoint, 6-3 on Colossus Search and Destroy and 4-3 on Exposure Overload.

Jamie “Insight” Craven of England was the match MVP for Toronto with 61 kills and a plus-12 differential.

Call of Duty League’s Stage 2 Major prize pool, with money winnings and CDL points

1. $150,000, 100 — FaZe Vegas

2. $90,000, 75 — OpTic Texas

3. $50,000, 60 — Toronto KOI

4. $30,000, 45 — Los Angeles Thieves

5-6. $15,000, 30 — Paris Gentle Mates, G2 Minnesota

7-8. $7,500, 15 — Riyadh Falcons, Miami Heretics

9-10. no money, no points — Vancouver Surge, Carolina Royal Ravens

–Field Level Media