OpTic Texas has exercised some of their demons at CDL Major IV. Not only did they finally win a Bocage Hardpoint, but they managed to defeat Toronto Ultra for the first time in months. This was a huge match for both teams, as a win meant top four and an appearance on championship Sunday. In a fantastic, five-game series, Texas was able to take the win and secure their best placement at an event since they won Major I. Toronto, on the other hand, is headed home and will make preparations for Champs.
Toronto goes back to Canada at the hands of OpTic Texas
As they often do, OpTic Texas and Toronto Ultra put on a fantastic show during this series. The two teams were fairly evenly matched throughout, with neither one gaining a huge advantage as the games rolled on. Like clockwork, this series went to a map five, which was anyone’s game on Bocage Search and Destroy.
Before that Bocage happened, though, there were some terrific maps, which were kicked off by a Bocage Hardpoint. This entire major, OpTic has begun their series with a Bocage HP; both of their previous attempts proved futile. However, the third time was the charm; despite being down by 40-50 points for the first half of the map, Texas stormed back in the second half. They ended the map on P2 thanks to a two-piece secured by Anthony “Shotzzy” Cuevas-Castro, who returned to form on Bocage against Toronto. OpTic won 250-245 as the series transitioned to Berlin Search and Destroy.
Entering the map, the Ultra were the worst Berlin S&D team in the CDL. As Vanguard goes, though, stats mean nothing. Ben “Bance” Bance stepped up in a huge way for Toronto, dropping 15 kills and clutching a near impossible 1v3 to allow his team to take the map and tie up the series. The next map stayed on Berlin for Control, where the Ultra also dominated OpTic. Despite losing round one on defense, Toronto won 3-1, securing three straight rounds and two offenses en route to taking a 2-1 series lead.
The EU 🐐 with the 1v3 @Bance #StrengthInTheNorth | #CDL2022 pic.twitter.com/QneaySCKh1
— Call of Duty League (@CODLeague) July 16, 2022
With OpTic Texas down 1-2, they turned to Tuscan Hardpoint, which has been Shotzzy’s playground at Major IV. That trend continued, as Shotzzy ran around Toronto for the entire map and finished with 39 kills. OpTic held the lead for the entire match and were never in true danger of losing. It all came down to Bocage S&D to decide the series and send one team to championship Sunday and secure top four at Major IV. Toronto defeated OpTic on this exact map earlier in the Major IV qualifiers. However, Texas was able to defeat Minnesota on Bocage S&D earlier this weekend to win their first match, so it truly was anyone’s map to take.
It seems OpTic did their homework for this match, though. They played Toronto perfectly on the map, not giving them an inch on defense and attacking effectively on offense. Brandon “Dashy” Otell and Shotzzy were menaces in every round, combining for 24 kills and refusing to go home at Major IV. While the Ultra made things interesting at the end, it was OpTic with the clutch in round 11 to take the map and series. Shotzzy finished the series with 123 total kills while Dashy led the way with a 1.15 KD.
WHAT A SERIES 🤯@OpTicTexas move on to Championship Sunday and send @TorontoUltra back to the six 👋#BrickByBrick | #CDL2022 pic.twitter.com/JI8r9lSmlI
— Call of Duty League (@CODLeague) July 16, 2022
The loss eliminates Toronto Ultra from Major IV, while Texas rolls on to championship Sunday. They will play the winner of Atlanta FaZe and Florida Mutineers tomorrow.
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