The qualifiers for Call of Duty League (CDL) Major 4 are underway, with all 12 franchises competing in the second week of matches to determine seeding for the penultimate LAN event of the Black Ops 6 season.
CDL Major 4 is the last Major of the 2024/25 season and is the final opportunity for franchises to earn CDL Points to secure a place at Championship Weekend.
Following week one’s set of surprise results, the second week of competition saw normal service resume, with two franchises setting the pace at the top of the table.
The second week of qualifiers for CDL Major 4 followed the same format as week one, with all 12 franchises competing across one or two matches. As the battle for Champs qualification nears its end, franchises have booked their places while others have missed out on the season-ending event.
Miami Leads the Way
Miami Heretics has often shown glimpses of competing against the very best North American rosters, and throughout the Major 4 qualifiers, the all-Spanish lineup has impressed during the online qualifiers.
Victory against the Las Vegas Falcons and Cloud9 New York has cemented its place in the winner’s bracket for Major 4 and is one of two franchises that have yet to lose a match.
Sitting at the top of the qualification table with four wins, Heretics has an excellent chance of proving that the Europeans can still contend with the North American juggernauts.
Mercules Makes an Impact
The fifth roster change for OpTic Texas looks to have made a significant difference for the defending CDL champions. Ahead of the week two qualifiers, Mason ‘Mercules’ Ramsey joined the franchise after a strong showing as a fill-in for Toronto Ultra at the Major 3 LAN.
Despite a 3-2 defeat to Boston Breach, OpTic Texas immediately bounced back with a 3-0 sweep of the Carolina Royal Ravens thanks to a standout performance from the Green Wall’s latest signing. A 1.51 K/D ratio across all three maps was enough to convince several fans that the change was justified.
After two wins, OpTic Texas remains in eighth place but is closing in on seventh place, all but securing a place at Champs after battling for qualification in recent weeks.
Two Franchises Out the Running
After losing to Miami Heretics and the LA Thieves, the Las Vegas Falcons is officially out of the running for a place at Championship Weekend.
Having started the season with a roster of Saudi Arabian players, a string of defeats resulted in the franchise bringing in North American talent in a bid to make a last-ditch push for the top eight.
The off-season acts as an opportunity for the franchise to rebuild and focus on ending the season with a strong showing at the Esports World Cup if the franchise qualifies.
The second franchise missing out on Champs is Los Angeles Guerrillas M8, capping off a difficult season. 2024/25 is the last season of the Guerrillas name featuring in the CDL, with the French organisation Gentle Mates taking full control of the franchise next season.
A 3-2 defeat to Minnesota Rokkr and a 3-0 loss to Atlanta FaZe sealed the fate of the Guerrillas, which has struggled to compete throughout the year.
