After a couple of weeks off, the Call of Duty League (CDL) returned with the opening day of the Minnesota Home Series. With the top five teams in action, the stage was set for a thrilling weekend of competition and day one failed to disappoint.
Find out what happened in our day one recap.
LA Guerrillas overcome Toronto
Heading into this match with plenty of confidence, Toronto were looking to build on a successful run of form against an LA Guerrillas team desperate to move into the mid-table battle as the battle for playoffs begins.
The Guerrillas opened up the series with a relatively comfortable win on Rammaza Hardpoint before taking a commanding 6-3 victory on Arklov Peak Search & Destroy to go within one map of scoring a much-needed win.
The Ultra managed to show some signs of live, taking Hackney Yard Domination 187-137 before sending the Guerrillas into the hundred-point club on Hackney Yard Hardpoint to force a fifth and final map.
Despite having all the momentum, the scoreline in the second S&D was the same, with LA taking another 6-3 win, this time on Gun Runner, to secure a surprising 3-2 win and 10 crucial CDL Points.
Seattle Almost Defeat Atlanta
The Minnesota Home Series marks the first tournament since the retirement of three-time world champion Damon "Karma" Barlow. Now with Nicholas "Proto" Maldonado in the team, the Surge were looking to climb the table with a win against league leaders, Atlanta FaZe.
Azhir Cave would play host to the opening Hardpoint and as the site of Chris "Simp" Lehr's kill record, it was going to be an uphill battle for Seattle. Against the odds, Seattle's teamwork was near-faultless, taking the map 250-175 much to the surprise of the viewers.
The momentum kept on rolling for the Surge. A back and forth St. Petrograd S&D went the distance but the Surge secured the win 6-5 to take an unprecedented 2-0 lead. An upset was certainly on the cards.
A lengthy technical pause halted all forms of momentum for Seattle and it showed when the FaZe put on a clinical performance on Hackney Yard Domination to begin the comeback. A 250-188 win on Gun Runner Hardpoint saw Atlanta level the series to take the series to a game five.
Like game two, the game went all 11 rounds, but Atlanta managed to complete the reverse sweep with a 6-5 win to take the series 3-2.
If the technical pause hadn't happened, this series could've been an entirely different story.
Florida Stun Chicago
Defending champions Chicago Huntsmen were looking to kick off the Minnesota Home Series with a win over the Florida Mutineers. The Huntsmen kicked off proceedings with a 250-239 win on Gun Runner Hardpoint but the Mutineers were far from out of it, taking the following Arklov Peak S&D 6-3 to equalise the series.
Heading into Hackney Yard Domination, the game could've gone either way based off the opening respawn map. Florida managed to walk away with a 146-154 win to take the lead in the series, leaving Chicago one loss away from a surprise appearance in the elimination match.
Rammaza Hardpoint was another close game, with Chicago taking it 250-204 to stay alive in the series. Staying on Rammaza for the deciding S&D, the Mutineers managed to complete the upset, taking the final game 6-4 to send the Huntsmen to the loser's bracket.
Dallas Off to Winning Start
With the top five teams in attendance, the tournament is a prime opportunity for one of those five to break out at the top of the table. The Dallas Empire had the opportunity to get off to a strong start against a Minnesota RØKKR team that has been struggling in recent weeks.
Despite those struggles, Minnesota managed to draw first blood on Rammaza Hardpoint, securing a 250-232 victory. Dallas responded in due course, taking a comfortable 6-2 win on St. Petrograd S&D to tie up the series at one map apiece.
The Empire took control on St. Petrograd Domination thanks to their superior team co-ordination. The team won the map 177-133 while Minnesota had to find something to stay alive in the series.
After a back and forth early game, the Empire walked away with St. Petrograd Hardpoint 250-185 to wrap up the series 3-1. Minnesota have their work cut out if they are to make it into the knockout bracket at their own Home Series event while Dallas are mounting a serious claim to the title of best team in the league.
The regular season's top two teams, Atlanta FaZe and Dallas Empire, face off in the Call of Duty League Grand Final.
