Matchup: Optic Chicago vs. Dallas Empire
Head to Head Results This Season: 2-1 Chicago
3-2 DAL (Stage 1 Major), 3-2 CHI (Stage 2 Pool Play), 3-0 CHI (Stage 3 Major)
Last Matchup: 3-0 Chicago Victory (Stage 3 Major)
Player to Watch for Optic: Dashy
Dashy has been Optic’s best player all season as he currently sits 2nd overall in the CDL with a 1.15 overall K/D ratio. They need him to play at his best if Chicago is going to have a chance to make some noise against the best teams at the Major. Out of all of Optic’s players, it is most essential for Dashy to start the tournament off hot vs. Empire or they could quickly find themselves in the Elimination bracket.
Player to Watch for Empire: Vivid
All eyes will be on Dallas’s newest addition and how he performs as they enter the Major with their third roster iteration this season. Vivid was the worst player on the roster during pool play, posting a 0.84 K/D across 21 games. His Hardpoint play was still solid during the five matches Empire played, but how he shows up in Search and Destroy and Control will likely dictate the team’s fate during the tournament.
Breaking Down The Matchup
Though not directly in name, the backing behind these respective franchises makes this matchup another battle in the ‘eClasico’ series between Optic Gaming and Team Envy. Both teams went 3-2 in pool play, looking great in some series and getting run off the map in others. Despite Optic’s 2-1 lead in matchups this season, this will be the first time these two squads face each other since Vivid was added to the roster. Chicago comes into the match after a dominant performance over Los Angeles Thieves. Optic is also one of those teams that once back on LAN, they might find their best form of the season.
Empire comes into the Major with unknown expectations. Their last three matches were a 3-0 over LAG, a tough 2-3 loss to NYSL, and 3-2 victory over the Mutineers. Vivid hasn’t been spectacular for the team, but he might have at least steadied the ship down in Dallas. Shotzzy has returned to MVP form with a 1.08 K/D across all game modes during pool play, in addition to a 0.85 kills per round in SnD, tied for 5th overall in Stage 4. The winningest Call of Duty player of all time is also on the roster, and if we know anything about Crimsix, it’s his desire to keep winning events.
Prediction: 3-2 Optic Chicago
Expect this match to be hard-fought and scrappy as both squads battle it out to advance in the Winners bracket. I think Optic’s momentum from their last series and the return to LAN will be huge motivators for Chicago to go out and get the victory. Optic is favored in the Control game of the series, and with Scump posting the 2nd best K/D in Search and Destroy on the year, Dallas must take advantage of the Hardpoints if they’re going to have a chance to win this series.
Catch the series Thursday, June 17th at 6 pm ET on the Call of Duty League YouTube channel. The Stage 4 Major kicks off at 3 pm ET the same day with an Elimination match between London Royal Ravens and Seattle Surge.
Who do you think will win this series? Do you think either squad has a chance to make a deep run at the Major? Let me know in the comments!