The opening day of competition begins for a number of the 12 teams in the CDL, with plenty of interesting match-ups to kick-off the beginning of the 2023 Call of Duty League Season.
It's a new year and plenty of faces in new places, not to mention a new platform as the CDL will take on Call of Duty Modern Warfare II. The Paris Legion are now located in the United States as the organization moved to Las Vegas.
There will be plenty of contenders and pretenders to keep an eye on during the first few matches of the weekend.
All 12 teams are looking for a good start to the new campaign. Atlanta FaZe has its eyes set on making another deep run, yet they have plenty of competition biting on their heels with LA Thieves and the always tough OpTic Texas team also in on the action.
Let's look at what's on the schedule for the opening day of competition in the Major I qualifiers.
The money lies with Atlanta FaZe
What: Boston Breach v Atlanta FaZe, Call of Duty League
Where: North America
When: 20:00, Friday 2nd December 2022
How to watch: Call of Duty League YouTube Channel
Odds: Boston Breach 7/4, Atlanta FaZe 2/5
Last season's World runner-up will be trying to get things back in their favor as they draw the Boston Breach for their opening match of the season.
Both teams had plenty of highlights back in Vanguard. The Breach became the 12th organization in CDL history last season as they made their inaugural trip through the gauntlet.
They had plenty to be excited about as they proved to be a tough team to beat in head-to-head matches. The team was able to finish in the top 8 of the standings and made the Worlds in their first season.
Boston ultimately failed to advance out of the first or second round at the finals, but they did earn a top 8 placing. Nothing bad about that for the new team. Now they look to make a splash with this match against Atlanta to open this season.
Methodz and Nero look to be the top players for the Breach, but they won't have an easy job as they take on the star-studded line-up Atlanta is rolling out.
The FaZe won all three head-to-head meetings with the Breach last season, and that included two wins in 3-0 sweeping fashion - Boston is extremely overmatched in this clash.
OpTic must come out swinging
What: OpTic Texas v Minnesota ROKKR, Call of Duty League
Where: North America
When: 21:30, Friday 2nd December 2022
How to watch: Call of Duty League YouTube Channel
Odds: OpTic Texas 8/15, Minnesota ROKKR 11/8
The Minnesota ROKKR have plenty of work to do as they open the new season with a tough challenge. They drew OpTic Texas for their opening contest. OpTic brings back plenty of firepower with Scump looking to close out an outstanding career.
The future looks bright for OpTic even when the season is over as Dashy, Shotzzy and iLLEY all have big match experience.
All four players had a good 2022 season as OpTic reached Worlds once again. They didn't quite have the gas to win it all, but they finished in a top-four spot.
They look to repeat their early success of 2022 as they won the first Major last season.
The ROKKR have plenty of new faces to work with as their whole line-up has new players - Attach being the only player that has worn the colors of the ROKKR prior to this season.
The organization added Bance and Cammy both from the Toronto Ultra and went and signed Afro away from the London Royal Ravens.
Minnesota ended its 2022 campaign with a 3-2 loss against this same OpTic team at CDL Major 4 2022. These teams met five times last season, with OpTic winning all but one of those head-to-heads.
With all of the roster changes Minnesota will need some time to build confidence, so OpTic has a chance to make a statement here.
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LA Thieves keep on winning
What: Las Vegas Legion v LA Thieves, Call of Duty League
Where: North America
When: 23:00, Friday 2nd December 2022
How to watch: Call of Duty League YouTube Channel
Odds: Las Vegas Legion 2/1, LA Thieves 4/11
This match-up is a tale of two directions. The Legion made the move from Paris, France to Las Vegas, Nevada.
And what better way to bring the new location to the forefront with a match with the defending CDL Champion LA Thieves.
The perfect way to pump up the loyal Las Vegas Legion fans. This match could get really ugly early for the Legion as they try to adjust to not only a new home base, but a whole new line-up of American players.
The addition of a lead player in Temp, and Theory as Head Coach will hopefully get things moving forward for a team that finished dead last in the league in 2022.
They have time to prove themselves, but this match is all about the Thieves.
Surge have something to prove
What: LA Guerrillas v Seattle Surge, Call of Duty League
Where: North America
When: 00:30, Saturday 3rd December 2022
How to watch: Call of Duty League YouTube Channel
Odds: LA Guerrillas 7/4, Seattle Surge 2/5
The Seattle Surge are out to prove they weren't just a one-hit wonder. The team was able to finish in the top four at the CDL Championship in 2022.
They did so behind the League's rookie of the year and Pred is looking to make an even bigger impact in the 2023 season.
The Aussie star has the potential to become one of the best players in the world.
Their foe the LA Guerrillas have some work to do after a roster turnover in the offseason. Huke and Spart remain, but the organization also brought in some new playmakers in Neptune from the Mutineers and Arcitys from the Atlanta FaZe, which was a big move.
