COD Champs Preview - The Fiercest Competition Yet

The Call of Duty World League Championship is known for being the largest Call of Duty event at the end of each season; making and breaking careers because nothing else matters and the rest of the year is irrelevant when compared to this main event. Of course, after an arduous season of WWII, we've reached the final chapter of the title. Personally, I couldn't be more excited as CoD is indeed my favourite esport; there are so many storylines, potential runs, and legacies colliding that I could write a book about the upcoming event. Let's get right into it. 

Spread across two events, the two stages will take place between the 15th and 19th August. The intensive group stage will take place on the first two days, at the MLG Arena while the championship bracket is to be carried out at the Nationwide Arena - both in Colombus. The event will determine the World Champions for the Call of Duty: World War II Season, with a prize pool of $1,500,000 on the line. The 32 anxious teams are currently stacked in 8 groups of 4 teams each - 48 series will be played to conclude the Group Stage. From the 2 Asia-Pacific, 11 European and 19 North America teams, the top 2 from each group will advance to the Winner's Bracket while the bottom two will find themselves in the Loser's Bracket. Time to take a closer look at the teams. 

Favourites - Team Kaliber, Rise Nation, Red Reserve

 The competition has been so tight recently, it was difficult to decide on three teams which I would deem as favourite. Yet, looking back throughout the season and the combined statistics, the teams which have been most successful are Team Kaliber, Rise Nation and Red Reserve. The newest edition is TK, following their performance at Stage 2 Playoffs, where they blew everyone out of the water with a return to form as they won the whole thing. Their squad suddenly clicked and the team was firing on all cylinders as it used to earlier in the year, when the team won two of the events before the curse. After that performance, they are top contenders; the core of Kenny and Accuracy has been one of the strongest throughout the season. Then, of course, there are the more obvious choices of Red Reserve and Rise Nation. Rise Nation picked up the pace exactly when TK had lost theirs, quickly becoming the most consistent team in the scene thanks to their outstanding flex player in Gunless which made it possible for them to adapt to the meta. Having won a couple of events this year, and being broken apart by TK at the Stage 2 Playoffs, they are determined to prove themselves as the top team. Red Reserve has also been consistent, in placing 2nd and 3rd across the season to the other two teams. With their new addition of Skrapz,  the European Devils are one of the top three teams at the event, hungry to take it home for the continent. 

Contenders - FaZe Clan, Optic Gaming, eUnited, Luminosity Gaming

This is where my list may deviate from your own. Let me know your thoughts in the comments section. Moving on, I've made a list of contenders who are also likely to win the event should things go their way. First off, I had to address the wounded dog that is Optic Gaming - limping following a continuously disappointing season despite a massive roster change, with thoughts of retirement hovering over the legendary Scump; they've got a lot to prove. Following last year's triumph, not many are convinced that such a performance will be repeated; this event could make or break the current roster. Speaking of new rosters, Luminosity Gaming is another team that many would count out of the title race. Despite a poor performance at Stage 2, the new roster, with the addition of FormaL, has the potential to win the whole thing; especially with a decorate player such as Jkap on the side. Personally, I am hoping to witness the return of FormaL as the best AR in the game, silencing all of the doubters he's attracted all year - but then again, this is just a personal hope. If there's a time to bring you're A-game, it's now. Concluding my list are the likes of FaZe Clan and eUnited.  After FaZe's win at the Stage 1 Playoffs, due to a lacklustre perfomance by Optic, they've been hovering around the middle of the pack. For them to win, the whole team will need to pull it together simultaneously, and not just the incredibly clutch efforts of Replays who did come out of retirement this year. I would not have considered eUnited until two weeks ago, when they smoked their group in the Stage 2 Qualifiers to clinch the first place spot. This alongside the leadership of Clayster,  the team expects to make a very deep run into the competition. 

Dark Horses - UNILAD, Echo Fox

This section is one I've dedicated to the team which I'm rooting for to throw off the competition and tear up the statistics. UNILAD, who've taken out Optic Gaming in the past two events, have been playing spectacularly to establish themselves as a Top 8 team. With the twin of wuskin on their side, a grudge match between UNILAD and Red Reserve would be a pleasure to watch, as skrapz will be just as determined to prove himself as the better twin. Another team which many will count out is Echo Fox. Sure, they probably won't win the event  - but can they take on bigger teams? Yes they can; they've taken down the likes of Rise Nation and eUnited in the Stage 2 Qualifiers. They've got potential, especially after Temp bet $1000 with TJHaly from Rise, that the Red North Americans aren't going to win it. 

Redemption Required - Splyce, Evil Geniuses and Team Envy

Here's a statement; Splyce, Evil Geniuses and Team Envy have been the three most underperforming teams of the season. Perhaps this statement could be countered with the fact that Splyce and EG had both secured 2nd place finishes very early into the year - but we've come a long way since then. These three teams, with the echoing names of the organizations they represent, have been nothing but shadows of their potential selves, having seen placements beyond 10th place regularly since the start of 2018. Each will be looking to try pull something together before the event, even though the odds are heavily against them and the competition is stacked. I would include Optic Gaming here, but they are contenders. 

I could go on with a background for each team, but your thumb would tire of scrolling. Other stories, such as the Australia-Pacific rally which we witnessed at the end of Stage 2, or the fact that Censor is winning the event may also be explored. COD Champs 2018 is an event I'll be watching from beginning to end, and if you're any fan of competitive COD, you should too. 

Thanks for reading - who is your favourite to win it all?