CWL Seattle 2018 - Rising Roster Changes Rewarded

After the incredible performance out of everybody at Stage 1 Pro League Playoffs - a few key roster changes were witnessed throughout the community. Two examples of big changes include Rise's swap of Methodz  for Slasher and eUnited parting ways with SiLLY. After such changes, amongst others, everyone is always looking forward to the next event - proving grounds for the new squads. CWL Seattle 2018 was just that, and it didn't disappoint.

Apart from the partial community shuffle, the event would also be coming on the back of a new update which seriously edited the game in terms of unlimited sprint, lethals and divisions - effecting mainly SnD.  Though, it was quite evident that many SMG players were being caught sprinting constantly. This all contributed to quicker paced gameplay at the major, with a total prize pool of $200,000 on the line and 160+ teams cramming their way in. 

Straight off the bat, during the group stage, upsets were observed. The teams of Rise Nation, Optic Gaming, and Luminosity Gaming were all denied a top 2 placement in each of their groups - ridiculous statistics from three of the best teams at the moment. All three would have to crawl through the Losers Bracket, thanks to outrageous performances from sides such as Lightning Pandas, E6, Ghost Gaming and others who took the top spots.

To continue on the topic of upsets, the elephant in the room of Optic Gaming needs addressing. After barely getting through the Group Stage, they were washed out at a Top 16 finish. This is officially the worst placing of the organisation ever in its history, apart from the fact that all four players are shocked. A general notion of laziness is all that the community has been given. If the team were to split, as many predict, it would lead to the craziest rostermania that Call of Duty has ever seen, with 4 of the best players in the game in free agency. 

With that out of the way, the rest of the event was a joy to watch - an absolutely historical one too. Focusing on Rise Nation, who finished last in their group, they would go on to make the greatest Losers Bracket run in the history of CoD esports - eventually winning the whole event. Gunless was awarded the MVP with a 1.18 k/d. Meeting them in the grand final would be the surprising faces of those from EG, thanks to their new addition in SiLLY. His former team, eUnited, placed top 4. 

The current state of CoD esports is volatile. CWL Seattle 2018 was one of the most surprisingly historical events ever - and it's the first time that CoD has ever been hosted there. Optic Gaming serves as a ticking bomb under the infrastructure of the community.