OpTic Texas reclaims top spot in CDL Stage 1 Major qualifiers

OpTic Texas moved back into first place in the Call of Duty League Stage 1 Major qualifiers after a 3-1 victory over the Vancouver Surge on Sunday, January 11, 2026. The win made OpTic the first team to reach four wins in the ongoing five-week qualifying period, putting them on 40 CDL points and giving them a clear early advantage for Major 1 bracket placement.

The match featured a commanding 250-193 Hardpoint performance from OpTic on Exposure, where hill control and consistent slaying built an unassailable lead. OpTic followed that up with a flawless 6-0 Search & Destroy shutout on Den, a map performance that highlighted their map-specific discipline and clutch depth in post-plant plays. The overall 3-1 scoreline reflected a mix of dominant respawn bursts and the kind of surgical S&D execution that separates top seeds come Major time.

Those map-level details matter because of how the Stage 1 qualifier is structured. Each of the 12 CDL teams plays seven matches across the five-week window, and every match win is worth 10 CDL points. That point structure drives every team to chase clean wins rather than merely close losses, since seeding for Major 1 brackets will be determined by accumulated points from these qualifier matches. With two weeks of qualifiers remaining, teams that have yet to clear four wins will be under pressure to string together victories quickly.

Week 3 produced other notable results that kept the mid-table tightly contested. The Carolina Royal Ravens edged out G2 Minnesota in a close matchup that will factor into both teams’ seeding math, and Toronto KOI picked up a win over the Los Angeles Thieves to stay in the conversation as the schedule tightens. Those outcomes, combined with OpTic’s push, mean several squads are jockeying for position while map pools and team form continue to evolve.

For players and fans, this stretch is about momentum and map-specific preparation. OpTic’s Exposure and Den showings are a reminder that controlling hill rotations and executing clean S&D rounds are nonnegotiable for Major contention. Expect teams to shift practice priorities toward the maps and modes that cost them points early in the window.

Our two cents? Treat these next two weeks like the most important scrims of the season. Track who wins key map types and which rosters stabilize their lineups now, because those trends will determine the Major 1 bracket come the end of qualifiers.