This story was originally published by Dead Spin
The New York Subliners stormed through the elimination bracket and upset the Atlanta FaZe 4-2 in the grand final to win the Call of Duty League’s Stage 4 Major on Sunday in Burbank, Calif.
The Subliners opened the day sitting in Round 4 of the elimination bracket. New York needed three wins in three matches to secure an improbable title and did just that.
After beating the Toronto Ultra 3-0 and sweeping the Los Angeles Guerrillas 3-0 in the elimination final, the Subliners squared off with Atlanta. The FaZe were responsible for sending them to the elimination bracket to begin with, blanking New York 3-0 in the first round of the major, and Atlanta had not dropped a map in the entire bracket to that point.
The Subliners dented that spotless record by beating Atlanta 250-178 on 6 Star Hardpoint, but the FaZe took a 2-1 series lead by winning 6-1 on Highrise Search & Destroy and 3-1 on Highrise Control.
Then New York stormed back, winning Rio Hardpoint 250-172 and Karachi Search & Destroy 6-2. The Subliners sealed the deal with a 3-2 victory on Invasion Control.
Frenchman Paco “HyDra” Rusiewiez of the Subliners was named tournament MVP.
Toronto settled for fourth place after the Subliners swept them by winning 250-154 on Vista Hardpoint, 6-1 on 6 Star Search & Destroy and 3-1 on Karachi Control.
In the upper-bracket final, Atlanta defeated the Guerrillas 3-0 to send Los Angeles into the elimination final. The FaZe won 250-156 on 6 Star Hardpoint, 6-5 on Rio Search & Destroy and 3-1 on Invasion Control.
The Guerrillas met the Subliners in the elimination final and were blown out, with New York prevailing 250-151 on Rio Hardpoint, 6-3 on 6 Star Search & Destroy and 3-2 on Highrise Control.
Call of Duty League Season 5 Stage 4 Major prize pool (money, CDL points)
1. New York Subliners — $150,000, 100
2. Atlanta FaZe — $90,000, 75
3. Los Angeles Guerrillas — $60,000, 60
4. Toronto Ultra — $30,000, 45
5-6. Seattle Surge, Los Angeles Thieves — $15,000, 30
7-8. Miami Heretics, Vegas Legion — $7,500, 15
9-12. Carolina Royal Ravens, OpTic Texas, Minnesota Rokkr, Boston Breach — no money, no points
–Field Level Media