Minnesota ROKKR win historic $500K CDL 2021 Stage 5 Major: highlights, results, recap

The final event of the CDL’s 2021 regular season was the wildest event of the year, as FaZe got knocked out early, OpTic made a run, and ROKKR capped it off with the biggest comeback in CoD history. Here are the highlights, results, and recaps for those who missed, or want to relive the action.

• ROKKR reverse-sweep Ultra in Grand Finals.
• OpTic get revenge vs Empire to kick day off.
• Ultra shut down OpTic in Loser’s Finals.

The last chance for four of the CDL’s teams to play before missing Champs did not disappoint, as Surge whooped derriere throughout the Major and took down FaZe. But Championship Sunday was the biggest day of the year thus far.

It started with eClasico 2.0, as OpTic dethroned the Empire, but it ended with an impossible victory. Down 0-4 to the Ultra, ROKKR made CoD (and professional competitive) history by reverse-sweeping and pulling off the 5-4 win. A fitting finish for one of CoD’s greatest tournaments ever.

CDL Stage 5 Major: results, recaps, and highlights

DAY 1 – THURSDAY, JULY 29

Match 1: Surge send Legion home

Despite Paris looking like a refreshed beast for some parts of Stage 5, the Seattle Surge proved why their leader is called LAN Larew. Seattle blew the door off in this one.

Match 2: Subliners outlast Guerrillas

It wasn’t pretty, but the new-look Subliners roster got a dub on their first day on LAN. Fittingly, the nail in the coffin was a masterful round of Game 5 S&D by Mr. Do It All, Asim.

Match 3: ROKKR shock FaZe

No words here. Stellar series from the rookie Standy and an even better performance by the former FaZe man, Priestahh, who shocked his old teammates and CDL fans everywhere with a ROKKR W.

Match 4: Ultra edge out Thieves

While the Thieves can certainly slay out on LAN, there’s still some work to be done on S&D and Control. Outside of Hardpoint, LAT got smoked 15-3. Ultra are poised, have sneaky spots, and play OpTic next.

DAY 2 — FRIDAY, JULY 30

Match 1: Surge stomp Royal Ravens

Things started close, but the gap widened as Prestinni and the Surge grabbed the wheel. The win pushed Seattle to 4-1 on LAN, setting them up for a LR3 matchup with FaZe.

Match 2: Subliners survive Mutineers

Possibly the wildest Game 5 of the year, Subliners capped off their reverse sweep with some absolutely wild plays on Standoff S&D. Every player chipped in for the key W.

Match 3: ROKKR maintain form vs Empire

Something’s in the Minnesota juice these days, as the ROKKR followed up a win over the Stage 4 champs with a 3-1 over the runner-ups. Textbook teamwork from the underdog squad.

Match 4: Ultra’s S&D too strong for OpTic

OpTic had been on a tear for much of Stage 5, but they swapped out the Foam Runners for Air Maxes and things got shakier. Ultimately, Toronto’s S&D prowess proved pivotal.

DAY 3 — SATURDAY, JULY 31

Match 1: Thieves knock out Subliners

The Subliners made things incredibly competitive, but a team of youngsters simply couldn’t overcome the LAN iciness from the Thieves.

Match 2: Surge upset FaZe

Arguably the greatest upset in CoD history, Seattle played like an inspired beast vs FaZe. Classic was in a different form as the Surge knocked Atlanta out of Major V.

Match 3: Empire dismantle Thieves

They came out with cowboy hats and presents, they left with a W. Dallas shut down a hot Thieves squad emphatically to keep their Loser’s run alive.

Match 4: OpTic end Surge’s cinderella run

My oh my. The LAN-favorite Surge met the fan-favorite OpTic and the game did not disappoint, going the distance to a Game 5. Ultimately, the Green Wall proved too sturdy.

Match 5: ROKKR sweep Ultra to secure GF

ROKKR may only be the CDL’s seventh-ranked team this season, but they proved themselves to be a real contender here — emphatically sweeping an impressive Ultra squad.

DAY 4 — SUNDAY, AUGUST 1

Match 1: OpTic get revenge on Empire

In Major IV, it was Empire who got the best of OpTic. But the Green Wall has grown sturdier and, with fans juicing every single play, Chicago handily threw Dallas out of the Major.

Match 2: Ultra upset OpTic in rematch

What goes around, comes around, and that was the case when Ultra beat OpTic just as effectively as Chicago had just beaten Dallas. Toronto, with immaculate teamwork, ruined fans’ hopes with a smooth W — making that two wins vs OpTic in the same Major.

Match 3: ROKKR pull off greatest comeback ever

They put up 34 points in the opening Hardpoint then lost the next three maps. And then the ROKKR pulled off the unimaginable, reverse-sweeping from down 0-4 and pulling off the wildest comeback in CoD history — a best-of-nine reverse sweep. Minnesota Miracle, ROKKR Redemption, whatever you call it, this game goes down in CoD history.

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CDL Stage 5 Major placement & prizing

CDL Stage 5 Major format & details

• Location: Arlington
• Prize pool: $500,000
• Format: Double-elimination bracket
• Seeding determined by Stage 3 standings:
  • 1st place teams start in Winners Round 2
  • 2nd & 3rd place teams start in Winners Round 1
  • 4th place teams start in Losers R2
  • 5th & 6th place teams start in Losers R1
• CDL Points: Based on placement (see placements section above for breakdown)
• Series are best-of-five (HP, S&D, Control, HP, S&D)
• Grand finals is best-of-nine (HP, S&D, Control, HP, S&D, Control, S&D, Hardpoint, S&D)
• Maps & Modes:
  • Hardpoint: Apocalypse, Checkmate, Garrison, Moscow, Raid
  • Search & Destroy: Standoff, Express, Miami, Moscow, Raid
  • Control: Checkmate, Garrison, Raid

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CDL Stage 5 Major teams & lineups

Clay is still on a break and, with rumors he may be disgruntled due to a shattered trade, the new-look Subliners came into the loser’s bracket with a chip on their shoulder. Past that, most rosters looked about the same as they did in Stage 5 — but with some extra, financial incentives.

Check out our CDL 2021 Season hub for everything you need to know about this season, including a full event schedule, the latest standings, and more.