The fifth week of the CWL Pro League comes on the heels of more craziness in the Call of Duty community. Division A and Division B will participate in cross-division play for the next two weeks. They will play at the MLG Arena in Columbus, Ohio with the top four from each Division moving on to Stage 1 Playoffs.
What a couple of months it has been for the Call of Duty community. From the Midnight and Excelerate drama to the recent roster changes, every week brings something new. This week, after a rough outing at CWL Fort Worth, eUnited dropped a veteran for a rookie. Two-time world champion Jordan “Jkap” Kaplan was replaced by Chris “Simp” Lehr. Of course, this sent shockwaves across the community, as Jkap is one of the greatest players ever. While it is understandable after their Fort Worth performance, this decision could come back to bite eUnited.
With this roster change, eUnited will surely be a different team, but how will it affect the rest of the League?
Here are four predictions for the first week of cross-division play:
eUnited go 3-1 with Simp
The recent drama with Jkap and James “Clayster” Eubanks is the last thing eUnited needed after Fort Worth. In case you missed the tweet storm, Jkap called out Clayster for a number of things, including his desire to win. It’s obvious that Jkap didn’t feel like he deserved to be dropped, but he was replaced by a terrific player. Simp is a recently turned 18-year-old phenom that has seen a tremendous amount of success in the amateur scene. He showed off his prowess in the Fort Worth Open Bracket, leading his FaZe Clan Black team to a victory.
I was actually considering last night why I was so pissed at you in all this when realistically the decision to bench me was 100% Burns. And I came to the realization that I just don’t like you anymore because you are the most arrogant and self-centered person I’ve ever met.
— Jordan Kaplan (@JKap415) March 20, 2019
With Simp now in the fold, eUnited will be a more dangerous team. He is a Submachine gun slayer, allowing Preston “Prestinni” Sanderson to move into a Flex role. Prestinni has said from the beginning of Black Ops 4 that he feels more comfortable with a Maddox. The addition of Simp allows him to run a Maddox and that will be a game-changer for eUnited. Their matches against Luminosity, Envy, and Red Reserve will be tough, but they should win at least two of them.
Team Heretics returns to form
One of the most shocking things from Fort Worth was the underwhelming performance by Team Heretics. Coming into their Pro League division, they were seen as a bit of an underdog. However, they showed everyone they are a force to be reckoned with, going 5-2. This didn’t translate well at Fort Worth though, as they were sent to the Losers Bracket immediately following pool play. The Spaniards did go on a run but it was clear they struggled against good competition. While they do face solid teams this week, the Pro League seems to be where Team Heretics plays best.
The best-case scenario for Heretics is they end up with a 3-1 record after the first week. It’s unlikely they manage to defeat every opponent on their schedule. Although, if they return to their earlier Pro League form, 3-1 is not out of the realm of possibility.
UYU cause one major upset
If there’s one thing this Black Ops 4 season has shown, it’s that underdogs can make some noise. Midnight, Excelerate, Heretics, and Denial are some of the examples. With the Pro League being the scene for some of these upsets, one or two are sure to happen this week. UYU has the potential to take a few maps from some of the top teams in the CWL. They match up decently with Envy and could very well surprise them. The past additions of Saul “Parzelion” Masse-Siguenza and Anthony “Methodz” Zinni give them some experience with competing at a high level.
While it’s hard to imagine UYU taking down either Luminosity or eUnited, their match against Envy will be interesting.
Cross-division play begins Monday in the #CWLPS4 Pro League! Watch Division A and B teams face off as the road to the CWL Finals continues.
Tune in daily at https://t.co/NKHQShcI4R pic.twitter.com/EnFr602a9c
— Call of Duty League (@CODLeague) March 23, 2019
Luminosity stay on top
With the talent on the LG roster, it was only a matter of time until they realized their potential. After muddling through much of Black Ops 4, LG utilized their talent to its fullest extent at Fort Worth. Dominating the tournament the whole way, the Canadian-based organization took home their first championship in nearly a year. At this week’s Pro League, Luminosity will continue to roll and remain the top team.
Having the likes of the best player in the game, Pierce “Gunless” Hillman, makes LG a top threat regardless. When the teammates around him are performing well it makes LG one of, if not the best, rosters in Call of Duty. If Gunless and the rest of LG are clicking, it’s difficult to see anyone taking them down.
What are your predictions for this week’s Pro League matches? Will Luminosity remain on top or will another underdog surprise everyone? Let us know in the comments below! Make sure to stay tuned to Daily Esports for all of your future Call of Duty coverage.
