The Call of Duty League’s 2021 season grand finale, CDL Champs, ended much the way it started — with Atlanta FaZe asserting their dominance. With a $2.5 million prize pool and legacies at stake, FaZe overcame a formidable Toronto Ultra to win the org’s first-ever CoD Champs.
- FaZe take down Ultra 5-3 to win Grand Finals.
- Atlanta leave with $1.2 million and the org’s first CoD Champs trophy.
- Ultra finish 2021 in second place, earning $650,000.
After four days of CoD Champs, Atlanta FaZe have finished atop the mountain. The CDL’s scariest lineup, Simp, aBeZy, Cellium, and Arcitys proved why they’ve long been the league’s most worrisome foes by going undefeated through the bracket and taking down the Toronto Ultra in the Grand Finals.
CDL Champs 2021 prizing & final placements
| Place | Team | Prize |
| 1 | Atlanta FaZe | $1.2 million |
| 2 | Toronto Ultra | $650,000 |
| 3 | Dallas Empire | $300,000 |
| 4 | Minnesota ROKKR | $150,000 |
| 5-6 | OpTic Chicago | $75,000 |
| New York Subliners | $75,000 | |
| 7-8 | Florida Mutineers | $25,000 |
| LA Thieves | $25,000 |
CDL Champs 2021: results, recaps, and highlights
DAY 4 — SUNDAY, AUGUST 22
| Group | Match | Hardpoint | S&D | Control | Hardpoint | S&D | Control | S&D | Hardpoint | S&D |
| Grand Finals | Atlanta FaZe 5-3 Toronto Ultra | TOR 250-175 (Moscow) | ATL 6-5 (Express) | ATL 3-0 (Raid) | ATL 250-78 (Raid) | TOR 6-2 (Miami) | ATL 3-2 (Garrison) | TOR 6-5 (Raid) | ATL 250-147 (Apocalypse) | N/A |
Grand Finals: FaZe fend off Ultra
The most highly anticipated match of the season, the CDL’s two best teams met for a 2021 grand finale and did not disappoint. After Toronto took the first map off FaZe through the entire Champs event, Atlanta returned the favor by rattling off three straight wins.
From SimptheJetpacker to talking his sh*t on the Champs stage@SimpXO is on a mission 🗣pic.twitter.com/r1g37TaMhz
— DEXERTO Call of Duty Esports News (@DexertoIntel) August 22, 2021
But Ultra weren’t going to sit back and lose 5-1, as Cammy and Co. went off to bring the series closer.
The Ace Man cometh 🥶@CammyMVPpic.twitter.com/OaDqzuyF1n
— DEXERTO Call of Duty Esports News (@DexertoIntel) August 22, 2021
In the end, though, FaZe proved to be too formidable a group — as Cellium and Champs MVP aBeZy showed out and secured FaZe the org’s first-ever Championship.
A massive congratulations out to the FaZe demons:
😈 @SimpXO
😈 @aBeZy
😈 @Cellium
😈 @Arcitys
And kudos to the Ultra on an incredible run through 2021.pic.twitter.com/JdBoj0sF7j
— DEXERTO Call of Duty Esports News (@DexertoIntel) August 22, 2021
DAY 3 — SATURDAY, AUGUST 21
| Round | Match | Hardpoint | S&D | Control | Hardpoint | S&D |
| Winner’s Finals | FaZe 3-0 Empire | ATL 250-118 (Garrison) | ATL 6-5 (Raid) | ATL 3-1 (Raid) | N/A | N/A |
| LR3 | ROKKR 2-3 Ultra | TOR 250-83 (Checkmate) | MIN 6-5 (Standoff) | TOR 3-2 (Raid) | MIN 250-188 (Raid) | TOR 6-4 (Moscow) |
| Loser’s Finals | Empire 2-3 Ultra | DAL 250-141 (Garrison) | TOR 6-3 (Standoff) | TOR 3-2 (Raid) | DAL 250-248 (Raid) | TOR 6-3 (Express) |
Match 3: Empire denied as Ultra clutch up
One of the greatest matches of the year, Empire and Ultra shocked the entire CoD community with a legendary Hardpoint before Toronto clutched up in Game 5 and set themselves up for the Grand Finals.
Has any hill ever been fought over this hard?
Props to @DallasEmpire & @TorontoUltra, Call of Duty at its finest 🥲pic.twitter.com/vEmCcTtY4M
— DEXERTO Call of Duty Esports News (@DexertoIntel) August 22, 2021
Match 2: Ultra get revenge on ROKKR
The Battle of the North rematch started similarly, with an Ultra 100-point club, but then ended in favor of Toronto — as the Ultra denied ROKKR and earned a trip to Loser’s Finals.
Match 1: FaZe demolish Empire
Like their first match, FaZe ended this one in the blink of an eye. With Cellium and Simp combining for a 1.5-plus K/D through the series, Atlanta demolished Dallas to secure their spot on Championship Sunday.
Unbelievable S&D.
And the MVP @SimpXO talked his talk after FaZe clutched R11 🗣pic.twitter.com/WJuvNKpzgb
— DEXERTO Call of Duty Esports News (@DexertoIntel) August 21, 2021
DAY 2 — FRIDAY, AUGUST 20
| Round | Match | Hardpoint | S&D | Control | Hardpoint | S&D |
| WR2 | Empire 3-2 Ultra | DAL 250-183 (Raid) | TOR 6-4 (Express) | TOR 3-1 (Checkmate) | DAL 250-118 (Moscow) | DAL 6-5 (Raid) |
| WR2 | Subliners 0-3 FaZe | ATL 250-149 (Raid) | ATL 6-3 (Miami) | ATL 3-0 (Garrison) | N/A | N/A |
| LR2 | Ultra 3-1 OpTic | TOR 250-176 (Checkmate) | TOR 6-3 (Moscow) | CHI 3-2 (Raid) | TOR 250-230 (Raid) | N/A |
| LR2 | Subliners 1-3 ROKKR | MIN 250-122 (Garrison) | NY 6-4 (Raid) | MIN 3-2 (Garrison) | MIN 250-218 (Checkmate) | N/A |
Match 4: ROKKR knock out Subliners
The rookie SMG duel did not disappoint, as both Standy and HyDra proved to be menaces on the map. But ROKKR won Major V for a reason and that teamwork prevailed in the end.
Match 3: OpTic fall to their Toronto kryptonite
When does OpTic play? Not until 2022. Chicago historically struggles against Toronto and Day 2 was no exception, as Ultra ruined an incredible Scump performance and sent OpTic packing.
"It comes down to teamwork."@Bance broke down @TorontoUltra's win over OpTic for @WorldsBedford 🧠#StrengthInTheNorth | #CDL2021 pic.twitter.com/9aKtcQQvZo
— DEXERTO Call of Duty Esports News (@DexertoIntel) August 21, 2021
Match 2: Angry FaZe embarrass Subliners
Someone joked that this was the first VoD that could be made into a YouTube Short. And they weren’t lying. Simp came out shooting bodies, Arcitys was talking smack, and FaZe demolished NY.
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Match 1: Empire edge out Ultra in R11
Dallas continued to impress, narrowly defeating a formidable Ultra squad. But one thing stood out above all else: Shotzzy just might be the best player in Call of Duty.
Why is @Shotzzy like this… 😱pic.twitter.com/jdKOg5LPeX
— DEXERTO Call of Duty Esports News (@DexertoIntel) August 20, 2021
DAY 1 – THURSDAY, AUGUST 19
| Round | Match | Hardpoint | S&D | Control | Hardpoint | S&D |
| WR1 | ROKKR 0-3 Empire | DAL 250-147 (Moscow) | DAL 6-1 (Raid) | DAL 3-1 (Raid) | N/A | N/A |
| WR1 | Subliners 3-2 OpTic | NY 250-110 (Checkmate) | NY 6-1 (Express) | CHI 3-2 (Checkmate) | CHI 250-96 (Apocalypse) | NY 6-4 (Raid) |
| LR1 | ROKKR 3-2 Thieves | LAT 250-213 (Checkmate) | MIN 6-3 (Standoff) | MIN 3-2 (Control) | LAT 250-194 (Garrison) | MIN 6-3 (Miami) |
| LR1 | OpTic 3-1 Mutineers | CHI 250-102 (Moscow) | FLA 6-2 (Standoff) | CHI 3-1 (Checkmate) | CHI 250-159 (Apocalypse) | N/A |
Match 1: Empire sweep ROKKR in rematch
The first match of CDL Champs 2021 ended almost as quickly as it started, as reigning MVP Shotzzy laid waste to a formerly upsurging ROKKR roster — kicking Minnesota down to the Loser’s Bracket.
Match 2: Playoff Paco leads NYSL past OpTic
Champs Clayster, Playoff Paco — whoever you want to credit, the Subliners came out and shocked fans by starting their forced honeymoon phase off with a big 3-2 over OpTic. Scump and Co. made it close, but the rookie HyDra was in demon form.
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OpTic brought it back, but Playoff Paco clutches up 😤
NY win 3-2 & send OpTic to play Mutineers in the Loser's Bracketpic.twitter.com/i9kWHJY3LO
— DEXERTO Call of Duty Esports News (@DexertoIntel) August 19, 2021
Match 3: ROKKR outlast streaky Thieves
The Thieves made it a wildly competitive series, but a lack of cohesion ultimately proved their downfall as ROKKR survived the Hardpoint slaying to keep their CDL Champs hopes alive.
Match 4: FormaL wakes up and OpTic put Mutineers to bed
Boy oh boy, fans at the arena got treated to an entirely different OpTic team in the team’s elimination match. The team came out hot and everyone, including the notoriously inconsistent FormaL, absolutely popped off to secure a W.
OpTic stay alive!@OpTicCHI win 3-1, sending Florida home & giving themselves a chance tomorrow 😤pic.twitter.com/GuRwUZxNry
— DEXERTO Call of Duty Esports News (@DexertoIntel) August 20, 2021
CDL Champs 2021 bracket
The final bracket for CDL Champs 2021.Watch now: Arcitys: FaZe “Do It Different” From OpTic
CDL Champs 2021 format & details
- Location: Los Angeles
- Prize pool: $2.5 million
- Format: Double-elimination bracket
- Seeding determined by 2021 regular season standings:
- Top two seeds start in Winners Round 2
- Third-Sixth seeds start in Winners Round 1
- 7th and 8th seeds start in Losers R1
- 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
Watch now: Simp: “Atlanta FaZe NOT A Dynasty… Yet!”
CDL Champs 2021 teams & lineups
| Team (Record coming in) | Lineup |
| Atlanta FaZe (34-7) | Simp, Cellium, aBeZy, Arcitys |
| Toronto Ultra (29-17) | Insight, Bance, Cammy, CleanX |
| Dallas Empire (26-18) | Crimsix, Shotzzy, Vivid, iLLeY |
| OpTic Chicago (26-18) | Scump, FormaL, Envoy, Dashy |
| New York Subliners (24-17) | Clayster, Asim, Mack, HyDra |
| Minnesota ROKKR (20-17) | MajorManiak, Attach, Priestahh, Standy |
| Los Angeles Thieves (18-21) | Kenny, SlasheR, John, Drazah |
| Florida Mutineers (17-19) | Skyz, Owakening, Havok, Neptune |
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.
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