Following on from the final Home Series events of the 2021 Call of Duty League (CDL) season, all 12 teams descended on Texas for the Stage 5 Major, the fifth and final Major of the Black Ops Cold War season. For many teams in attendance, the event was the final opportunity to earn some prize money having missed the cut for Championship Weekend but for others, it was a chance to consolidate their positions at the top of the league table in front of a capacity crowd.
After four days of shock upsets, incredible clutches, and world-class action, a surprise contender managed to outlast 11 other teams to emerge as the victors after an incredible Grand Finals.
Read More: Call Of Duty League Championship Weekend 2021: Everything You Need To Know
Minnesota ROKKR Win Stage 5 Major
Many tipped the ROKKR as the dark horses prior to the tournament getting underway and many were proven correct after the team managed to conquer the dominant Atlanta FaZe in their opening match. The Major wouldn't get any easier for Minnesota, with the 2020 CDL champions of the Dallas Empire waiting in the second round. Once again, superior teamwork and strategy paid off for the ROKKR, sending the Empire crashing into the loser's bracket with a 3-1 victory.
The momentum was in full swing for the dark horses and with the crowd reaching fever-pitch levels when the ROKKR faced off against another tough opponent in the form of the Toronto Ultra, Minnesota swept them aside with an impressive 3-0 result to book their place in the Grand Final for the first time this season.
The Best COD Comeback Ever?
After the Ultra defeated OpTic Chicago in the loser's bracket final, the ROKKR faced off against them once again for a shot at championship glory.
The Ultra, fresh from knocking down the Green Wall, came out swinging, managing to win the first four maps to secure championship point. Despite the odds being stacked against them, the ROKKR slowly worked their way back into the series, eventually winning four consecutive maps to level the series and to force a deciding game nine.
Both teams went back and forth but it was Minnesota that eventually took a 6-4 win on Raid Search & Destroy to secure the Major 5 title in what is being considered as the greatest comeback ever seen in the history of the esport.
All eyes are now on Championship Weekend, where the top eight teams from the regular season will do battle for $2,500,000 in prize money.
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