# 2021 OpTic Chicago season

The 2021 OpTic Chicago season is the second season for NRG Esports in the Call of Duty League. It was announced on November 11, 2020 that this would be the first season under the brand of OpTic Chicago after the Chicago Huntsmen re-branded when CEO Hector "HECZ" Rodriguez regained the intellectual property of OpTic Gaming.
The league season was re-structured moving into the 2021 season with the regular season now consisting of five stages which all would culminate with a major tournament. Each major would include all 12 teams with teams split into 2 groups of six. Teams would then compete against the five teams in their group to determine seeding for the stage ending major tournament.

## Preceding offseason

The team announced on September 7 and 8, 2020 that Pierce "Gunless" Hillman, Alec "Arcitys" Sanderson, and Preston "Prestinni" Sanderson left the team. Gunless and Prestinni later joined the Seattle Surge while Arcitys joined the Atlanta FaZe.
On September 14, 2020 it was announced that OpTic Gaming Los Angeles player Brandon "Dashy" Otell joined Seth "Scump" Abner", Matthew "FormaL" Piper, and Dylan "Envoy" Hannon to make up the starting roster as the CDL announced the league returned to 4v4.

## Overview
### Kickoff Classic

On January 24, the CDL opened the season with the Kickoff Classic that had 6 matches that were all voted on by the fans. With 89.7% of the vote, the fans voted for OpTic to face former player Matthew "Nadeshot" Haag's franchise the LA Thieves. OpTic won that match 3–0.

### Stage 1

Prior to their match in the Kickoff Classic it was revealed that the Dallas Empire sent OpTic to Group B for Stage 1. Group B included the Atlanta FaZe, Florida Mutineers, Los Angeles Guerrillas, Paris Legion, and Toronto Ultra. Stage 1 was initially planned to consist of 3 home series on February 11–14, 18–21, and 25–28, however as a result of the Texas power crisis the final two weeks were condensed into a super week. It concluded with the Stage 1 Major happening on March 1–7.
As a result of their 4–1 record in Stage 1, OpTic Chicago finished second in the Group B standings and qualified for the Winner's Bracket at the Major. At the major the team finished with a 2–2 record ultimately placing 4th overall.

### Stage 2

The Stage 2 groups were announced via the Call of Duty League's YouTube on 12 March. Atlanta FaZe sent OpTic to Group B for Stage 2. Group B also included the Dallas Empire, Florida Mutineers, Paris Legion, Minnesota Rokkr and Seattle Surge. Stage 2 consisted of the Toronto Ultra home series on March 18–21, Week 2 on March 25–28 and the Los Angeles Guerillas home series on April 1–4. It concluded with the Stage 2 Major on April 5–11.
After finishing Stage 2 with a 3–2 record, the same record as Minnesota ROKKR and Dallas Empire, OpTic Chicago were subsequently seeded 2nd from Group B as a result of tiebreakers qualifying for the Winner's Bracket at the Major. At the major the team finished with a 1–2 record, placing them tied for 5th with Los Angeles Thieves.

### Stage 3

The Stage 3 groups were announced via the Call of Duty League's YouTube on 16 April. Toronto Ultra sent OpTic to Group B for Stage 3. Group B also included the Atlanta FaZe, Los Angeles Thieves, New York Subliners, Seattle Surge and London Royal Ravens. Stage 3 consisted of the London Royal Ravens home series on April 22–25, Paris Legion home series April 29- May 2 and the Dallas Empire home series May 6–9. It concluded with the Stage 3 Major in the week of May 10.
After finishing Stage 3 with a 2–3 record, OpTic Chicago were seeded 4th from Group B and were placed in the Loser's Bracket at the Major. At the major the team finished with a 3–1 record, placing them 4th overall.

### Stage 4

The Stage 4 groups were announced via the Call of Duty League's YouTube on 22 May. New York Subliners sent OpTic to Group A for Stage 4. Group A also included the Atlanta FaZe, Los Angeles Thieves, Minnesota ROKKR, Seattle Surge and Paris Legion. Stage 4 consisted of the OpTic Chicago home series on May 27–30, Florida Mutineers home series June 3–6 and the Los Angeles Thieves home series June 10–13. It concluded with the Stage 4 Major on June 17–20.
After finishing Stage 4 with a 3–2 record, OpTic Chicago were seeded 2nd from Group A and were placed in the Winners's Bracket at the Major. At the major the team finished with a 2–2 record, placing them 4th overall.

### Stage 5

The Stage 5 groups were announced via the Call of Duty League's YouTube on 25 June. Dallas Empire sent OpTic to Group A for Stage 5. Group A also included the Atlanta FaZe, Los Angeles Thieves, New York Subliners, London Royal Ravens and Paris Legion. Stage 4 consisted of the New York Subliners home series on July 8–11, Minnesota ROKKR home series July 15–18 and the Seattle Surge home series July 22–25. It will conclude with the Stage 5 Major on July 29–1 August, which will see the return of fans in attendance for the first time since February 2020 as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
After finishing Stage 5 with a 4–1 record, OpTic Chicago were seeded 1st from Group A and were placed in the Winners's Bracket at the Major with a first round bye.

## Standings

Source
2021 Call of Duty League standingsvte :
| # | Team | Pts | EP | MW | ML | M% | GW | GL | G% |
| 1 | Atlanta FaZe | 525 | 5 | 34 | 7 | .829 | 122 | 53 | .697 |
| 2 | Toronto Ultra | 415 | 5 | 29 | 17 | .630 | 113 | 79 | .589 |
| 3 | Dallas Empire | 400 | 5 | 26 | 18 | .591 | 99 | 84 | .541 |
| 4 | OpTic Chicago | 360 | 5 | 26 | 18 | .591 | 97 | 74 | .567 |
| 5 | New York Subliners | 340 | 5 | 24 | 17 | .585 | 85 | 81 | .512 |
| 6 | Minnesota ROKKR | 305 | 5 | 20 | 17 | .541 | 75 | 73 | .507 |
| 7 | Los Angeles Thieves | 240 | 5 | 18 | 21 | .462 | 74 | 83 | .471 |
| 8 | Florida Mutineers | 210 | 5 | 17 | 19 | .472 | 69 | 70 | .496 |
| 9 | Seattle Surge | 120 | 5 | 11 | 25 | .306 | 56 | 85 | .397 |
| 10 | London Royal Ravens | 110 | 5 | 9 | 23 | .281 | 45 | 79 | .363 |
| 11 | Los Angeles Guerrillas | 100 | 5 | 8 | 26 | .235 | 44 | 87 | .336 |
| 12 | Paris Legion | 100 | 5 | 8 | 22 | .267 | 42 | 73 | .365 |

## Game log
### Preseason

2021 preseason game log :
Kickoff Classic
1
January 24
OpTic Chicago
3
0
LA Thieves
Online
5:00 pm CST
Online
Hosted by Call of Duty League
250
HP- Garrison
136
6
S&D- Checkmate
4
3
CTRL- Raid
0 :

### Regular season

2021 regular season game log :
Stage 1
Qualifier match 1
February 12
OpTic Chicago
3
0
Paris Legion
Online
3:00 pm EST
Online
Hosted by Atlanta FaZe
250
HP - Raid
102
6
S&D - Checkmate
4
3
CTRL - Raid
2
Qualifier match 2
February 14
OpTic Chicago
2
3
Atlanta FaZe
Online
6:00 pm EST
Online
Hosted by Atlanta FaZe
250
HP - Garrison
225
0
S&D - Miami
6
3
CTRL - Checkmate
2
245
HP - Moscow
250
1
S&D - Moscow
6
Qualifier match 3
February 24
OpTic Chicago
3
1
Toronto Ultra
Online
5:00 pm CST
Online
250
HP - Checkmate
68
4
S&D - Raid
6
3
CTRL - Raid
1
250
HP - Raid
218
Qualifier match 4
February 25
OpTic Chicago
3
1
Los Angeles Guerrillas
Online
3:30 pm CST
Online
234
HP - Garrison
250
6
S&D - Moscow
3
3
CTRL - Raid
1
250
HP - Moscow
191
Qualifier match 5
February 28
OpTic Chicago
3
1
Florida Mutineers
Online
3:30 pm CST
Online
229
HP - Garrison
250
6
S&D - Checkmate
5
3
CTRL - Checkmate
2
250
HP - Checkmate
178
Winners' round 1
March 4
OpTic Chicago
3
0
New York Subliners
Online
3:30 pm CST
Online
250
HP - Checkmate
180
6
S&D - Moscow
1
3
CTRL - Raid
1
Winners' round 2
March 5
OpTic Chicago
2
3
Dallas Empire
Online
3:30 pm CST
Online
149
HP - Garrison
250
6
S&D - Moscow
2
3
CTRL - Raid
2
157
HP - Moscow
250
5
S&D - Checkmate
6
Losers' round 4
March 6
OpTic Chicago
3
1
Los Angeles Thieves
Online
3:30 pm CST
Online
250
HP - Crossroads
190
5
S&D - Raid
6
3
CTRL - Checkmate
1
250
HP - Raid
166
Losers' round 5
March 6
OpTic Chicago
0
3
New York Subliners
Online
5:00 pm CST
Online
155
HP - Crossroads
250
1
S&D - Garrison
6
1
CTRL - Checkmate
3 :
Stage 2
Qualifier match 1
March 21
OpTic Chicago
3
1
Paris Legion
Online
1:00 pm CST
Online
Hosted by Toronto Ultra
250
HP - Checkmate
184
4
S&D - Express
6
3
CTRL - Raid
0
250
HP - Apocalypse
224
Qualifier match 2
March 25
OpTic Chicago
0
3
Minnesota ROKKR
Online
2:30 pm CST
Online
81
HP - Raid
250
4
S&D - Raid
6
1
CTRL - Raid
3
Qualifier match 3
March 28
OpTic Chicago
0
3
Florida Mutineers
Online
4:00 pm CST
Online
221
HP - Raid
250
5
S&D - Checkmate
6
2
CTRL - Checkmate
3
Qualifier match 4
April 1
OpTic Chicago
3
0
Seattle Surge
Online
2:30 pm CST
Online
Hosted by Los Angeles Guerillas
250
HP - Raid
226
6
S&D - Checkmate
2
3
CTRL - Raid
2
Qualifier match 5
April 4
OpTic Chicago
3
2
Dallas Empire
Online
3:00 pm CST
Online
Hosted by Los Angeles Guerillas
244
HP - Moscow
250
6
S&D - Raid
2
2
CTRL - Checkmate
3
250
HP - Checkmate
108
6
S&D - Checkmate
1
Winners' round 1
April 8
OpTic Chicago
1
3
Toronto Ultra
Online
2:30 pm CST
Online
250
HP - Checkmate
236
5
S&D - Moscow
6
1
CTRL - Raid
3
234
HP - Raid
250
Losers' round 3
April 9
OpTic Chicago
3
1
Seattle Surge
Online
4:00 pm CST
Online
202
HP - Raid
250
6
S&D - Checkmate
2
3
CTRL - Raid
1
250
HP - Garrison
183
Losers' round 4
April 10
OpTic Chicago
2
3
Minnesota ROKKR
Online
2:30 pm CST
Online
192
HP - Garrison
250
6
S&D - Express
2
1
CTRL - Garrison
3
250
HP - Moscow
138
5
S&D - Moscow
6 :
Stage 3
Qualifier match 1
April 23
OpTic Chicago
3
1
London Royal Ravens
Online
3:30 pm CST
Online
Hosted by London Royal Ravens
250
HP - Garrison
207
6
S&D - Moscow
4
2
CTRL - Checkmate
3
250
HP - Moscow
152
Qualifier match 2
April 24
OpTic Chicago
3
0
Seattle Surge
Online
5:00 pm CST
Online
Hosted by London Royal Ravens
250
HP - Moscow
240
6
S&D - Moscow
4
3
CTRL - Checkmate
1
Qualifier match 3
May 2
OpTic Chicago
1
3
Los Angeles Thieves
Online
5:00 pm CST
Online
Hosted by Paris Legion
205
HP - Checkmate
250
6
S&D - Express
3
2
CTRL - Raid
3
117
HP - Apocalypse
250
Qualifier match 4
May 6
OpTic Chicago
1
3
New York Subliners
Online
3:30 pm CST
Online
Hosted by Dallas Empire
92
HP - Apocalypse
250
2
S&D - Express
6
3
CTRL - Checkmate
1
230
HP - Moscow
250
Qualifier match 5
May 9
OpTic Chicago
0
3
Atlanta FaZe
Online
3:30 pm CST
Online
Hosted by Dallas Empire
88
HP - Raid
250
2
S&D - Moscow
6
0
CTRL - Raid
3
Losers' round 2
May 14
OpTic Chicago
3
1
Los Angeles Guerrillas
Online
3:30 pm CST
Online
148
HP - Garrison
250
6
S&D - Moscow
5
3
CTRL - Raid
2
250
HP - Moscow
210
Losers' round 3
May 15
OpTic Chicago
3
0
Dallas Empire
Online
3:30 pm CST
Online
250
HP - Garrison
151
6
S&D - Checkmate
5
3
CTRL - Raid
1
Losers' round 4
May 15
OpTic Chicago
3
0
Florida Mutineers
Online
5:00 pm CST
Online
250
HP - Moscow
139
6
S&D - Raid
5
3
CTRL - Checkmate
1
Losers' round 5
May 16
OpTic Chicago
2
3
Toronto Ultra
Online
2:00 pm CST
Online
250
HP - Garrison
180
3
S&D - Moscow
6
2
CTRL - Raid
3
250
HP - CHeckmate
117
5
S&D - Raid
6 :
Stage 4
Qualifier match 1
May 28
OpTic Chicago
3
0
Minnesota ROKKR
Online
3:30 pm CST
Online
Hosted by OpTic Chicago
250
HP - Moscow
238
6
S&D - Standoff
2
3
CTRL - Raid
0
Qualifier match 2
May 30
OpTic Chicago
0
3
Atlanta FaZe
Online
5:00 pm CST
Online
Hosted by OpTic Chicago
157
HP - Moscow
250
4
S&D - Express
6
0
CTRL - Raid
3
Qualifier match 3
June 5
OpTic Chicago
3
1
Paris Legion
Online
3:30 pm CST
Online
Hosted by Florida Mutineers
250
HP - Garrison
240
6
S&D - Standoff
2
1
CTRL - Raid
3
250
HP - Moscow
156
Qualifier match 4
June 10
OpTic Chicago
2
3
Seattle Surge
Online
3:30 pm CST
Online
Hosted by Los Angeles Thieves
232
HP - Raid
250
6
S&D - Moscow
3
1
CTRL - Checkmate
3
250
HP - Checkmate
227
4
S&D - Raid
6
Qualifier match 5
June 13
OpTic Chicago
3
1
Los Angeles Thieves
Online
5:00 pm CST
Online
Hosted by Los Angeles Thieves
250
HP - Garrison
163
4
S&D - Standoff
6
3
CTRL - Checkmate
0
250
HP - Moscow
126
Winner's round 1
June 17
OpTic Chicago
0
3
Dallas Empire
Arlington, Texas
5:00 pm CST
Esports Stadium Arlington
Hosted by Dallas Empire
160
HP - Garrison
250
1
S&D - Standoff
6
1
CTRL - Checkmate
3
Loser's round 3
June 19
OpTic Chicago
3
2
Seattle Surge
Arlington, Texas
2:00 pm CST
Esports Stadium Arlington
Hosted by Dallas Empire
250
HP - Checkmate
175
6
S&D - Express
4
2
CTRL - Checkmate
3
217
HP - Apocalypse
250
6
S&D - Moscow
3
Loser's round 4
June 19
OpTic Chicago
3
1
Minnesota ROKKR
Arlington, Texas
6:30 pm CST
Esports Stadium Arlington
Hosted by Dallas Empire
250
HP - Checkmate
180
4
S&D - Raid
6
3
CTRL - Checkmate
2
250
HP - Garrison
215
Loser's round 5
June 20
OpTic Chicago
1
3
Dallas Empire
Arlington, Texas
3:00 pm CST
Esports Stadium Arlington
Hosted by Dallas Empire
244
HP - Garrison
250
3
S&D - Express
6
3
CTRL - Checkmate
2
176
HP - Moscow
250 :
Stage 5
Qualifier match 1
July 8
OpTic Chicago
3
0
Paris Legion
Online
3:30 pm EST
Online
Hosted by New York Subliners
250
HP - Garrison
185
6
S&D - Standoff
5
3
CTRL - Raid
0
Qualifier match 2
July 11
OpTic Chicago
3
0
New York Subliners
Online
5:00 pm EST
Online
Hosted by New York Subliners
250
HP - Moscow
200
6
S&D - Express
5
3
CTRL - Raid
1
Qualifier match 3
July 18
OpTic Chicago
3
2
Atlanta FaZe
Online
3:30 pm CST
Online
Hosted by Minnesota ROKKR
250
HP - Moscow
177
4
S&D - Miami
6
3
CTRL - Raid
2
172
HP - Apocalypse
250
6
S&D - Standoff
5
Qualifier match 4
July 22
OpTic Chicago
3
0
London Royal Ravens
Online
3:30 pm CST
Online
Hosted by Seattle Surge
250
HP - Raid
207
6
S&D - Moscow
4
3
CTRL - Raid
2
Qualifier match 5
July 24
OpTic Chicago
2
3
Los Angeles Thieves
Online
5:00 pm CST
Online
Hosted by Seattle Surge
250
HP - Moscow
72
6
S&D - Express
1
1
CTRL - Checkmate
3
196
HP - Checkmate
250
3
S&D - Moscow
6
Winner's round 2
July 30
OpTic Chicago
2
3
Toronto Ultra
Arlington, Texas
6:30 pm CST
Esports Stadium Arlington
Hosted by Dallas Empire
250
HP - Checkmate
236
2
S&D - Miami
6
3
CTRL - Raid
2
134
HP - Garrison
250
2
S&D - Express
6
Loser's round 4
July 31
OpTic Chicago
3
2
Seattle Surge
Arlington, Texas
6:30 pm CST
Esports Stadium Arlington
Hosted by Dallas Empire
188
HP - Moscow
250
6
S&D - Raid
5
3
CTRL - Checkmate
0
204
HP - Raid
250
6
S&D - Standoff
2
Loser's round 5
August 1
OpTic Chicago
3
1
Dallas Empire
Arlington, Texas
6:30 pm CST
Esports Stadium Arlington
Hosted by Dallas Empire
250
HP - Moscow
86
5
S&D - Raid
6
3
CTRL - Checkmate
2
250
HP - Raid
203
Loser's round 5
August 1
OpTic Chicago
1
3
Toronto Ultra
Arlington, Texas
6:30 pm CST
Esports Stadium Arlington
Hosted by Dallas Empire
245
HP - Garrison
250
6
S&D - Moscow
4
1
CTRL - Raid
3
148
HP - Checkmate
250 :

### Post season

2021 post season game log :
Playoffs
Winner's round 1
August 19
OpTic Chicago
2
3
New York Subliners
Los Angeles, California
3:00 pm CST
Galen Center
110
HP - Checkmate
250
1
S&D - Express
6
3
CTRL - Checkmate
2
250
HP - Apocalypse
96
4
S&D - Raid
6
Loser's round 1
August 19
OpTic Chicago
3
1
Florida Mutineers
Los Angeles, California
7:00 pm CST
Galen Center
250
HP - Moscow
102
2
S&D - Standoff
6
3
CTRL - Checkmate
1
250
HP - Apocalypse
159
Loser's round 2
August 20
OpTic Chicago
1
3
Toronto Ultra
Los Angeles, California
5:30 pm CST
Galen Center
176
HP - Checkmate
250
3
S&D - Moscow
6
3
CTRL - Raid
2
230
HP - Raid
250 :