Heretics climb to 3-0 in CDL Stage 4 Major qualifying

The Miami Heretics moved to the top of the Call of Duty League's Stage 4 Major qualifying standings after earning a 3-1 win over the Vegas Falcons on Friday.

Miami (3-0) jumped a half-game in front of the idle Toronto Ultra (2-0). The Atlanta FaZe saw their record fall to 2-1 when they lost 3-1 to Cloud9 New York (2-1) on Friday.

In the day's other match, the Boston Breach (1-1) registered a 3-2 victory over OpTic Texas (1-1).

The Stage 4 Major qualifying round has the league's 12 teams playing five qualifying matches apiece through May 18 to determine seeding for the Stage 4 Major playoffs, slated for May 23-25 in Dallas.

The Heretics eked out the first two maps, 250-230 on Vault Hardpoint and 6-5 on Red Card Search and Destroy, before the Falcons claimed Vault Control 3-1. Miami sealed the series with a 250-220 triumph on Red Card Hardpoint.

Cloud9 opened with a 250-223 decision on Skyline Hardpoint, and Atlanta equalized by taking Red Card Search and Destroy 6-1. New York then won 3-2 on Hacienda Control and 250-181 on Rewind Hardpoint.

Boston built a two-map lead by capturing Hacienda Hardpoint 250-220 and Red Card Search and Destroy 6-3, then gave it all back when Texas took Hacienda Control 3-1 and Rewind Hardpoint 250-120. On the decisive fifth map, Hacienda Search and Destroy, the Breach prevailed 6-4.

Seven matches remain in Week 2 of qualifying:

Saturday

--Miami Heretics vs. Cloud9 New York

--Minnesota Rokkr vs. Los Angeles Guerrillas M80

--Los Angeles Thieves vs. Vegas Falcons

--Carolina Royal Ravens vs. OpTic Texas

Sunday

--Boston Breach vs. Vancouver Surge

--Los Angeles Guerrillas M80 vs. Atlanta FaZe

--Toronto Ultra vs. Minnesota Rokkr

Call of Duty League Stage 4 Major qualifying standings (with match record and map differential):

1. Miami Heretics, 3-0, plus-4

2. Toronto Ultra, 2-0, plus-4

3. Cloud9 New York, 2-1, plus-3

4. Atlanta FaZe, 2-1, plus-2

5. OpTic Texas, 1-1, plus-2

6. Carolina Royal Ravens, 1-1, plus-1

7. Boston Breach, 1-1, minus-2

8. Vegas Falcons, 1-2, minus-4

T9. Los Angeles Guerrillas M8, 0-1, minus-1

T9. Minnesota Rokkr, 0-1, minus-1

T11. Los Angeles Thieves, 0-2, minus-4

T11. Vancouver Surge, 0-2, minus-4