Dallas Empire win CDL Chicago: final placements, highlights, recap

Albert Petrosyan

Dallas Empire are champions of the Chicago Home Series on April 26, taking down Atlanta FaZe 3-1 in the Grand Final to become the first-ever team to win multiple tournaments this Call of Duty League season.

Having been denied a chance to win their own tournament earlier in April, Dallas Empire didn’t have to wait long for a chance at redemption and their second Home Series championship of the season.

What’s perhaps made this one even sweeter is the fact that they went through the CDL’s cream of the crop to achieve it, beating both Chicago Huntsmen and Atlanta FaZe in the playoff bracket.

Dallas EmpireDallas Empire are the first team to win two CDL championships this season.

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In fact, their road to victory was almost as perfect as can be; a flawless 4-0 record with every win coming either via a 3-0 or 3-1 scoreline, including the Grand Final vs the vaunted FaZe.

On top of the Call of Duty League for the second time, some are already saying that Dallas has supplanted Atlanta as the best team in the CDL, and it would be hard to argue against that right now.

Their championship effort earned the team an important 50 CDL Points, pushing them to the top of the 2020 standings. FaZe, who were also looking for their second tournament victory this season, gained 30 points, and the top-four was rounded off by Huntsmen and Surge, who earned 20 points apiece.

CDL Chicago Home Series final placements

Placement Team CDL Points Roster
1 Dallas Empire 50 Crimsix, Clayster, Huke, Shotzzy, iLLeY
2 Atlanta FaZe 30 Simp, Priestahh, aBeZy, Cellium, Majormaniak
3/4 Seattle Surge 20 Karma, Octane, Apathy, Pandur, Slacked
3/4 Chicago Huntsmen 20 Scump, FormaL, Arcitys, Envoy, Gunless
5/6 New York Subliners 10 ZooMaa, Attach, Accuracy, Temp, Mack
5/6 Los Angeles Guerrillas 10 Blazt, AquA, Decemate, Spart, Vivid
7/8 OpTic Gaming LA 0 Dashy, TJHaLy, JKap, Kuavo, SlasheR
7/8 London Royal Ravens 0 Wuskin, Dylan, skrapz, Jurd, Seany

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CDL Chicago Grand Final recap & highlights

The powerhouse Grand Final series between Empire and FaZe kicked off on Gun Runner Hardpoint, a back-and-forth affair that ultimately went the way of Dallas, 250-222, thanks to some expert positioning on the last hill.

Map two on St. Petrograd turned out to be one of the most exhilarating Search and Destroy matches of the season so far. Both teams traded shots all the way to round 11, and a massive clutch from young superstar Simp helped FaZe win the map 6-5 and tie up the series at one game apiece.

The Hackey Yard Domination was the first game of the series that wasn’t a neck-and-neck affair. Dallas took the initiative right from the getgo and didn’t allow Atlanta to ever really get any sort of footing for a rally. The final score, 171-146, gave Empire the 2-1 edge heading into map four.

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Game four, Hardpoint on St. Petrograd, turned out to be the final map of the series, as once again, Empire got off to a lightning-quick start and didn’t afford their vaunted opponents even the remotest chance at a comeback.

The final scoreline, 250-200, sealed the series and tournament victory for Dallas and perhaps handed them the mantle of the best team in the CDL right now.

CDL Chicago brackets & scores

Group A

Group B

Playoffs

Friday, April 24 – Day one recap & highlights

Round Match
Group A R1 London Royal Ravens 0-3 Atlanta FaZe
Group B R1 Seattle Surge 3-0 Los Angeles Guerrillas
Group B R1 Dallas Empire 3-1 OpTic Gaming LA
Group A R1 Chicago Huntsmen 2-3 New York Subliners

Saturday, April 25 – Day two recap & highlights

Round Match
Group B WR2 Seattle Surge 1-3 Dallas Empire
Group A WR2 Atlanta FaZe 3-2 New York Subliners
Group B LR1 Los Angeles Guerrillas 3-1 OpTic Gaming LA
Group A LR1 London Royal Ravens 1-3 Chicago Huntsmen
Group B LR2 Seattle Surge 3-1 Los Angeles Guerrillas
Group A LR2 New York Subliners 1-3 Chicago Huntsmen

Sunday, April 26

Round Match
Semifinal 1 Dallas Empire 3-0 Chicago Huntsmen
Semifinal 2 Atlanta FaZe3-1 Seattle Surge
Grand Final Atlanta FaZe 1-3 Dallas Empire

Event coverage & recaps

With the Chicago Home Series now wrapped up, the league’s attention will flip to the Florida Mutineer’s event, which will be the team’s first tournament since winning CDL Dallas.

The teams that will be participating in addition to Florida are: Atlanta FaZe, London Royal Ravens, Minnesota ROKKR, New York Subliners, OpTic Gaming Los Angeles, Paris Legion, and Toronto Ultra.

For more details, make sure to check out our Call of Duty League 2020 season hub, which includes the updated CDL standings, full event schedule, and more.

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About The Author

Albert is a former esports and gaming writer, focused particularly on Call of Duty and content creators. Spending over three years at Dexerto, Albert eventually now works with streamer NICKMERCS and the MFAM group. You can find Albert @AlbertoRavioli on Twitter.