Today, July 16, the most anticipated esports event of the year in Call of Duty—CDL Champs 2026—begins in Las Vegas, Nevada. The top eight teams from the regular season will clash in a fierce battle for the championship trophy, while the bottom four squads of the league have been left behind and will have to wait for the Esports World Cup in August.
The tournament will feature a double-elimination format. Since only eight teams qualified for the championship, they all start in the upper bracket, shielding participants from elimination on the very first day of competition. To advance directly to the grand finals through the upper bracket, a roster needs only three consecutive match wins, whereas a loss will drop them to the lower bracket, where the battle for survival begins.
The championship participants will compete for a massive prize pool of $2,000,000. The lion's share of the payout will go to the top three finishers:
- 1st place: $1,000,000
- 2nd place: $500,000
- 3rd place: $200,000
The organizers have set up highly intriguing first-round matchups, with games kicking off today:
- 22:00 — Paris Gentle Mates vs. Toronto KOI: A seasonal rivalry that has escalated into a personal feud following the transfer of player JoeDeceives.
- 23:30 — LA Thieves vs. Riyadh Falcons: The Saudi club has taken a drastic step, replacing two starting roster players right before the start of the biggest tournament of the year.
- 01:00 (night of July 17) — FaZe Vegas vs. G2 Minnesota: Despite G2 peaking at the perfect time late in the season, facing the favorites FaZe on their home turf will be an incredibly tough task.
- 02:30 (night of July 17) — OpTic Texas vs. Miami Heretics: A highly anticipated clash for OpTic, as the Heretics roster has historically been a highly uncomfortable opponent, considered real "kryptonite" for the Texans.
Broadcast
Reminder, Stage 1 of the Rainbow Six Europe MENA League 2026 has concluded, with the participants for the Esports World Cup now determined.