A custom gaming keyboard backlit with red LED lights waits for tactile input before Manual took on Boone County in a Rocket League match, which was streamed on YouTube on Thursday, March 5, 2020. The top four seeds — Miami Heretics, Atlanta FaZe, OpTic Texas and Los Angeles Thieves — all posted victories on Friday in the upper-bracket quarterfinals of the Stage 4 Major playoffs in Dallas.
In the lower bracket Round 1, Minnesota Rokkr, Vegas Falcons, Los Angeles Guerrillas M8 and Toronto Ultra also picked up wins. Minnesota Rokkr was the first team in the lower bracket to advance to the lower-bracket quarterfinals, notching a win over Vegas Falcons in Round 2.
The Stage 4 Major playoffs, which include all 12 CDL teams, continue through Sunday. All matches are best-of-five until the grand finals, which are best-of-seven. The winner receives $100,000 and 100 CDL points.
On Friday, Miami Heretics cruised to 3-0 victory over Minnesota Rokkr, prevailing 250-210 on Skyline Hardpoint, 6-1 on Dealership Search & Destroy and 3-1 on Vault Control.
Atlanta FaZe jumped out to a 1-0 lead on Cloud9 New York, winning 250-142 on Rewind Hardpoint, but Cloud9 evened the match with a 6-4 victory on Dealership Search & Destroy. From there, FaZe won 3-2 on Hacienda Control and 250-151 on Skyline Hardpoint to secure the 3-2 victory.
OpTic Texas grabbed a 2-0 advantage with wins on Vault Hardpoint (250-184) and Dealership Search & Destroy (6-4), but Toronto Ultra rebounded with a 3-1 triumph on Protocol Control. OpTic then put the match away on Red Card Harpoint 250-176.
Like Miami, Los Angeles Thieves rolled to a 3-0 win, prevailing over Vancouver Surge on Skyline Hardpoint (260-103), Dealership Search & Destroy (6-2) and Hacienda Control (3-0).
In the lower bracket, Minnesota Rokkr and Boston Breach split the first four games before Minnesota took the fifth game to advance to Round 2. In Round 2, Minnesota won 3-2 over Vegas Falcons, rallying from a 2-1 deficit.
Vegas reached Round 2 with a 3-2 win over Vancouver Surge, while Los Angeles Guerrillas M8 cruised past Cloud9 New York 3-0 to advance. Toronto Ultra edged Carolina Royal Ravens 3-2 to qualify for Round 2.
Five matches are scheduled for Saturday:
–Upper-bracket semifinal — Miami Heretics vs. Los Angeles Thieves
–Upper-bracket semifinal — Atlanta FaZe vs. Optic Texas
–Lower-bracket second round — Los Angeles Guerrillas M8 vs. Toronto Ultra
–Lower-bracket quarterfinal — Guerrillas M8/Ultra winner vs. Minnesota Rokkr
–Lower-bracket quarterfinal — Vegas Falcons vs. Guerrillas M8/Ultra loser
–Field Level Media
