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Find out all you need to know about the CDL Major, and some of our tips when betting, in this guide.
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As with all esports, CDL Major betting requires at least some knowledge of the event, as well as the process you need to complete prior to placing your first bets. Esports tournaments such as this one can be tough to analyse, especially when so many esports teams are competing.
However, following the proper steps will help get you into it quicker and with more confidence. So, if you’re looking to enter the FPS esports world and start betting on the CDL Major, this is how to start:
As there are numerous CDL Major betting markets, you’ll benefit from more flexibility when it comes to choosing which bets to place, but it might also be overwhelming to choose one of them at first. Let's take a look at the betting markets you can choose from and what betting on them involves:
To understand what the CDL Major is, you’ll first need to know what the CDL is. In short, CDL stands for ‘Call of Duty League’ and is the premier franchise esports league for CoD. It was formed in 2020, and the 2023 season will be its 3rd iteration.
The CDL is divided into 5 stages that feature Qualifiers and the Major — the main event. The CDL Major is, therefore, a crucial part of the entire CDL Season. And in this article, we’re covering the CDL Major Stage 2.
For the first time ever the CDL travels to Boston. Who’s ready for Major II!? Qualifiers start January 13th. pic.twitter.com/Flzce2CF8n — Call of Duty League (@CODLeague) January 5, 2023
For the first time ever the CDL travels to Boston.
Who’s ready for Major II!? Qualifiers start January 13th. pic.twitter.com/Flzce2CF8n
— Call of Duty League (@CODLeague) January 5, 2023
While Stage 1 was essentially a peek into how the teams are faring against each other at the moment and how prepared they are, Stage 2 will probably see even more competitiveness between them. The CDL 2023: Stage 2 Major is the biggest Call of Duty event in February 2023, so make sure to place a few bets and watch the action unfold!
Seeing how the CDL features a franchised team system, the same number of teams will compete in the CDL Stage 2 Major as in every event prior to this one. So, you’ll be seeing 12 teams shoot it out for first place and their share of the $500,000 prize pool and CDL Points (more on these later).
*The teams have not yet confirmed which players from their full rosters will compete in this event. The active rosters for the CDL Stage 2 Major may change.
Prior to the main event, the teams will have to go through the CDL Stage 2 Qualifiers. Now, although all of them will participate in the Major, regardless of their finishing position in the Qualifiers, they still want to finish as high as possible. The reason for this is that the Qualifiers determine seeding for the main event. Teams will also get 10 CDL Points for each win in the Qualifiers.
First set of matches for Major II qualifiers 📆 pic.twitter.com/hjgWbkSSrT — Call of Duty League (@CODLeague) January 4, 2023
First set of matches for Major II qualifiers 📆 pic.twitter.com/hjgWbkSSrT
— Call of Duty League (@CODLeague) January 4, 2023
Furthermore, teams will be given a specific number of CDL Points based on their finishing positions in the CDL Stage 2 Major. These points are invaluable to the teams because they are used to determine how the teams will be distributed in the standings at the end of the year. The team with the most CDL points will become the winner of the Regular Season.
Atlanta FaZe have always been at the forefront when it comes to the Call of Duty League due to finishing in the top three positions in almost all the tournaments they entered in 2020 and 2021. Their most successful year was 2021, when they won the CDL Stage 1 Major, CDL Stage 3 Major, CDL Stage 4 Major, the CDL Regular Season, and the CDL 2021 Playoffs.
In 2022, however, they were upended by Los Angeles Thieves, the New York Subliners, and the Seattle Surge, causing them to have only one tournament victory — but a big one. Through all of the losses and weakened performances in 2022, the team still came 1st in the regular season by accumulating enough CDL Points to do so. And, as far as CDL 2023 is concerned, they came 3rd in the Stage 1 Major, so there’s definitely potential to win Stage 2 as well.
Something changed for the Seattle Surge in 2022 and it wasn’t the roster. This team hasn’t been doing all that well since the CDL was formed and they won their first CDL tournament, which was the CDL 2022 Stage 3 Major. In some ways, no one ever expected them to achieve this but they have. in fact, they did this by defeating a powerhouse from the CDL — Atlanta FaZe!
Sadly, the rest of their performances in 2022 weren’t that good and they could ‘only’ manage a 3rd-place finish in the CDL 2022 Playoffs. Granted, they lost the playoff match to Atlanta FaZe, who were out for blood and revenge. But, it seems that something within the team has clicked because Seattle Surged grabbed 2nd place in the CDL 2023 Stage 1 Major event. Fans are hopeful that these performances will continue and even more for the team to win the Stage 2 Major.
The New York Subliners were a strong team in the past but unfortunately, they had to fight against the likes of Atlanta FaZe and Dallas Empire, who were simply better than them. As such, they hadn’t really managed to win a lot of tournaments but they were semi-constantly finishing in the top three positions.
This is still what’s happening, but the top teams have changed and NY Subliners have gotten better. In fact, their most recent win is arguably their best one — winning the CDL 2023 Stage 1 Major by defeating Seattle Surge in the finals. Although they may not be the most successful team in CDL history, they also seem to have found new footing and are looking better than ever.
The CDL Major tournament format is pretty simple and has been virtually unchanged over the years. Here’s what you need to know:
Playoffs (02.02.2023 – 05.02.2023):
*This information is based on the Stage 1 CDL Major. The prize money distribution per finishing position may change.
There are three locations where you can watch the CDL Major action. The first is the official CDL Major website, where you can access all sorts of information and watch the matches live. The other two options are the most popular ones: the official Twitch and YouTube channels. You’ll also be able to catch any matches you’ve missed by watching the VODs hosted on the YouTube channel.
#CDLWatchParty is back 👀 We're excited to announce that we are expanding our official Watch Party roster for Major II Qualifiers and the event in Boston! Better act fast, applications close Jan. 6th at 5:00 PM PT. More info 👉 https://t.co/KJYWAOAXxj pic.twitter.com/3sIyCb5vLz — Call of Duty League (@CODLeague) January 4, 2023
#CDLWatchParty is back 👀
We're excited to announce that we are expanding our official Watch Party roster for Major II Qualifiers and the event in Boston! Better act fast, applications close Jan. 6th at 5:00 PM PT.
More info 👉 https://t.co/KJYWAOAXxj pic.twitter.com/3sIyCb5vLz
When it comes down to it, the CDL Major is the backbone of Call of Duty esports. It’s one of the most watched and most bet-on CoD tournaments out there, so it’s no surprise that the competition is stiff. This plays to your advantage because it makes betting an enjoyable and potentially celebratory experience. Remember — take it slow and place smart bets… and of course, enjoy the show!
The CDL Major is a prestigious Call of Duty tournament that feeds into the CDL Regular Season. There are 5 CDL Majors in 2023.
The upcoming CDL Major starts on the 2nd of February and will last until the 5th of February, 2023. There isn’t any information about the Stage 3 CDL Major but we’re guessing it will take place sometime in March.
The CDL Major can be watched on the official CDL website, Twitch channel, or YouTube channel.
The three teams that many fans believe have a chance to win the event are Atlanta FaZe, Seattle Surge, and the New York Subliners.
If you’re a beginner, you’ll be best off placing a couple of match-winner bets as these require the least amount of research time and are usually pretty forgiving — unless you use a bet builder to place multiple match-winner bets. If you’re looking for some fun and potentially higher winnings (with more risk), then outrights or most kills in the match are ideal betting markets for you.
Through our in-depth guides and reviews, we are focused on providing the best insights into esports betting.