eUnited Claim Fourth at 2018 CWL Championship
By: Zachary Lange
In what can ultimately be described as a rollercoaster ride packed full of emotion, eUnited placed fourth at the 2018 Call of Duty World League Championship when the dust finally settled.
It is the highest placement in organizational history at the championship event. As a result, eUnited took home $80,000 in prize winnings.
Former eUnited player Justin “SiLLY” Fargo on his new team, Evil Geniuses, took home first place and the grand prize of $600,000.
A stumble in pool play
A tumultuous weekend began on Wednesday with a strong, 3-0 start against pool play foe EZG Esports. However, surprise pool play contender Team Sween, led by a group of European veterans, ended up defeating eUnited by a final of 2-3.
With both eUnited and European pro league team Splyce at 1-1 in Pool D tied for second place, it became a win-and-in situation to advance to the championship winners bracket held at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio.
With a 3-1 victory, eUnited were still alive. Finishing second in the pool made things more difficult for the team in the championship winners bracket, but squad didn’t seem to mind.
Winners run, loss to tK
Round 1 of the winners bracket came against European heavyweight Red Reserve. Heading into the week, Red Reserve was one of a few favorites for winning the entire tournament. But with a 3-0 victory for eUnited, they were sent to the losers bracket.
Ironically, the twin duo of Alec “Arcitys” Sanderson and Preston “Prestinni” Sanderson sent the second pair of twins in the tournament (Matthew “Skrapz” Marshall of Red Reserve and Bradley “wuskin” Marshall of UNILAD) to the losers bracket in consecutive series with another eUnited 3-0 sweep against UNILAD in the second round of the winners bracket.
However in the winners semifinals, Team Kaliber, a three-time winner in the CWL proved too tough to tame for eUnited, falling in defeat 1-3.
Losers run falls short
With only one more loss before being sent home packing, eUnited faced off against Luminosity Gaming. Led by 2017 CWL Champion and MVP Matthew “Formal” Piper, eUnited stood tall against the heavy slayers of Luminosity, winning by a final of 3-1.
This, however, would mark the last of eUnited’s run. After a 0-3 sweep from FaZe Clan, a teammate embrace, led by captain James “Clayster” Eubanks was the last moment from the team before their exit.
Up next
After a stretch of nine months, eUnited Call of Duty will enter into a much needed offseason to reset and recharge for the release of Call of Duty: Black Ops 4.
Twitter buzz
GGs to Everyone we played this weekend. The support from everyone was incredible. Literally motivates me everyday. Hearing the screams and chants every series we played was an experience I’ll never forget. Thank you guys. Sorry for letting y’all down. ❤️
— Prestinni (@Prestinni) August 19, 2018
Finished 4th. Regardless of that loss I could not be any more proud of these three @Clayster @Prestinni @Arcitys thank you guys for turning my year around this was a week I’ll never forget.
— eU Tyler (@FeLo) August 19, 2018Tried so hard not to cry after we lost every event means so much to me just breaks my heart not winning this year
— Alec (@Arcitys) August 19, 2018I seriously wanna thank y’all for all the love and support this weekend. It honestly fills my heart and makes me sure that I made the correct decision to keep competing. Seriously, from the bottom of my heart, thank you guys. I’ll never forget this weekend
— eU Clayster (@Clayster) August 19, 2018