CDL Kickoff Classic 2022 results: Ultra starts new year with big win over Surge

Jaret Kappelman
How to watch CDL Kickoff Classic: stream, schedule, teams

The 2022 Call of Duty League season is finally in full swing as the Kickoff Classic started the Vanguard cycle in a big way. While Toronto Ultra came away with the win, the entire LAN event was filled with intense matchups and surprise upsets. Here’s a full breakdown of how the event unfolded.


  • Toronto Ultra takes down Seattle Surge 3-1 in Grand Finals.
  • Thieves and Subliners knocked out among Top 4.
  • Fan-favorites OpTic & ATL FaZe fail to win a series.

This Kickoff Classic marked the preseason of the 2022 CDL Vanguard cycle and gave fans a glimpse at what the year has on offer. Even though the CDL season doesn’t officially start until February 4, we finally got our first look at some competitive action three months after Vanguard’s release.

Teams like Atlanta FaZe, OpTic Texas, and Toronto Ultra all entered as favorites, but only one winner could be crowned. Below is a complete recap of how the first Vanguard tournament played out.

CDL Kickoff Classic placements

Placement Team
1st Toronto Ultra
2nd Seattle Surge
Top 4 New York Subliners
LA Thieves
Top 8 Atlanta FaZe
Minnesota ROKKR
OpTic Texas
Florida Mutineers
Top 12 London Royal Ravens
Boston Breach
Paris Legion
LA Guerrillas

CDL Kickoff Classic results & recap

While the CDL Kickoff Classic isn’t quite the most important event of the year for some, there’s no denying it sets the tone for what’s to come. 2022’s tournament was no different as we got an early look at how certain teams stack up against one another.

Being a single-elim event, brand new lineups had just one chance to gel on stage and find their rhythm. That didn’t bode well for the likes of Boston Breach, Los Angeles Guerrillas, and even OpTic Texas who all dropped out among the Top 8.

Instead, it was the new-look Subliners, LA Thieves, and Surge who joined the returning Ultra lineup in the Top 4.

Ultimately, the young guns in Seattle couldn’t quite keep up in the last matchup as Toronto Ultra took out the Grand Finals with a 3-1 win.

CDL Kickoff Classic stream

The Call of Duty League 2022 Kickoff Classic began on January 21, with the first match kicking things off at 1 PM PST / 4 PM EST. You can rewatch all the action from the official CDL YouTube stream, which we have embedded above.

You can rewatch all the action from the official CDL YouTube stream, which we have embedded above.

CDL Kickoff Classic schedule & format

The CDL preseason event featured all 12 teams in a predetermined bracket. The seeding was based on each team’s placement in the 2021 season.

Below is a full look at the CDL Kickoff Classic schedule which ran from January 21 to January 23. You can also view the bracket here.

Friday, January 21

Match PST EST GMT AEDT
Florida Mutineers 3-1 Los Angeles Guerrillas 1PM 4PM 9PM 8AM (Jan. 22)
Seattle Surge 3-0 London Royal Ravens 2:30PM 5:30PM 10:30PM 9:30AM (Jan. 22)
New York Subliners 3-2 Boston Breach 4PM 7 PM 12AM (Jan. 22) 11AM (Jan. 22)
Los Angeles Thieves 3-1 Paris Legion 5:30PM 8:30PM 1:30AM (Jan. 22) 12:30PM (Jan. 22)

Saturday, January 22

Match PST EST GMT AEDT
Atlanta FaZe 1-3 Seattle Surge 1PM 4PM 9PM 8AM (Jan. 23)
Toronto Ultra 3-1 Florida Mutineers
2:30PM 5:30PM 10:30PM 9:30AM (Jan. 23)
Minnesota ROKKR 0-3 New York Subliners
4PM 7 PM 12AM (Jan. 23) 11AM (Jan. 23)
OpTic Texas 1-3 Los Angeles Thieves 5:30PM 8:30PM 1:30AM (Jan. 23) 12:30PM (Jan. 23)

Sunday, January 23

Match PST EST GMT AEDT
Seattle Surge 3-1 New York Subliners 1PM 4PM 9PM 8AM (Jan. 24)
Toronto Ultra 3-2 LA Thieves 2:30PM 5:30PM 10:30PM 9:30AM (Jan. 24)
Seattle Surge 1-3 Toronto Ultra
4PM 7 PM 12AM (Jan. 24) 11AM (Jan. 24)

CDL Kickoff Classic teams

The newest franchise, Boston Breach revealed their roster on January 13. Therefore, the Kickoff Classic was the first time we got to see this squad in action.

Below is the full list of teams and players that competed in the first Vanguard event of 2022.

Team Roster
Atlanta FaZe Simp, aBeZy, Cellium, Arcitys
OpTic Texas Shotzzy, iLLeY, Dashy, Scump
Florida Mutineers Skyz, Davpadie, Owakening, Vivid
New York Subliners HyDra, Clayster, Neptune, Crimsix
London Royal Ravens Afro, Gismo, Nastie, Zer0
Toronto Ultra Bance, Insight, Cammy, CleanX
Minnesota RØKKR Priestahh, Attach, MajorManiak, Standy
Los Angeles Thieves Drazah, Kenny, Octane, Envoy
Paris Legion Temp, Decemate, FeLo, John
Seattle Surge Accuracy, Mack, Sib, Pred
Los Angeles Guerrillas SlasheR, Asim, Huke, Gunless
Boston Breach
TJHaly, Methodz, Nero, Capsidal
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