Karma casts doubt over current CoD team’s future with OpTic Gaming
ScufThree time Call of Duty World Champion Damon ‘Karma’ Barlow has suggested that the ongoing 2019 CWL Championship could be the last time the fan favorite roster ever wear the OpTic Gaming jersey.
OpTic Gaming‘s Call of Duty team has suffered a turbulent year both in and out of the game. A strong start with a win at the first event CWL Vegas has been followed by diminishing performances, and a complicated organizational situation.
On June 12, Immortals Gaming Club officially announced the acquisition of Infinite Esports & Entertainment, the parent company of OpTic Gaming, and took over the OpTic brand.
OpTic are looking to make up for their top 24 at 2018 champs – when Karma wasn’t on the team.
With the exception of the Call of Duty team, all other OpTic rosters are to be sold, renamed or released, with OpTic’s iconic status in CoD esports likely the saving grace for the brand.
However, the role of long-time CEO Hector ‘H3CZ’ Rodriguez is unclear under the new ownership, and although OpTic has secured the LA spot for the 2020 Call of Duty franchised league, rumors suggest that it will be an all new roster.
Speaking to Dexerto, Karma explained that he hopes fans will come out to support the OpTic roster one last time, explaining “It’s our last weekend. Not sure if we’ll ever be in these (OpTic) jerseys again, so come out, be loud, hopefully we make it there for you.”
Karma also revealed why it would be extra special to win this world championship and secure his fourth ring, as it is likely the last ‘CoD Champs’ as it has been known: “It’d be pretty wild (to win the event). I didn’t get to play last year, so to be here this year, and it’s the last one, it’d be pretty sweet.”
The roster is certainly in with a shot – despite shaky performances at previous events, particularly the CWL Finals in Miami, the team is stacked with individual talent that need only stay organized and focused to make a deep run.
And Karma is not the only OpTic member becoming wistful over the end of an era, as H3CZ himself sent a special message to fans on the final ‘OpTic Day’ – 10 years since he left his office job to run the organization.
The team is also wearing a special one-off jersey for the event, emblazoned with the names of every Call of Duty player who represented the GreenWall.
OpTic’s new Legacy White Championship jersey pays tribute to every CoD tournament victory and is inspired by the original 2010 jersey. pic.twitter.com/tcUh9yzHZD
— DEXERTO Call of Duty #CWLChamps (@DexertoIntel) August 14, 2019
The CoD team started well with a victory over TrainHard Esport, although admittedly a team they would have been expected to get past comfortably. You can keep up with all the action at the 2019 CWL Championship on our coverage hub.
OpTic will face a tougher challenge in their final pool play match against Evil Geniuses, but a win over Carnage in their second match should secure their spot in bracket play.