Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 at EWC 26 Champions: OpTic go back-to-back

The Grand Final initially looked like it could be a quick OpTic victory, with the American club racing to a convincing 2-0 lead. Team Heretics refused to go quietly, however, battling back to level the series at 2-2. OpTic then regained control, moving ahead 4-2 and putting themselves on match point with their strongest mode, Search and Destroy, next on the schedule. The series appeared all but over.

The Spaniards had other ideas, claiming their third map thanks to an incredible 1v3 clutch from José “ReeaL” Fernández to keep their championship hopes alive. The comeback ultimately fell short, though, as OpTic closed out the Grand Final 5-3 in the following Hardpoint on Den, securing back-to-back EWC titles.

From the Lower Bracket to the trophy

OpTic’s championship run was far from easy. After dropping an early Group Stage match to 100 Thieves, the American club found itself fighting for survival in the Lower Bracket much earlier than expected. Rather than fold under the pressure, OpTic regrouped and began an impressive run through the playoffs.

The turnaround reached another level in the quarterfinals, where OpTic swept pre-tournament favorites and longtime rivals FaZe Clan 4-0 in a statement performance. They then faced 100 Thieves again in the semifinals, this time earning revenge with a 4-3 victory in a series that went down to the wire. From the Lower Bracket to the EWC trophy, OpTic proved they could deliver when the stakes were highest.

Back-to-back MVP

At the center of OpTic’s championship run was Anthony “Shotzzy” Cuevas-Castro, whose performances and leadership throughout the week earned him the MVP award and an additional $25,000 prize. The honor makes Shotzzy a back-to-back EWC champion and back-to-back MVP, adding another major achievement to the résumé of one of Call of Duty’s all-time greats.

Despite the individual honor, Shotzzy was quick to credit those around him. After receiving the award, he turned the attention toward his teammates, saying, “without them I wouldn’t be here.”

Club Championship points secured

With their victory, OpTic also claimed the maximum 1,000 Club Championship points available in Call of Duty. Unfortunately, as OpTic does not compete in any other titles, the club is not eligible for the overall Club Championship rankings. By keeping those maximum points out of the hands of the multi-title organizations, however, the victory could still have a major impact on this year’s final standings.

Team Falcons, meanwhile, could only secure 300 points with their third-place finish, while a surge from AG.AL has pushed the Chinese club into the Club Championship lead. With the race tightening, every point denied to the leading contenders could prove crucial when the final standings are decided.