Las Vegas Falcons beat OpTic Texas to clinch first CDL win

    The Las Vegas Falcons have recorded their first Call of Duty League (CDL) victory since entering the competition in August 2024, defeating powerhouse OpTic Texas 3–1 during the online qualifiers for Major 3.

    Las Vegas Falcons Las Vegas Falcons

    This long-awaited triumph marks a major milestone for the squad, which had previously struggled through Majors 1 and 2 with back-to-back top-12 finishes and only a handful of map wins.

    Owned by Saudi Arabian esports organisation Team Falcons, the franchise initially fielded an all-Saudi lineup. However, after underwhelming results, a major roster overhaul was made ahead of the Major 3 qualifiers.

    The revamped team now features three former world champions: Amer 'Pred' Zulbeari, Preston 'Priestahh' Greiner, and Alec 'Arcitys' Sanderson, joined by Saudi player Saud 'Exnid' Alotai, the only member retained from the original roster.

    Pred, who had a brief return to OpTic Texas in February 2025, officially joined the Falcons on 1st April 2025. His performance against his former squad added further narrative weight to the team's breakthrough win.

    The current roster is a blend of North American, Australian, and Saudi Arabian talent, signalling a shift in the Falcons' strategic direction.

    The decision to move away from an all-domestic lineup appears to be paying dividends, with the team finally finding form in the highly competitive league.