Could OpTic Gaming Face EWC Embarrassment Against Notorious?
The Esports World Cup’s Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 grand finals are taking place this weekend in Paris, with the champion set to be crowned and significant prize money on the line. The tournament has proven unpredictable, with three Call of Duty League organizations already eliminated by Challengers-tier squads in early elimination rounds—a major upset, as CDL teams are typically considered stronger than Challengers competitors.
OpTic Gaming, the defending champions, now face a serious threat of elimination this weekend. The organization is competing alongside Paris Gentle Mates and Team Heretics, both of whom could also suffer early exits. This creates a remarkable scenario where multiple professional CDL teams could fall to less established squads.
The tournament has attracted record attendance and fan engagement, with the event being held at Paris Expo Porte de Versailles as part of Week 5 of the Esports World Cup 2026. Beyond Call of Duty, the same weekend will crown champions in Honor of Kings World Cup and Tekken, with additional competitions occurring in Rainbow Six Siege, PUBG Mobile World Cup, and Last Chance Qualifiers for Counter-Strike 2, Rocket League, and Chess.
OpTic is seeking to reestablish themselves as a dominant force and achieve championship glory. The presence of strong Challengers teams has fundamentally changed the competitive landscape of this tournament, suggesting that traditional CDL dominance cannot be taken for granted this season.