Electrifying Showdowns and Unforgettable Performances: Highlights from CDL Major 4, IEM Dallas, Halo Championship Series, and StarCraft 2

The Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center in downtown Dallas became a hub of esports excellence, drawing top-tier talent across a range of titles. From the intense battles in Counter-Strike 2, to the strategic showdowns in StarCraft II, to the electrifying matches in Call of Duty, to the high-octane action in Halo, the event had something for every esports enthusiast. The packed convention center buzzed with energy, filled with fans, players, and personalities alike, each adding their own flair to the celebration of competitive gaming. Let's delve into the highlights from each title and revisit the memorable performances that defined the weekend.

Counter-Strike 2: Team Liquid's Rollercoaster Run

Team Liquid entered IEM Dallas 2025 with high hopes and a roster brimming with talent. Hometown pride was on the line, as well as preparation for the upcoming BLAST Austin Major later this month. The new-look roster was hoping to see how the addition of Kamil "siuhy" Szkaradek would continue to help the team improve, especially with their first match against familiar faces EliGE and s1mple on FaZe. From the first round, it was clear that Liquid meant business. With ultimate holding down angles and NertZ setting the tempo with aggressive entries, Liquid took down FaZe in a confident 2-0 sweep, putting a damper on s1mple’s return to competitive play.

However, the victory celebration was short-lived. Liquid’s next match against MOUZ proved to be a tougher test. The European powerhouse neutralized Liquid’s efforts with disciplined retakes and clinical aim. Liquid fell 0-2, unable to break through MOUZ’s defensive setups despite flashes of brilliance from NAF and Twistzz.

Now in the elimination match, Liquid faced Aurora, a dangerous Turkish roster known for its explosive fragging potential. Unfortunately, the match slipped away from Liquid early. A few missed opportunities and lost eco rounds proved costly, and Aurora capitalized on every mistake. With a second consecutive 0-2 loss, Liquid bowed out of the tournament in 9th-12th place—a finish that felt underwhelming given their electric start.

thatWhile the early exit was disappointing, there were still positives to take away. Liquid’s opening win over FaZe demonstrated the team’s potential, especially on home soil. The team is developing quickly, and with more time to refine roles and maps, this lineup could be a dangerous opponent in the upcoming Major. 

StarCraft II: Clem’s Commanding Performance

The StarCraft II bracket at Dallas was a gauntlet of elite talent. With $50,000 and tickets to the Esports World Cup on the line, the world's best Terrans, Zergs, and Protosses descended upon Texas, setting the stage for some thrilling macro and micro battles.

Team Liquid fielded five heading into the Lone Star State, with hopes resting on Clem to deliver. Elazer, known for his methodical Zerg play and tenacious mid-game fights, was placed into Bracket D. He started with a loss against GuMiho, however, he seemed to rebound against TLO in the lower bracket. Elazer then fell against Ryung and failed to advance to the playoff bracket. 

The brighter star for Team Liquid in Dallas was Clem. The French Terran ace has long been regarded as one of the best non-Korean players in the world, and he proved it once again on the stage. Placed in Bracket C, Clem stormed through his group with a flawless record to qualify to the playoffs. He dismantled tough opponents like Percival, Astrea, and Classic with clinical precision. 

The other Team Liquid players, like SKillous, Cure, and MaNa, faced tough bracket challenges throughout the weekend. SKillous struggled in Bracket A, falling initially to ShoWTimE before beginning his run in the lower bracket, just to fall in the quarterfinals to Creator. Cure was right there with him, incidentally also falling to ShoWTimE in the Upper Bracket Semifinals, just to end up out at the same time as SKillous in the lower bracket. MaNa struggled as well, but did slightly better as he was able to make it through to the Lower Bracket Semifinals, before falling to Rogue in a 2-0 sweep. 

Still, Clem’s Top 8 finish stood as one of the best performances by a non-Korean at the event. He was the only foreign Terran to make it to the quarterfinals, reinforcing his place among the world’s elite and proving that Liquid’s StarCraft division is still a force to be reckoned with. After the event, Clem looks poised to continue his strong play amongst the world’s best. 

Call of Duty: FaZe Clan falls just short, OpTic Texas’ Home Turf Challenge

Call of Duty returned to Texas with the Stage 4 Major of the CDL season, and the crowd was ravenous. With OpTic Texas playing in front of their home fans and Atlanta FaZe looking to continue their good form, expectations were sky-high, and the action didn’t disappoint.

FaZe Clan’s Commanding Performance

Atlanta FaZe entered the tournament with confidence and a firm grasp on the meta. The team’s chemistry was undeniable, with Simp once again leading the charge. Their opening matches were clinical; FaZe breezed through the bracket, dispatching Cloud9 New York 3-1, Optic Texas 3-1, and then dismantling Miami Heretics 3-1 to make it to the final against LA Thieves.

The Grand Final against the Thieves was a bloodbath. LA was able to rebound in the lower bracket after a misstep against Miami earlier in the weekend. FaZe might have had the upper hand coming from the winner’s bracket, but LA simply kicked it into higher gear, taking the series 4-2 with a standout performance from Scrap, who earned a tournament MVP.

OpTic Texas’ Battle on Home Ground

For OpTic Texas, the tournament was an emotional rollercoaster. Energized by their home crowd, the squad opened with a strong win over the Toronto Ultra. Scump, now in a content role, was cheering from the sidelines. Shotzzy and Dashy were electric in the slaying department, keeping the team in matches with clutch kills and tight map rotations.

However, OpTic’s momentum was halted by a 1-3 loss to Atlanta FaZe in the upper bracket. Dropping to the lower bracket, they fought through Minnesota ROKKR, but faced a heartbreaking loss to the LA Thieves in a 1-3 defeat.

Halo: OpTic Gaming’s Triumphant Victory

The Halo Championship Series Dallas Open was one of the crown jewels of the weekend. With direct qualification spots to the Salt Lake City Major on the line, the stakes were sky-high. OpTic Gaming came in as one of the top seeds and lived up to every bit of the hype.

The team’s pool play performance was nearly flawless, with their only dropped maps at all coming against TSM in a 2-3 loss. The team had commanding 3-0 victories over BH3 and Gen.G. FormaL, and Renegade were in sync throughout the tournament, while Bound and Lqgend proved instrumental in helping close out series.

In the championship bracket, OpTic was shocked when they went down early against Shopify Rebellion to open up the playoffs. The squad was able to quickly rebound with a 3-0 victory over Complexity before having to grind their way back through the Lower Bracket. They were able to dispatch Spacestation, Envy, and Shopify Rebellion once again in a Lower Bracket Semifinal rematch. To make it to the final, OpTic once again defeated a prior opponent as they swept TSM to set up their match with FaZe Clan. 

The Grand Finals saw a classic battle between OpTic and FaZe. With the tournament on the line, OpTic delivered a statement. After forcing a bracket reset with a 4-1 win, they dominated the final series 4-0, leaving no doubt about who deserved the title.

The win not only earned OpTic the Dallas crown but also solidified their spot in the upcoming Salt Lake City Major. For Halo fans, it was a weekend to remember.