Tournament favorites LA Thieves have been eliminated early from the 2025 Call of Duty League Championship after a stunning 3-0 loss to Vancouver Surge. Despite a dominant regular season, their playoff run ended in disappointment.
In one of the biggest upsets of the 2025 Call of Duty League (CDL) Championship, the Los Angeles Thieves, widely regarded as tournament favorites, have been knocked out early after a stunning loss to Vancouver Surge in the first elimination round. The unexpected 3-0 sweep ends what was a dominant season on a sour note and sends shockwaves through the competitive Call of Duty community.
LA Thieves entered Championship Weekend with high expectations after winning two of the four Majors during the regular season and finishing as the top seed with 540 CDL Points. Boasting impressive momentum and a consistent roster, many viewed the Thieves as the team to beat heading into the season-ending tournament for Call of Duty: Black Ops 6.
The team opened their Champs campaign against Boston Breach, a squad that spent much of the season fighting just to qualify. Despite showing strong performances in Hardpoint, LA Thieves struggled in Search and Destroy, where Boston Breach outmaneuvered their strategies and handed the Thieves an early loss, pushing them into the elimination bracket.
There, they faced Vancouver Surge in a must-win series to keep their championship hopes alive. However, from the outset, the Thieves appeared off-balance. Vancouver took the first map, Red Card Hardpoint, with a score of 250-218, seizing early momentum. The pressure intensified in the second map, Red Card Search and Destroy, where the Surge continued their strong performance with a 6-4 win.
Though LA Thieves showed signs of life in Vault Control, keeping it competitive until the final moments, Vancouver sealed the deal with a tight 3-2 victory to complete a 3-0 sweep. The result marks a dramatic and disappointing end for the Thieves, who were the first team eliminated from the 2025 CDL Championship; an outcome few would have predicted.
This swift exit is a stark contrast to their regular-season success and 2022 championship legacy. It raises questions about what comes next for the franchise as the competitive focus begins to shift toward the release of Call of Duty: Black Ops 7. Treyarch’s upcoming title is rumored to introduce new gameplay mechanics, potentially influencing how teams build their rosters for the next season.
Despite the shocking loss, immediate roster changes for LA Thieves appear unlikely. Winning two Majors this season shows the team’s strength and synergy, suggesting that the core roster may still have untapped potential. Instead, attention now turns to the Esports World Cup, where LA Thieves will compete under the 100 Thieves banner. The international event presents an opportunity for redemption, and perhaps, a final triumph to cap off a turbulent season.
While the Champs’ dream may be over for now, LA Thieves still have something to prove. All eyes will be on how they bounce back from this early elimination and whether they can end the year on a high note.
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