The playoff series between the London Royal Ravens and Toronto Ultra ended in controversy on Thursday as Ravens player Trei "Zer0" Morris experienced game-defining connection issues. This caused the Ravens to play 4 vs. 5 while holding a lead in Game 4, which resulted in a loss and the Ravens losing the series. London will now face Paris in the second round with the loser being eliminated from the postseason.
This was the second time in consecutive days that online connection issues plagued gameplay. On Wednesday during an elimination match, OpTic Gaming Los Angeles Guerrillas player Kenny "Kuavo" Williams dropped from a game early in a round which led to a map loss for OpTic. Brandon "Dashy" Otel subbed in and OpTic was able to still win the series.
There is no pause function in the game during online competition, and a there is a specific ruleset which requires competition to continue should a points threshold is met, which it was in both cases. For example, a restart would only occur on Hardpoint if the total score is under 150 points and either the disconnecting team is losing by less than 30 points, or the disconnecting team is winning.
Call of Duty League players, including Royal Ravens and Ultra players, reacted to the latest online connectivity drama:
What can I say ? We take the lead and hold a full 60 4v5. Trei lags out we have to play 4v5 and don't get a replay of course. GGs Toronto, this is nothing new to me. I'm used to being robbed ����
- skrapz (@skrapzg) August 20, 2020
The scuf play of the match showed Zer0 lagging out in the corner ��
- Muddawg (@Muddawg) August 20, 2020
I'm sat in my living room playing for 4.6mill. Get me on the local wow how did this go ahead��
- wuskin (@wuskinz) August 20, 2020
Surely this gets delayed or something happens/changes ? 3 series have been played and we've seen someone lag out 3 times already. $4.6 million on the line. Talking house money, life changing ������♂️
- skrapz (@skrapzg) August 20, 2020
Ggs London, won 2-1. As a competitor, that is not how we want to win. Gutted for my boys over there and hope we can see something change sooner rather than later.
- Ultra Methodz (@Methodz) August 20, 2020
Similar situation happened in AW where they had to restart the league, could have called it from a mile away especially since some little kid can get $100k to "have the correct" bracket.
2020 has been chalked just reset and let's go ahead with Cold War��
- Surge Enable (@Enable) August 20, 2020
I just don't see anyone in the league doing that. That rule would make sense if u were playing vs randoms lol. Everyone is competitors who just want the chance to play fairly.
- PATTYP (@ACHES) August 20, 2020
People were already adding an asterisk to this event. Imagine now. ����But hey that $$$$$ still hitting that bank account and it's as real as can be.
- Danny (@Loony) August 20, 2020