FILIPINO CODM team Smart Omega earned two statement wins in their group stage matches last night, December 15, to kick off their CODM World Championship 2022 campaign.
The Pinoys won big and swept, 3-0 apiece, Europe's number one Stamina Esports, as well as North America's number three, NYSL Mayhem to achieve a perfect start.
Smart Omega defeated Stamina in Upper Round 1 in Hardpoint at Summit 250-213, Search and Destroy at Firing Range 12-10, and Control at Raid 3-0. Then they handed NYSL Mayhem a defeat in the Upper Qualifier in Hardpoint at Takeoff 250-243, Search and Destroy at Hacienda 7-5, and Control at Raid 3-0 to qualify to the next round.
Despite their two sweeps however, Smart Omega had to adjust to some challenges along the way, especially in the technical front. All night long, the production was marred by frequent disconnections, game resets, room remakes, and pauses that hit all participating teams.
Smart Omega surmounts challenges in first leg of CODM Worlds
Smart Omega CMO Froi Endaya shared what had happened and how the team navigated through it.
“We just pushed through it. Laban lang kumbaga. Knowing this is the first LAN event [for CODM Worlds] we really expected a world class event. Unfortunately, there were lots of pauses and resets during games, and medyo matagal magreset, tapos lots of disconnections pa pero siguro birth pains ng event,” he said.
“However, despite all of that, proud kami sa team kasi they stayed positive, di sila nagpaapekto, and they were all smiles while playing. They stay focused and got the job done to enter the playoffs.
"Hopefully it carries throughout the weekend and we bring home the championship."
With the result of last night’s matches, Smart Omega finishes on top of Group A and will face Group D’s second placer SKADE of Latin America in the playoffs on December 17, which starts 10:00 p.m., Philippine time.
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