New York Subliners’ KiSMET: “We Thrive on Challenges”

Within one week, the teams of the Call of Duty League will be neck-deep in the first Major tournament of the season. It’s taking place in Boston, and it’s the proving ground for this year’s sharp, refined squads looking to secure the first trophy of 2024. At the top of the table sits the New York Subliners, last season’s reigning champions and the record-setting squad that produced one of the fastest Championship sweeps in Call of Duty history.

There are high expectations for the Subliners going into Major I, and not just because of the Championship win. Last season, the Subliners proved to be one of the most talented teams on the scoreboard, winning two Major tournaments under excruciating odds in some death-defying lower-bracket runs. Ahead of Major I, I caught up with Matt ‘KiSMET’ Tinsley, one of the star Subliners players who lifted the most valuable trophy in COD esports mere months ago.

‘To Continue Where We Left Off’

Last year, KiSMET lifted two Major trophies and the COD Champs trophy. What’s in store this year?

The New York Subliners had a historic rise to fame and fortune during the 2023 season of the Call of Duty League. It culminated in one of the most monumental showdowns against Toronto Ultra during the Grand Finals of the COD Championship, live in Las Vegas. Following typical smack talk from Ultra’s rookie, Scrap, things went south for Toronto, with Subliners’ KiSMET making a damning promise to ‘smoke’ the team. And smoke the team they did, producing a 5 – 0 finish that left Ultra gobsmacked.

Talking to KiSMET recently, he said about Major I and the season ahead:

‘Our primary goal is to continue where we left off – delivering strong performances, working seamlessly as a team, and showcasing the skills that got us to where we are. Major I holds a special significance for us, being the first major of the year, and we’re approaching it with the same dedication and focus that propelled us to victory in the past.’

He acknowledged that it’ll be tough to replicate the success the team saw last year, stressing that, ‘It’s a unique position to be in, coming off such a successful season, and it adds a certain level of pressure, but we thrive on challenges.’

The Subliners have already gotten off to an incredible start this season, refusing to drop a series and picking up a respectable map ratio of 15 – 6. The team currently sits in second place behind Atlanta FaZe – but both teams have the same number of CDL points as the Major approaches, guaranteeing them top seeding. It’s encouraging to see the Subliners’ resilience moving into Major I, as KiSMET professes:

‘We understand the expectations are high, but we see it as an opportunity to prove ourselves once again. Each tournament is a chance to learn and grow, and Major I is no exception. We’re committed to evolving our strategies, adapting to the meta, and staying ahead of the competition.’

In KiSMET’s words, the Subliners aim to become ‘a consistent force’ this year in the CDL. Given the start that the team has had and the internal efforts that go on behind the scenes to optimise and enhance the squad, that certainly seems doable.

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