Which groups certified for Name of Responsibility Challengers Elite 1?

After an action-packed weekend of on-line qualifiers, the 12 groups competing within the first Name of Responsibility Challengers Elite of the Name of Responsibility: Black Ops 7 season have been determined.

Going down from January seventh to twenty second, the season’s opening Elite occasion will see the highest newbie groups from EMEA and North America compete throughout two regional leagues for an opportunity to cement their place as one of the best rosters exterior of the Name of Responsibility League (CDL).

Earlier than the primary spherical of matches begins, Esports Insider takes a better take a look at among the notable names competing within the event.

Of the 32 groups that competed within the on-line qualifiers, 12 secured a spot in Black Ops 7’s first Elite occasion. The competitors contains a mixture of former World Champion and rising skills seeking to cement their place inside Name of Responsibility’s higher echelons.

The total listing of groups is as follows:

Huntsmen efficiently navigated its means via the qualifiers, conceding only one map throughout its two higher bracket matches to safe Elite qualification. For former Halo World Champion Jonathan ‘Renegade’ Willette, it’s his first time competing in an Elite since making the swap to Name of Responsibility.

Elsewhere, Falcons Academy White options two-time World Champion Alec ‘Arcitys‘ Sanderson, together with 2023 World Champion Preston ‘Priestahh‘ Greiner. The workforce scored a second-place end within the second on-line cup, positioning itself among the many stronger contenders.

Final 12 months’s Challengers Finals runner-up OMiT Brooklyn returns to the Elite for Black Ops 7 with German prospect Mohammed ‘Alluka‘ Bindal headlining a roster that additionally contains Carson ‘Brack‘ Newberry and Tyler ‘FeLo‘ Johnson. The pair aren’t any strangers to CDL motion, having represented Florida Mutineers and Dallas Empire in 2020.

For the 2026 season, Activision has built-in the Center East into the European Challengers circuit, giving gamers from the area a chance to showcase their expertise in on-line competitions.

Listed here are all of the EMEA groups competing within the first Elite of 2026:

The all-French roster of Clutch Rayn Esports has emerged as one in all EMEA’s early frontrunners following consecutive second-place finishes in Cup 2 and three. Thomas ‘Lynz‘ Gregorio beforehand competed for Minnesota Rokkr and Los Angeles Guerrillas M8 earlier than returning to Challengers in 2025, later reaching prime three ultimately 12 months’s Challengers Finals.

Cup 3 winners Venture 7 Esports will look to proceed its stable begin to the season with a powerful exhibiting within the Elite. Former London Royal Ravens participant Harry ‘Harry‘ Payne has dominated Challengers in recent times, with a number of occasion victories to his title.

He’s joined by Felix ‘FDot‘ McKee, who showcased a standout efficiency within the Black Ops 6 season with two Elite victories underneath the Group Infamous banner.

Each the North American and EMEA Elite competitions characteristic a $57,000 (~£42,257) prize pool and tens of hundreds of Professional Factors out there for the highest performers. Professional Factors are used to find out seeding for Challengers Open occasions, which run alongside the 4 Majors going down all year long.