Clayster and Dashy feud over CDL tier rankings: Inside the esports rivalry
The Origin of the Feud
The Call of Duty esports community was set ablaze when OpTic Chicago’s Brandon ‘Dashy’ Otell made waves by ranking three-time champion James ‘Clayster’ Eubanks as merely a C-tier player in their team’s official power rankings video.
During OpTic’s January 11 tier list session, which evaluated CDL talent from S-tier (elite) to D-tier (below average), Dashy’s assessment of Clayster stood in stark contrast to his teammates’ opinions. While Davis ‘Hitch’ Edwards immediately suggested S-tier status for the 2020 world champion, Dashy countered with surprising conviction: “If we’re playing against him? C.”
This controversial take came despite Clayster’s recent championship success with Dallas Empire, raising questions about how players evaluate veteran talent versus emerging stars. Dashy eventually compromised to a B-tier rating, but the damage was done – the stage was set for a fiery response.
Social Media Escalation
Clayster didn’t take the slight lying down. Within hours, the veteran fired back on Twitter with characteristic intensity: “Yo Dashy, the f*** is up with the C tier bro? Didn’t I body your s*** the past two years straight?” The tweet referenced their competitive history, where Clayster’s teams had frequently gotten the better of Dashy’s squads.
Dashy responded by revealing a private message from Clayster, suggesting the exchange might be partially for show: “Just stirring the pot for impressions.” However, the conversation turned more personal when Clayster referenced Dashy’s 2020 season spent mostly on OpTic’s bench: “Terrified of which Brandon, the benched one or the killwh*** one?”
The exchange highlighted an interesting dynamic in Call of Duty esports – how players balance genuine competition with entertainment value. Dashy’s final jab about Clayster no longer having “xeo or tiny terrors” (referring to talented young teammates) suggested this might be more than just promotional banter.
Community Reactions
The esports community quickly divided into camps, with Royal Ravens’ Trei ‘Zer0’ Morris jumping in to defend Clayster’s competitive pedigree. Fans debated whether Dashy’s assessment reflected genuine belief or was designed to generate hype for upcoming matches.
Analysts noted that such public disagreements are rare in the CDL, where players typically maintain professional respect. The personal nature of some exchanges – referencing bench time and team dynamics – suggested this might be more than typical competitive banter.
The incident sparked broader discussions about how to evaluate veteran players in a rapidly evolving esports landscape, where reaction times and mechanical skill often favor younger competitors.
Looking Ahead
With the 2021 CDL season approaching, this feud adds another layer of intrigue to the New York Subliners vs OpTic Chicago matchups. Both players will have opportunities to prove their points on the virtual battlefield.
The exchange also raises questions about team dynamics and player evaluation methods. Will other squads implement similar tier list exercises? How might this public disagreement affect future roster decisions or player trades?
One thing is certain: when the CDL schedule is released, all eyes will be on the first NYSL-OpTic matchup to see if this Twitter beef translates to in-game intensity.
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