The Vancouver Surge, a well-known franchise in the Call of Duty League (CDL), has made a strategic decision by benching Kaci ‘Lqgend’ Sabri after only two weeks of online qualifiers. This move comes as a surprise to many fans and analysts who were eager to see Lqgend continue his esports journey in Call of Duty.
Lqgend’s New Chapter in Call of Duty
A former Halo world champion, Lqgend joined the Vancouver Surge roster in November after the 2025 Halo Championship Series (HCS) season ended. The transition from Halo to Call of Duty was highly anticipated, as he sought to leverage his previous success with OpTic Gaming in the HCS. However, the early stages of the Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 season haven’t been kind to the Surge. The team has faced three consecutive defeats in Major 1 qualifiers and remains the only franchise yet to secure a map win, sitting in 12th place.
Announced on December 16th, 2025, Lqgend’s benching was a result of Vancouver Surge’s struggles in the new season, causing the team to reassess their strategy. Rather than starting in the Challengers division, Lqgend jumped directly to the highest level of competition, hoping for a smooth transition.
A Future in Challengers
Ricky ‘Atura’ Lugo, General Manager and Head Coach of Vancouver Surge, explained the decision: “Sabri has a high ceiling and a lot of upside, and this move gives him the time and space to continue developing without the pressure of immediate results. We believed in his potential and remain confident in his future.” As a result, Lqgend will now focus on refining his skills within the North American Challengers circuit. Despite the setback, his stint in the CDL has earned him 6,000 Pro Points, positioning him as a leader on the Challengers leaderboard.
What Next For Vancouver Surge?
Looking ahead, Vancouver Surge has until the third week of Major 1 qualifiers, scheduled from January 9th to 11th, 2026, to integrate a new player into their starting lineup to secure their first victory of the season. The team has not yet named a replacement for Lqgend. As Lqgend embarks on his journey in Call of Duty’s second tier, it will be intriguing to see how he adapts and whether he can eventually climb back to the top tier of competitive play.