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Atlanta FaZe’s ‘Simp’, ‘aBeZy’ foresee decade of dominance after capturing second CDL ring together

After losing to the Dallas Empire in 2020, the Call of Duty League’s “tiny terrors” obliterated the competition in 2021.

LOS ANGELES — The 2020 Call of Duty League season was stressful for everyone, including Atlanta FaZe after losing at Champs to the Dallas Empire. Tyler “aBeZy” Pharris was having an especially bad day during a scrimmage before the playoffs even started.

“It was one of those days where he was raging online,” FaZe teammate Chris “Simp” Lehr said.

Lehr and Pharris, who won a Call of Duty League world Championship together with Atlanta Sunday afternoon at Galen Center, butt heads for a brief moment.

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“I was like, ‘Tyler, you can’t keep (expletive) on match days,’” Lehr said. “He was like ‘shut up, moron’ or something like that.”

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The two of them burst out laughing, because they don’t fight. Lehr and Pharris, Simp and aBeZy – known by many as the “Tiny Terrors” – are even keeled with each other, and it’s led them to two Call of Duty titles in three seasons.

Their skill and mastery of the game is unique. Their guns-blazing, kick-the-door-open play style separates them from other SMG duos at the professional level. But so does their ability to share the spotlight. That might be what is most rare about the two.

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It’s contagious to their team.

“You see it with a lot of people of any competitive nature. There’s so much shine on one or the other that there’s jealousy or other things that get involved,” said FaZe head coach James “Crowder” Crowder. “These two guys, being as young as they are, show so much love for each other and appreciate each other. It shows how much they’ve grown.”

Lehr does the trash talking, and he’s content with that. He used his post-championship interview on stage after defeating the Toronto Ultra 5-3 to trash talk the Dallas Empire. He’s shooting bodies in-game, launching headphones after map wins and shouting at his opponents across the stage.

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Chris “Simp” Lehr of the Atlanta FaZe celebrates as FaZe beats the Toronto Ultra  during the...
Chris “Simp” Lehr of the Atlanta FaZe celebrates as FaZe beats the Toronto Ultra during the Call of Duty league playoffs championship round at the Galen Center on Sunday, August 22, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. The Atlanta FaZe beat the Toronto Ultra 5 - 3. (Justin L. Stewart/Special Contributor)(Justin L. Stewart / Special Contributor)

Pharris is more reserved, but quick to defend his team. When discussing the best player in the world, both are always in the discussion.

“It’s comedy to read what people say sometimes,” Pharris said. “I’ve read it sometimes and I’m sure he has too, but he’s my duo and he’s disgusting at the game.”

The two met in Columbus in 2019, right before going to London when Black Ops 4 was the game. They played each other online before then, but it only took four matches before they were deemed the Tiny Terrors.

They won their first world championship that year, along with current FaZe teammates Alec “Arcitys” Sanderson and ex-Empire star James “Clayster” Eubanks.

That kickstarted their journey together, and they rolled through everyone until being stunted by the Empire. That was a moment for growth.

“We didn’t put in the work that we could have to win that Champs,” Pharris said. “And this year we put in so much work. Literally three of us got COVID after major five and we all still scrimmed every single day leading up to Champs.”

Lehr felt the rest of the Call of Duty League should be worried, because Lehr and Pharris don’t ever plan on splitting up. They’ll be doing this until they retire at age 30, he said.

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Lehr, 20, and Pharris, 21, have plenty of time to rack up more championships. They are already a dynasty, probably.

“I feel like all of us right now kind of have different interpretations of it,” Lehr said. “But I think we all know the situation we’re in. And if we just keep putting in the work and dedicating ourselves to this team and to the grind, I feel like we’re gonna come out on top every single year.”

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