Esports Shanghai Masters Invitational: A Promising Glimpse Of The Future
When it’s the off-season for the Overwatch League, you always take every opportunity to see a roster perform, regardless of if the team’s identity is still under construction. With the Esports Shanghai Masters Invitational taking place this past weekend, fans of Overwatch were treated to flashes of a bright future as the Chengdu Hunters, Hangzhou Spark, Shanghai Dragons, and Guangzhou Charge took the stage in person or online. All new players, all new stories, and all-new ways to fight for a chance to reach the top of the Overwatch League teams.
While their final placings in the standings may have varied drastically last season, all four teams share one thing in common - not a single one of them was able to overcome the odds and claim the ultimate win. 2021 will be a story of recovery, redemption, and revenge for all four of our Chinese OWL teams, a chance to fix the fatal mistakes of 2020, and move forward with a real chance to not only stand above the rest of the APAC region but to also thwart all challengers to become the sole champions. In an era where the world’s future is uncertain, the ESMI gave us a return to form, and a unique experience, for anyone looking to see those familiar faces return to the battleground.
A SIGHT FOR SORE EYES
Firstly, a huge blessing that came from this tournament was the presence of live broadcasters, quality stage and show production, and a small number of fans to play in front of. The stage itself was beautiful, and while it was a small treat comparatively to an esport event pre-COVID, it’s a sight to behold, especially since the Overwatch League hadn’t played on a physical stage since March of last year. Big commendations have to be made for the organisers for pulling this off safely and successfully, and even if all the teams couldn’t attend in person, it’s still one of the most refreshing experiences you can get if you’re a fan of Overwatch.
Not only was it refreshing, but it’s a good reminder that at least in Asia, there’s a very good possibility LAN events could make a return. With China and South Korea handling the virus to a better extent than the United States, it makes it all the more likely that fans could be treated to amazing spectacle and gratifying production value for a key tournament in the APAC region. Possibly, even having the 2021 grand finals hosted in the region once again, but this time with a physical stage to crown the season champions. It’s wishful thinking, but not entirely out of the question. Nonetheless, ESMI’s production value is a great treat for any Overwatch fan, looking to enjoy a semi-live OWL event once again, after the cancellations of the 2020 homestands.
THE BIG STANDOUTS
From this tournament, there’s a lot of promise and excitement to be felt about the rosters these four Chinese teams are presenting, some of whom are still under construction, but most of whom are ready to ship at a moment’s notice. The Hunters, Spark, Charge, and Dragons are all looking to improve upon their 2020 seasons, with most of their rosters intact, and with choice additions to give them the extra oomph to avoid another disappointing defeat in the playoffs. There were key rookie and veteran performances all throughout the tournament, and the highlights and moments put on display should give any fan a smile and sense of hype, regardless of the final score. All four teams had someone who was able to keep them alive in the series, or who really proved their worth as the game’s competition has become increasingly higher and more challenging. Here are some of the best players from the tournament, vital figures to look out for on these rosters, and in 2021.
Zou "MYKaylee" Zijie (GZC) – A relative unknown for anyone who doesn’t follow Chinese Contenders, which is a good chunk of the western fanbase, MYKaylee came in out of nowhere to dumpster in Gunaghzou’s match against the Dragons. They didn’t pull out the win, but wow, did MYKaylee keep them in the series with his ludicrous mechanical display. When you go up against Min-seong "diem" Bae and win a good number of times, you’re definitely on to something. MYKaylee could be one of the most promising rookies in APAC, he certainly looks like a preliminary Role Star candidate, and the casters’ excitement certainly speaks volumes to how well he served in this match.
Minho "Architect" Park (HZS) – Ever since he left the San Francisco Shock for the Spark, Architect stonks have been plummeting. He did have his moments of brilliance for sure, but for the most part, not many were high on Architect’s move. But after a quick break, Architect showed his worth in at the ESMI by absolutely dominating on Tracer. It’s easy to forget, but Architect is a top tier player, and his Tracer was unbelievable oppressive. He found the necessary picks time and time again and was able to decimate a team’s focus and frontline by being the ultimate nuisance. Even as an OWL champion, Architect has a lot to prove, and after watching him here, you can’t be anything but hopeful.
Pan-seung "Fate" Koo (SHD) – Fate has big shoes to fill. Reuniting with coach Byung-chul "Moon" Moon, Fate’s move to Shanghai from the Florida Mayhem was a huge and intriguing one. Eui-Seok "Fearless" Lee fulfilled a huge redemption story with the Dragons last season and became one of the best main tanks in the league for it. Now, after a pretty good season with Florida, Fate has to not only be the centrepiece of another dominant season for Shanghai, but he also has to help them win on top of it. Can he bring his play to the highest of calibres? Can he be the bedrock of the Dragon’s season? Well, judging from his play, Fate is proving to be a key figure for the Dragon’s playstyle.
His Wrecking Ball play was absolutely the x-factor in having Shanghai look as dominant as they were, and his other heroes matched the expectations needed for a member of the dragons. If he’s looking this refined in the pre-season, Fate can only go up from here, and truly be that superstar he was always lauded to be.
Qiu "GA9A" Jiaxin (CDH) – Finally, after two years, it seems like the Chengdu Hunters have finally found themselves a main tank that can play at the highest level, and actually play with the rest of the team. A team that had been lacking the stability they needed for so long, a role that Wrecking Ball specialist Ding "Ameng" Menghan had tried his best to cover, is finally being filled with the consistency the Hunters needed. They certainly put up an excellent fight against the Spark, and even though he was sometimes the sacrificial monkey in the team comp, with was GA9A’s Wrecking Ball that truly shone throughout the match. It may not be clear if he can reach the same heights as Ameng on the hero but can certainly bring it to the point where his team needs it to be. Pack in his prowess on the other main tanks, and suddenly Chengdu look like they can actually reach 100% this season.
Check out the Esports Shanghai Masters Invitational if you haven't already. Former Atlanta Reign flex support Dusttin "Dogman" Bowerman, has an insightful companion stream on Twitch for easier viewing if Bilibili is a bit too unfamiliar.
Even if you're not a fan of the four teams, there's nothing like watching Overwatch being played on a stage again and having these wonderful teams pull off exciting moments in a pretty fun meta that's laced with heavy Tracer, Ashe, Sigma, and Wrecking Ball. It's a bit hectic, but nonetheless all the more fun, as Shanghai proves once again that they're the top dog to beat, but that this time, the rest of the teams aren't too far behind.
Images via Shanghai Dragons