The Shoulda, Woulda, Coulda Of OWL 2020
The third season of the Overwatch League is just about to reach its penultimate weekend. Shanghai, Seoul, San Francisco, and Philadelphia, these final four teams are the only remaining challengers in the running for the most prestigious crown in Overwatch esports. In retrospect, 2020 has been the closest season competitively so far in the Overwatch League’s history. At any point, it seemed as though multiple prospects could have potentially fought their way to represent their regions internationally at the season’s end.
Yet, for a select few teams, regardless of how brightly they shined, those dreams of glory weren’t going to be fulfilled this year. Squads and rosters who were once hopefully donned with insurmountable potential and viewed with limitless favour were to be cast-off to the unforgiving waves of history. Their legacies only to be remembered with a passing glance, as tales of better, worthier champions clasped the attention and hearts of fans across the globe. They fought hard, they played hard, and for a moment, seemed as though they could have certainly been a rival contender to have a shot at the ultimate honour. But when it came down to the wire it simply wasn’t enough, unfortunate ends to such promising seasons.
However, with all that effort, it would be remiss not to recall those valorous endeavours, the incredible narratives and stories crafted by those select few special teams. Let this serve as a final funeral march for the three teams who stood up to the world, defied the odds and snatched our attention, and who would’ve, could’ve, and should’ve, made the Overwatch League Grand Finals weekend.
Click to enlargeA Parisian Honeymoon
The Paris Eternal gave Overwatch fans across the world the vacation they were unafforded to in 2020 with their Summer Showdown run in late June and early July. What started as an inconspicuous bracket traversal through considerably easier teams like the Dallas Fuel and Vancouver Titans, turned into a legendary journey that saw the Eternal slice through the two best teams in North America in their region, and in turn, created the two of the best matches in Overwatch history.
Paris's performance in the Summer Showdown was a breath of fresh air and a complete delivery of the highest of expectations for the Eternal. In a Genji-dominated meta, everyone was looking to the debut of Overwatch prodigal child Yeong-han "SP9RK1E" Kim to live up to the hype, to which he and the rest of his squad absolutely revelled in giving. It was arguably this tournament performance alone that gave Sp9rk1e the argument to be considered a role star, but it was the entirety of the Eternal that put-on career-defining performances, leaving them to be revered for months to come. When looking back at the Summer Showdown, it was Overwatch at its heart-pounding best, and the Paris Eternal were the sushi-chef-shepherds of that wondrous experience.
With that win and title, the Paris Eternal were one of the Overwatch League's darlings. A team composed half of rookies, half of once disregarded and forgotten veterans, under the tutelage of a legendary Contenders coach, who suddenly became a team that could not only contend with the best but defeat them. Even if they came up short to Philadelphia in the following Countdown Cup, many believed Paris were still entirely capable of securing that final two spot.
However, their season would meet a tragic and unfortunate end in the playoffs. Simply being unable to adapt to the new meta, they failed to grasp the proper playstyle that would suit their players and floundered to the Atlanta Reign in a close-but-no-cigar match. Ultimately Paris, like many other teams, fell to the Washington Justice's butcher shop playoff run, a heartbreaker of a series for anyone who expected to see that Parisian magic come to life once again for a potential trip to the grand finals. Like a honeymoon in Paris, eventually, that vacation ends, and you have to board the plane back to reality where a soul-crushing end waited for a team that would've been an exciting challenger for the ultimate title.
Click to enlargeCharging Forward
Across the ocean, for the majority of the season, the Shanghai Dragons reigned supreme in the APAC region. Dominant, powerful, and seemingly meta-proof, Shanghai looked to be uncontested for a strong majority of the season. Especially early on, with their reverse sweep against the Seoul Dynasty in the finals of the May Melee, Shanghai seemed like they could outlast any competitor. That was until the Summer Showdown rolled around, and like the Paris Eternal in North America, the sudden Genji dominated meta gave Ou "Eileen" Yiliang and the Guangzhou Charge the keys to unlock a team's highest potential.
Guangzhou had a rocky season, to say the least. Much like their 2019 season, Guangzhou's was plagued with inconsistency and uncertainty early on, but it was that level up in the Summer Showdown that showcased their true power and ability. Their players were highly regarded of course, but their tournament victory and performances solidified them as some of the best, earning MVP nominations for Eileen, and for his Sigma play, Ki-cheol "Cr0ng" Nam. Guangzhou was built with some of the best players multiple regions had to offer and for a team who had bested the top-dog in the Overwatch League.
However, for some reason, the Guangzhou Charge simply ran out of juice, and by the season's end, were suddenly nowhere to be found. They stepped out early to the New York Excelsior in the Quarterfinals of the Countdown Cup and were absolutely eviscerated in post-season playoffs, not even being able to take a single map. One second, Guangzhou had performances worthy of MVP nominations and Role Star adoration, the next, they're bowing out of the season with no wins to their name in the following two tournaments. A sweep from the hog-crazed Seoul Dynasty and a sweep from the hog-less NYXL, and the Charge's once-promising season was abruptly over and done with. It was disappointing, to say the least, for a team who served excitement and high-quality Overwatch on a silver platter, and whose immense pool of talent should've given them the edge to make to one of the final spots in APAC.
Click to enlargeA Summer's Drive in Vice City
The Florida Mayhem had one ultimate goal this year, to win more than seven matches, their most in franchise history. Luckily for them and for viewers of the league, they finished with seventeen, ending their regular season fourteen places higher than where they ended up in 2019. The Mayhem's franchise turn around in 2020 is one for the history books. From literal meme and laughingstock in their first two seasons to tournament finalist and home of an MVP candidate, Florida was not only suddenly a good team, but they were one who brought it to the best in freakishly energetic fashion.
Their breakout performance in the May Melee was what really caught the attention of the Overwatch world and put their star player, Jun-ki "Yaki" Kim on the map. His wicked, whiz-kid playstyle, fearless Tracer play, and almost careless attitude to the game made him a surefire star in the making and laid the foundation for his inclusion as a potential nominee for the MVP award.
Of course, the rest of the Mayhem were no slouches in any regard, with Nam-jin "Gangnamjin" Kang making a stellar debut, and Beom-jun "Gargoyle" Lee having a career re-energising performance, the Mayhem were suddenly one of the scariest teams in the league. Not only could they take down the bottom teams easily, for the first time in their history, but they could best the mid-table teams like the Atlanta Reign, defeat top threats like the Philadelphia Fusion, and have close games against a powerhouse like the Shock. Florida were no longer one of the most forgettable teams in the league; they were suddenly a threat and an obstacle to anyone who wanted a chance at the top.
While that potential to be one of the best teams in the league was strong in the beginning, it certainly drifted away by the end of the year. Florida certainly didn't fizzle out or become a non-factor, it just became a matter of could they reach the same heights they were expected to. If their loss to the Houston Outlaws in the early rounds of the Summer Showdown were any indication, Florida's biggest hurdle was simply always themselves and whether or not they had the drive to reach that upper echelon of the league once again. They remained a top competitor throughout the regular season, and in the playoffs, pulled off a decent run after falling in a close five map series to the Los Angeles Valiant in the upper bracket.
Yet, their final match against the Washington Justice was more a peaceful gentle going into that good night than anything else, and the Mayhem finished their season satisfied that they exceeded any and all expectations placed for them at the beginning of the season. They had accomplished their goals, they had proven their worth, and facing off against the D.C Butcher Shop, their time had come, and they exited with grace as one of the team's who didn't but could've made the final spots in the Grand Finals.
Click to enlargeHopefully, as time goes on, the stories and legacies of these teams live on, and they’re remembered and revered for their excitement and essentialness to the overall narrative of OWL 2020. For a time period that was wrought with uncertainty, delays, and misgivings, theses teams provided the passionate and breathtaking entertainment needed in any sport and were truly some of the best competitors in this tumultuous season. As the final few matches roll around this weekend, let’s all give thanks to these teams who could’ve certainly been capable of completely changing the dynamic and feel of Grand Finals weekend.
Images via Blizzard Entertainment
