Who are some of the best Overwatch players to watch and learn fromin the world?
The Overwatch League might be closed to the public due to the international quarantine, but that doesn’t mean the events, and especially the all-star players can’t still be enjoyed! Listed below are some of the best players in their respective roles, listed in no particular order. Watching professional grandmasters utilize heroes to the full extent of their capabilities, is a great way to improve, and learn each hero’s nuanced kit. All Overwatch League teams listed below are also highly recommended to watch and follow during the OWL’s third running season, in 2020.
Support
JJoNak
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Blizzard Entertainment
Bang “JJoNak” Sung-hyeon, is from Seoul, South Korea, and has played for the New York Excelsior since the inception of the Overwatch League, earning MVP that same year. He quickly made a name for himself as an aggressive Zenyatta player, prioritizing damage and long-range, enemy movement prediction. Along with Saebyeolbe, and Pine, JJoNak has made himself a staple on the NYX, and proves that roles are not representative of skill.
Received more than twice as many votes for MVP in 2018 than Fissure, who got 2nd
Also received MVP in the Overwatch World Cup 2018
Achievements
Overwatch League Inaugural Season Finals - Winner - $300,000
Overwatch World Cup 2018 - Winner - $16,000
Overwatch League 2019 Playoffs - 3rd place - $450,000
Minki “Viol2t” Park, is a South Korean support, for the San Franscisco Shock. In his first season with them in 2019, Viol2t main-healed during the Grand Finals, in which they beat the Vancouver Titans 4/0. His tactical Baptiste plays are some of the most recognizable in the league right now, and his active healing speaks for itself with such aggressive tanks.
Won the 2019 OWL All-Star Arcade
Previously a member of 02 Blast, and 02 Ardeont
Achievements
Surge 2017 - 2nd Place - $874
Overwatch League 2019 Stage 2 Playoffs - Winner - $200,000
Overwatch League 2019 Playoffs - Winner - $1,100,000
Jehong “ryujehong” Ryu, is a main-Support from South Korea, that currently plays for the Vancouver Titans. Playing Overwatch professionally before the Overwatch League, and competitive shooters long before that, ryujehong has been credited as being a role model by many top-tier players. He has been recognized as one of the best Ana players in the league, and one of the better snipers in competitive esports.
Won the first Overwatch World Cup
Got into professional gaming by playing for several South Korean, Counter-Strike teams
Achievements
Overwatch World Cup 2016 - Winner - $18,000
Overwatch APEX Seasons 2 and 3 - Winner -$89,910/$92,707
Xu “Guxue” Qiulin, is a main-tank from China, that currently plays for the Hangzhou Spark, after their formation in 2018. Now recognized as a revolutionary Winston player, Guxue wasn’t noticed until the 2018 Overwatch World Cup, where he earned second place for Team China. Now, his Winston’s Primal Rages are critiqued as some of the best timed and positioned, aggressive, tank plays at the professional level.
Played with LGD Gaming until he was picked up by the Spark
Guxue, translates to Lonely Snow
Achievements
Overwatch World Cup 2018 - 2nd Place - $16,000
Overwatch World Cup 2019 - 2nd Place - $10,000
Overwatch League 2019 Playoffs - 4th Place - $350,000
Jae-hee “Gesture” is a South Korean, main-tank player, currently representing the Seoul Dynasty. Like Guxue, Gesture has adopted a unique, defensive playstyle which isolates enemies, and gives him survivability in a heavily focused position. After leaving the London Spitfire, with his teammate, Profit, he is very likely to shine bright on the Dynasty, possibly bringing them closer to a Grand Final, than ever before!
Gesture used to play professional League of Legends under the user Corn
Won both Overwatch Apex Season 4, and APAC Premier in 2017 before coming to the London Spitfire in 2018
Achievements
Overwatch APEX Season 4 - Winner - $91,937
APAC Premier 2017 - Winner - $105,693
Overwatch League Inaugural Season Playoffs - Winner - $1,000,00
Pan-seung “Fate” Koo, is from South Korea, and plays main-tank for the Florida Mayhem. However, Fate gained his fame playing for the Los Angeles Valiant, having signed with them back during the inception of the league. His leading Reinhardt and Orisa plays have been cited as textbook examples of premium barrier placement, and team positioning.
Was traded to the Florida Mayhem in exchange for three players
Sometimes his name appears as FaTe
Achievements
Overwatch League Inaugural Season - 2nd Place - $200,000
Overwatch League Inaugural Season Playoffs - 3-4th place - $100,000
Joon-yeong “Profit” Park, is a South Korean DPS that currently plays for the Seoul Dynasty. His ability to flex, damage roles is what first gained him notoriety during his time with the London Spitfire, during the 2018, and 2019 Overwatch League seasons. His Tracer plays have become known as some of the most lethal and technical in the esport.
Won the Inaugural Season Grand Finals as well as MVP for the event
The Esports organization Could 9, owns the London Spitfire, and originally signed Profit
Achievements
Overwatch APEX Season 4 - Winner - $91,337
Overwatch League Inaugural Season Playoffs - Winner - $1,000,000
Overwatch League 2019 Playoffs - 7-8th Place - $200,000
Hyojong “Haksal” Kim, is a Korean DPS, who has played for the Vancouver Titans, since the founding of the team in 2018. He then received the first-ever “Rookie of the Year” award to commemorate his performance in the 2019 Overwatch League Grand Finals, where the Titans lost to the San Fransisco Shock 0/4. Haksal’s aggressive, frontline Genji plays were quickly recognized as instrumental in his team’s victories, as well as how they contrasted to prior, more patient Genji’s, which had previously ruled the meta.
Haksal, translates to Massacre
Set a new OWL record in 2019 for most Dragonblade kills per 10 minutes
Achievements
Overwatch League 2019 Stage 1 Playoffs - Winner - $200,000
Overwatch League 2019 Playoffs - 2nd Place - $600,000
(Image from Carpe’s official twitter, https://twitter.com/carpe_ow)
Jae-hyeok “Carpe” Lee, is a DPS specializing in hitscan, for the Philadelphia Fusion. Carpe has been one of the most consistent, and admired Widowmaker’s since the Overwatch League’s inaugural season, earning the Fusion second place during the first Grand Finals.
Carpe is friends with Diem, a DPS for the Shanghai Dragons, completing the famous Latin phrase, which was popularized by the Robin Williams film “Dead Poets Society”
Carpe has also competed and placed in professional speed skating events
Achievements
Overwatch League Inaugural Season Playoffs - 2nd Place - $400,000
Jay “Sinatraa” Won, is an American DPS, who has played for the San Fransisco Shock since 2018. Sinatraa was voted MVP after his incredible performance with Zarya, a tank hero, during the 2019 Grand Finals. He has revolutionized the understanding of a flex Damage player, proving that positioning and map awareness are much more beneficial than the hero being played. His performance during the 2019 Overwatch World Cup, also earned the US their first victory over the Asian dominated competition, South Korea, having taken the title the past three consecutive years.
Sinatraa finished #1 in NA Competitive play during seasons 3 and 8
Appeared on The Tonight Show with Super, after winning the 2019 Grand Finals
Achievements
Overwatch World Cup 2018 - 5-8th Place - $16,000
Overwatch League 2019 Playoffs - Winner - $1,100,00
