As the 2020 Overwatch League offseason continues, a number of teams continue to make moves. This article is first in a series of recaps that goes over the weekly news, particularly players that have either re-signed with their teams or became free agents.
The Overwatch League offseason continues in full throttle. Image credit: Robert Paul for Activision Blizzard.
Uprising keep five, in talks with two
The
Boston Uprising
Boston Uprising
OWL
Rank #16
Valentine
Kim Byoungju
dps
punk
Leyton Gilchrist
tank
Faith
Hong Gyu Kim
support
Crimzo
William Hernandez
support
revealed that tank player
Fusions
, off-tank
punk
, flex support
Myunb0ng
, DPS
Colourhex
, and assistant coach
Ascoft
will compete with the team for the 2021 season, and are currently in discussions with DPS
Jerry
and tank player
Axxiom
.
The news was revealed in an article by the Uprising detailing their roster building for the 2021 season. Fusions and Punk had their 2021 options exercised, while Myunbong is staying under an existing contract. Colourhex is signing a new contract with the team, although the league’s contract page said that the team has until November 13 to exercise an option.
Fusions will continue with the Uprising for a third season. Image credit: Stewart Volland For Blizzard Entertainment.
Fusions and Colourhex have been with the Uprising since the 2019 season, while Myunbong and Jerry were signed for the 2020 season. Punk was signed in May during the middle of this season. Coach Ascoft will join the team in person after working remotely from France this season
Axxiom has been with the team since the 2019 season, but he only played during the first three weeks of the 2020 season before taking a leave of absence for a medical procedure. The contract page does not have him listed whatsoever.
While the Uprising are in discussions with Jerry, the contract page said that his 2021 option is exercised at the moment.
Fusion part ways with Boombox and ChipSa
The
Philadelphia Fusion
Philadelphia Fusion
OWL
Rank #11
AimGod
Min-seok Kwon
flex support
MN3
Yoon Jae-hee
dps
ZEST
Kim Hyun-woo (김현우)
dps
Belosrea
tank
FiXa
Kwon Young Hoon (권영훈)
support
have parted ways with flex support
Boombox
and DPS
ChipSa
. They’re the first two players to depart from the team this offseason.
Earlier this month, Boombox announced that his contract was expiring and was looking for offers. The contract page said that ChipSa had his 2021 option declined.
Boombox's three year tenure with the Fusion comes to an end. Image credit: Ben Pursell for Blizzard Entertainment.
Boombox’s departure marks the end of a three season tenure with the Fusion that began with their first 2018 roster, and helped the team become the runner-ups of the inaugural season.
ChipSa joined during the 2019 offseason, where he was primarily known as a streamer with some competitive experience. He is also the brother of ChrisTFer, an assistant coach of the Fusion.
Boombox had less play time on flex support this season compared to Rookie of the Year recipient Alarm, while ChipSa played only a single map in one match.
Smex, NoSmite, and Fielder let go from Eternal
The
Paris Eternal
Paris Eternal
OWL
Rank #20
Kaan
Emir Kaan Okumus
flex support
Glister
Lim Gil-seong (임길성)
dps
Wub
Cameron Johnson
dps
Dove
Jesse Palomo
dps
Malthel
Josh Gonzales
dps
Daan
Daniël Vincentius Paulus Scheltema
tank
Krawi
tank
dridro
Arthur Szanto
support
Lukemino
Luke Fish
support
Rakattack
Kyle Rakauskas
support
have let go of tank player
NoSmite
, off-tank
Smex
, and flex support
Fielder
. NoSmite and Smex had their 2021 options declined, while Fielder’s contract was expiring.
NoSmite and Smex were initially signed by the Eternal during the 2019 offseason. NoSmite shared the off-tank role with hanbin throughout the season.
NoSmite played off-tank for the Eternal this season. Image credit: Joshua Roberts for Activision Blizzard.
Smex however did not play any games for the team this season. Earlier this year he was unavailable due to a heart problem that required surgery, and then soon after contracted COVID-19.
Fielder was picked up during this season in May, taking over the flex support role after HyP and Greyy retired. He played from Korea during the season, far away from the Eternal’s residence in New Jersey, and under a ping difference as the team competed in the North American division.
Dynasty re-sign Profit and Gesture duo
The duo of DPS
Profit
and tank player
Gesture
have re-signed with the
Seoul Dynasty
Seoul Dynasty
OWL
Rank #3
Ir1s
Kim Seung-Hyun (김승현)
FITS
Kim Dong-eon (김동언)
dps
Profit
Park Joon-yeong (박준영)
dps
smurf
Yoo Myeong-Hwan
tank
Vindaim
Junwoo Park
support
for the 2021 season.
Profit and Gesture will stay with the Dynasty for the 2021 season. Image provided by the Overwatch League.
Profit and Gesture were traded to the Dynasty in the 2019 offseason by the London Spitfire, who they spent two seasons with and won the 2018 championship. Their partnership continues since their time on GC Busan in 2017.
They and the Dynasty became the runner-ups of the 2020 season, losing to the defending champions, the San Francisco Shock, in the Grand Finals 4-2.
Justice sign Decay for two more years
The Washington Justice have signed DPS Decay to the team through 2022, making his stay long term.
Decay was initially signed in August as a travel-eligible player, where ahead of the 2020 playoffs, the league allowed teams to sign players under multiple circumstances. He was previously released by the Dallas Fuel under his request.
Decay will stay with the Justice for two more years. Image credit: Tyler Demogenes for Activision Blizzard Entertainment.
After his initial signing, the Justice propelled from a second-to-last place finish in the regular season to nearly qualifying for the Grand Finals weekend, losing out to the Philadelphia Fusion in the lower bracket finals of the North American playoffs.
He is the third member of the Justice to stay for two more years. Head coach Sup7eme and general manager PRE also had their contracts extended through 2022.