Originally posted at
https://www.invenglobal.com/articles/7698/nyxl-jjonak-to-the-other-teams%C2%A0-you-can-try-whatever-you-want-well-be-better-at-the-end-of-the-day

On the second week of the Overwatch League, Sung-hyeon “JJoNak” Bang had come off a 4-0 sweep against the Houston Outlaws. Upon entering the interview after his win, the aura of confidence surrounding JJoNak was apparent, and for good reason — NYXL now sits at a match score 4-0 in sole possesion of first place in the Overwatch League. 

New York Excelsior is one of two undefeated teams so far this season, but JJoNak knows that he needs to stay hungry, and overcome the drawbacks that barred NYXL from a championship in its first season.  I interviewed JJoNak about NYXL’s biggest obstacle this year, how NYXL has been able to consistently stay on top, and his opinion on Guangzhou Charge DPS Kim “Shu” Jin-seo.

Continue reading “NYXL Jjonak: “To the other teams — you can try whatever you want, we’ll be better at the end of the day.”” →

Originally posted at
https://www.invenglobal.com/articles/7691/seoul-dynasty-fissure-my-mission-is-to-have-no-regrets-when-the-season-is-over

At the end of last season, Chan-hyung “Fissure” Baek was the center of controversy. He helped the Los Angeles Gladiators push towards a playoff run, only to not represent the Gladiators in the season
playoffs. In effect, the Gladiators were eliminated by the London Spitfire in the quarterfinals.

Seoul Dynasty was expected to make at least one of the stage playoffs last season, due to their history as Lunatic-Hai in South Korea. However, they could not make any stage playoffs last season whatsoever. In an attempt to redeem last season’s shortcomings, the Seoul Dynasty signed Fissure during the offseason. With a high-caliber tank player in Fissure, the Seoul Dynasty are looking to make a run towards stage playoffs and beyond.

After Fissure and Seoul Dynasty defeated Chengdu Hunters in Week 2 of the Overwatch League, Fissure spoke with Inven Global about his offseason, what Fissure is bringing to the Dynasty this year, and has a message to the rest of the teams in the league.

Continue reading “Seoul Dynasty Fissure: “My mission is to have no regrets when the season is over.”” →

Originally posted at
https://www.invenglobal.com/articles/7680/shd-dding-our-goal-is-stage-playoffs-i-know-its-a-tall-order-to-win-every-game-but-i-think-its-possible

The Shanghai Dragons have had a historic presence in the Overwatch League so far,  and not in a good sense. Last season, the Dragons went through trials and tribulations with their original roster, failing to win a single game. Coming into this season, the only player who remains from the original roster is Weida “Diya” Lu. 

The other players who stuck with the Dragons from last season are Se-yeon “Geguri” Kim and Eui-Seok “Fearless” Lee. Otherwise, the roster was revamped with players from Contenders Korea.
One of those players who was added this season was Jin-hyeok “DDing” Yang. During their match against the Boston Uprising, DDing played exceptionally well, especially using Sombra. DDing’s Sombra plays aided the Dragons to a 3-1 victory over the Boston Uprising.

After Shanghai Dragons’ historic victory, DDing spoke with Inven Global about how it felt to get the first win in the Overwatch League, who he thinks is the most positive teammate, and how Youn-jin “Gamsu” Noh has changed the team’s environment.

Continue reading “SHD DDing: “Our goal is stage playoffs. I know it’s a tall order to win every game, but I think it’s possible.”” →

Originally posted at
https://www.invenglobal.com/articles/7673/nyxl-libero-the-skill-differential-between-all-the-teams-has-been-getting-smaller

The New York Excelsior is undoubtedly the most dominant team in the Overwatch League since its inception. Last season, they excelled for most of the year until Stage, but towards the end of the year, started to get exposed. Teams were finally figuring NYXL out, but they still managed to make it to the Stage 4 Finals before losing its throne to the Los Angeles Valiant. 

In the season playoffs, NYXL was the favorite going into their match against the Philadelphia Fusion. Like the Stage 4 finals, they came up short again and could not qualify for the grand finals in New York.

Their hunger to win has grown since then, learning from their mistakes last season. The NYXL is off to a hot start this season, albeit beating the Boston Uprising and Washington Justice. Their first test this season was against the team who beat them in the Stage 4 finals, the LA Valiant.

NYXL came away victorious in a close match. After their victory, NYXL’s DPS player Hae-seong”Libero” Kim talked to Inven Global about the meta, why they are dominant in the Overwatch League, and what challenges they would face moving forward.

Continue reading “NYXL Libero: “The skill differential between all the teams has been getting smaller.”” →

Originally posted at
https://www.invenglobal.com/articles/7647/guangzhou-charges-shu-jjonak-from-the-nyxl-is-someone-i-want-to-test-my-skills-against

The expansion teams of this season’s Overwatch League has impressed fans and analysts alike — even Washington looked good in their loss against the Spitfire. Nevertheless, six of those expansion teams currently sit in the top 8 of the standings.

One of those teams, Guangzhou Charge, was underrated among analysts. However, in their games thus far, they have looked serviceable. A big contributor is the main support, Jin-seo “Shu” Kim. Though the Charge only had two games, Shu impressed a lot of fans for his fantastic Ana and Zenyatta play.

After the Charge’s victory against the Dallas Fuel, Shu spoke with Inven Global about what game helped him become an Overwatch pro, who was his biggest influence in being a pro, and who he wants to face in the Overwatch League.

Continue reading “Guangzhou Charge’s Shu: “Jjonak from the NYXL is someone I want to test my skills against.”” →

Originally posted at
https://www.invenglobal.com/articles/7615/la-gladiators-shaz-on-the-strongest-expansion-teams-symmetra-strats-and-4-dps-comps

The Los Angeles Gladiators finished in 4th place last season. In the playoffs, they were defeated by the eventual champions, London Spitfire, in the quarterfinals. To fill any holes in their game, they added Gui-un “Decay” Jang and Chang-hoon “rOar” Gye from Kongdoo Panthera. The Gladiators also added Riku “Ripa” Toivanen from Team Gigantti, who played with one of the best support lines last season.

One of those supports, Jonas “Shaz” Suovaara, spoke to Inven Global about his takeaways from the World Cup, how the meta will evolve, and what expansion team he thinks look the strongest.

Continue reading “LA Gladiators Shaz on the strongest expansion teams, Symmetra strats, and 4 DPS comps” →

Originally posted at
https://www.invenglobal.com/articles/7614/dallas-fuel-oge-i-was-so-nervousi-couldnt-listen-or-talk-i-just-kept-dying

The Dallas Fuel had an underwhelming inaugural season last year until Stage 4, where the team started to flourish. The Fuel was starting to show signs of dominance since the APEX days as Team EnVyUs. 

The Fuel started the new season of the Overwatch League to another underwhelming start. Against the San Francisco Shock, they were swept in four games. After that game, many people believed that the Fuel would mimic last season’s performance. When they played their second game of the week against the Seoul Dynasty, they upset the Dynasty beating them 3 games to 1. 

One of the players who broke out for the Fuel was main tank, Min-seok “OGE” Son, who stopped by to chat after the Fuel’s victory against the Seoul Dynasty.

Continue reading “Dallas Fuel OGE: ” I was so nervous…I couldn’t listen or talk, I just kept dying.”” →

Originally posted at
https://www.invenglobal.com/articles/7593/bos-alemao-i-feel-a-lot-of-pressure-since-im-the-only-brazilian-here

This week was the season premiere of the Overwatch League. A slew of new players are inducted to the league ranging from Contenders to the World Cup. One of those players had a great run in Contenders South America and participated in the World Cup for Team Brazil.

His previous performances impressed those within the Boston Uprising and this year, he is set to prove he belongs in the Overwatch League.

After the Uprising’s victory against the Outlaws in Week 1, Renan “alemao” Moretto spoke with Inven to discuss about being promoted to an Overwatch League team and what it means to be the sole Brazilian in the league.

Continue reading “BOS alemao: ” I feel a lot of pressure since I’m the only Brazilian here.”” →

Originally posted at
https://www.invenglobal.com/articles/7581/tor-envy-i-know-we-are-being-underestimated-by-a-lot-of-the-analysts-out-there-and-the-community

Kang-jae “envy” Lee, tank for the Toronto Defiant, had a rollercoaster ride up to the start of Season 2. He was involved in the inaugural season of the Overwatch League with the Los Angeles Valiant. Many people considered envy and Pan-seung “Fate” Koo as the one-two punch of the Valiant lineup.

After Stage 2, envy’s world turned upside down.

Continue reading “TOR envy: “I know we are being underestimated by a lot of the analysts out there and the community.”” →

Originally posted at
https://www.invenglobal.com/articles/7572/shd-gamsu-on-his-new-team-it-was-unexpected-and-very-sudden-it-was-not-entirely-due-to-my-own-decision

The new season of the Overwatch League is underway. Expectations of the Goats meta is in full effect, the new expansion teams are performing on par with the rest of the teams, and Shanghai has not found their first win yet. 

On the other hand, expect the unexpected. For one, Young-jin “Gamsu” Noh, tank for the Shanghai Dragons, had an unexpected turn of events days before the start of the season. His former team, Boston Uprising, announced they transferred Gamsu to the Shanghai Dragons.

Continue reading “SHD Gamsu on his new team: “It was unexpected and very sudden. It was not entirely due to my own decision…”” →