Originally posted at
https://www.invenglobal.com/overwatch/articles/7852/boston-uprisings-kellex-fusions-just-tells-us-what-to-do-since-he-knows-more-than-any-of-us

The Boston Uprising had a tumultuous start to their season with the impromptu Gamsu trade and the drama around their owner, Robert Kraft. For Kristian “Kellex” Keller and the Boston Uprising, however, they are unfazed by any external distractions.

After the Boston Uprising defeated the Dallas Fuel in the last week of Stage 1, their win propelled them into a playoff spot for the time being. All anxiety aside, Kellex spoke with Inven Global about how they reverse swept the Fuel, Fusions as the main shot caller for the team, and differences between last year and this year for the Uprising.

Continue reading “Boston Uprising’s Kellex: “Fusions just tells us what to do since he knows more than any of us.”” →

Originally posted at
https://www.invenglobal.com/overwatch/articles/7842/chengdu-hunters-baconjack-you-never-know-what-were-going-to-use-so-its-a-surprise-on-every-map

Going into this interview, I had no idea who Lo “Baconjack” Tzu-Heng was other than he used to play PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds. I was not sure if he named himself after a burger from Jack in the Box. Is he an accomplice for the Dallas Fuel?! Is he a secret spy?  I was not sure what to expect. 

When we greeted each other, I immediately became a fan — he was kind, humble, etc. — all the positive words to describe Baconjack’s demeanor. He even knew some English! 

After Chengdu defeated Atlanta in the last week of Stage 1, Baconjack talked to Inven Global about his skills as a DPS player, why he thinks Chengdu has an unorthodox playstyle, and how he learned how to speak English.

Continue reading “Chengdu Hunters’ Baconjack: “You never know what we’re going to use, so it’s a surprise on every map.”” →

Originally posted at
https://www.invenglobal.com/overwatch/articles/7821/tor-neko-we-all-have-to-prove-were-not-the-underdogs

Se-hyeon “Neko” Park came into our interview with a smile on his face after Toronto’s victory against the Chengdu Hunters in Week 4. With this opportunity for a 1-on-1 interview, I was curious about the differences in team dynamic between the Uprising and Defiant. I got more than what I asked for — Neko took the opportunity to come clean about his former team.

In this Inven Global interview with Neko, he also went over what kind of training he does to prepare for each match, how he felt about team synergy with his Defiant teammates, and he had something to say to Chris “HuK” Loranger, President of Gaming for the Boston Uprising.

Continue reading “TOR Neko: “We all have to prove we’re not the underdogs.”” →

Originally posted at
https://www.invenglobal.com/overwatch/articles/7815/dallas-fuel-zachareee-id-say-its-time-to-stop-putting-us-in-the-bottom-of-your-power-rankings

Even though Zachary “ZachaREEE” Lombardo is in his rookie year of the Overwatch League, he is a veteran in the game of Overwatch. His previous experience has helped lead the Dallas Fuel to 5th place in the standings of Stage 1 — a feat that the team was unable to achieve a year ago.

In an awkward situation, the schedule pegged for the Dallas Fuel and Shanghai Dragons to play in back-to-back weeks. In the second meetup in Week 4, the Dallas Fuel fared better, sweeping the Dragons in a 4-0 victory. After the match, ZachaREEE talked to Inven Global about facing the Dragons again, how he adapted to playing for the Dallas Fuel, and the reality of playing for a Contenders team.

Continue reading “Dallas Fuel ZachaREEE: “I’d say it’s time to stop putting us in the bottom of your power rankings.”” →

Originally posted at
https://www.invenglobal.com/overwatch/articles/7814/phl-boombox-we-know-when-we-play-at-our-best-we-can-beat-anyone

What’s one thing fans do not know about Isaac “Boombox” Charles? He was a semi-pro StarCraft II player.

Boombox was a Protoss player in the middle of the Heart of the Swarm expansion. Inspirations were drawn from the likes of Chris “HuK” Loranger, Greg “IdrA” Fields, and Jang “MC” Min Chul to name a few. Before the season, Boombox gave back to the SC2 community by donating to a small StarCraft tournament he participated in.

After the Fusion’s victory against the LA Valiant in Week 4, Boombox spoke with Inven Global about his time playing SC2, what he compares the GOATS meta to a meta in SC2, and how crucial his contributions are to the Fusion this season.

Continue reading “PHL Boombox: “We know when we play at our best, we can beat anyone.”” →

Originally posted at
https://www.invenglobal.com/overwatch/articles/7810/lag-decay-unfortunately-our-team-could-not-make-it-to-the-stage-playoffs-but-next-stage-i-will-make-it-happen

Gui-un “Decay” Jang is the newest member for the Los Angeles Gladiators. He got his first taste in the Overwatch League against the London Spitfire last week; however, did not get the win. Going into Week 4 against the Atlanta Reign, Decay’s teammates want him to get that first taste in victory.

After their win against the Atlanta Reign in Week 4, Decay spoke with Inven Global about fitting in with his team, who helped him communicate in and out of the game, and his biggest fan.

Continue reading “LAG Decay: “Unfortunately, our team could not make it to the stage playoffs. But next stage, I will make it happen.”” →

Originally posted at
https://www.invenglobal.com/articles/7744/houston-outlaws-danteh-hopefully-by-the-time-we-see-tracer-again-ill-be-insane

On the third week of the Overwatch League, Dante “Danteh” Cruz came into the interview all smiles following a one-sided 3-0 shootout against the Florida Mayhem. For this outlaw, his smile meant a lot because their previous match was an 0-4 against NYXL.

In our interview with Danteh, he opened up about how he mentally recovered from the 0-4 against NYXL, how he fit in with his new teammates and predict the Stage 2 meta.

Continue reading “Houston Outlaws’ Danteh: “Hopefully, by the time we see Tracer again, I’ll be insane.”” →

Originally posted at
https://www.invenglobal.com/articles/7733/atlanta-reigns-kodak-i-love-the-fan-interactiondont-be-shy-just-talk-to-me

A picture is worth a thousand words. For Steven “Kodak” Rosenberger, playing in front of thousands of people in the Overwatch League means a lot more. Kodak is an up and coming player for the Atlanta Reign, who is part of the reason why Atlanta is currently in 3rd place. 

The Atlanta Reign support shared a Kodak moment with Inven after Atlanta rained on Paris Eternal’s parade in the 3rd week of Overwatch League.

Continue reading “Atlanta Reign’s Kodak: “I love the fan interaction…don’t be shy, just talk to me.”” →

Originally posted at
https://www.invenglobal.com/overwatch/articles/7714/after-a-year-of-practice-valiant-kariv-gives-a-full-english-interview-dont-give-up-my-friends

Young-seo “KariV” Park and his team at LA Valiant had just lost against the Vancouver Titans, 1-3. It is a rough start to the league for the local team and, like many other professional players, KariV viewed the loss as an opportunity to study his own play an identify a weakness.

And, while his Zarya play may or may not need improving, there is one skill outside of the game that has undeniably improved since last season: his English speaking ability. Normally reliant on Korean translators, when realized none were available to help us chat, we almost scrapped the interviewed. However, KariV was up to the challenge of speaking with us fully in English and, if he was game, then so were we.

When we finished the interview, KariV left happier than when he walked in — a victory in the everyday language battle of a South Korean living in Los Angeles.

Continue reading “After a year of practice, Valiant KariV gives a full English interview: “Don’t give up, my friends”” →

Originally posted at
https://www.invenglobal.com/articles/7715/shd-diem-as-soon-as-we-got-that-first-win-the-pressure-and-stress-surrounding-it-was-gone

When we asked for an interview with Min-seong “diem” Bae, we knew it would be unlike all of our Shanghai Dragons Inaugural season coverage. For starters, virtually the entire team been replaced with new players, but other things have changed as well. Ever since the infamous breaking of a 42 game losing streak, the energy surrounding Dragons is noticeably different.

Gone is the franchise’s lingering hopefulness masking utter frustration and exhaustion. Now, players like Diem excitedly shake our hands, eager to talk about his team, his performance, and life as a Shanghai Dragon.

Continue reading “SHD Diem: “As soon as we got that first win, the pressure and stress surrounding it was gone “” →