The Chengdu Hunters completed their first week of competition in Season 2 of the Overwatch League. With a promising first appearance, it’s up to the Hunters to prove that they have what it takes to reach the season playoffs. Here’s everything that happened in their first week, and what fans can expect from Week 2.
Graphic courtesy of the official Guangzhou Charge twitter account
Despite being the underdogs in this match, the Chengdu Hunters walked onto the stage determined to show the world that they are not to be underestimated. After a rough first map, the Hunters seemed to come alive as they tied the series at halftime. Neither team wanted to lose their first match of the season. After map three, the Guangzhou Charge seemed to have the upper hand. It was only with systematic ultimate usage and ace-level coordination that Chengdu took the fourth and fifth maps.
Elsa performed phenomenally in this matchup. Whether it was picking off priority targets or opening up opportunities for his team, Elsa was a major piece of this team’s recipe for success. His ability to play D.Va at a competitive level while also switching to a phenomenal Sombra pulled his team out of defeat multiple times.
image courtesy of the Overwatch League
The Seoul Dynasty have always been a dangerous team to face off against. Despite missing the playoffs last year, the Dynasty remain fearsome opponents. Having added Chanhyoeng “Fissure” Baek to their roster in the offseason, this team will not be easy to defeat.
If the Chengdu Hunters want to succeed, they’ll need to remain tight and coordinated. Tzu-Heng “Baconjack” Lo and Tianbin “lateyoung” Ma will need to be more consistent than they were last match. Overall, if the Hunters can play like they did in the last map of Week 1 for all of Week 2, they might just come out ahead. However, if these problems aren’t solved, the Hunters could meet their first loss of the season.
The Hunters’ upcoming opponent, Seoul Dynasty, faced off against their previous opponent, Guangzhou Charge, prior to the start of Season 2. The two teams seemed quite evenly matched; in fact, the showdown ended in a draw.
image courtesy of the Overwatch League
The Florida Mayhem appear to be severely under-performing this season. They lost 4-0 in their first match of the season, making them the only team in the league to not win a single map so far. Provided Chengdu plays at the level they did last week, they should have no problem winning this match.
The Mayhem’s highest map differential at the end of a stage is -12. With three less maps per stage, Florida could reach a new record in season 2. That said, they sit at a -4 after only one match.
Tzu-Heng “Baconjack” Lo
photo courtesy of the Overwatch League
Baconjack’s performance in their first game was promising, but inconsistent. His high points were amazing, but his low points were devastating. He will need to improve his consistency this week to secure the wins. Consistent or not, expect some top-notch plays coming from this guy’s POV.
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Featured image courtesy of the Chengdu Hunters.
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