The London Spitfire Summer Showdown run will live or die by how this weekend goes. The season as a whole has been a rough one. At times even downright bleak. Yet hope is visible in the English skies once more. In the two games the Spitfire have played in the Summer Showdown they looked alive and ready to fight. Showing more tenacity and drive than has been present in almost any of their previous outings. The arrival of Sparkr to the main team has given them a serious shot of adrenaline. In particular, against the defending champion San Francisco Shock they were on the precipice of glory. Just one map away from their first win of 2021.
Their schedule does not get any easier from here on out, yet with their revitalized lineup and coaching staff, they appear more ready than ever to taste victory. All that being said the schedule for the final week of Summer Showdown qualifiers is almost cruel. Facing a surging Atlanta Reign and a strong Washington Justice. Two teams each looking to finally punch their way into a championship. The lads will have to evolve once more if they want to take flight this time. The London Spitfire Summer Showdown, their final chance at glory, will begin in the flames.
Courtesy of the Atlanta Reign.
After a stellar performance in the June Joust, the Reign are looking to book their tickets to Hawaii once more. As it stands they are 1-1 in the Summer Showdown, so their getting victories in this weekend is crucial. Drop even one and their road to Hawaii gets all the more difficult. Their two previous games show that they are still a force to be reckoned with. Absolutely dominating the Washington Justice and taking the ever deadly Dallas Fuel to five maps in an incredibly close series shows they are here to play. They are playing at a top-tier level across the board, with a special shoutout to their tank line. They faced much skepticism enter the season, yet Gator and Hawk have been outstanding so far. Alongside their top-tier DPS and impressive supports, the Spitfire will definitely have their hands full.
Objectively speaking this game could be the Spitfire’s biggest challenge. Their recent uptick in performance could lead to a more competitive game than most will expect. At times the team looked their best when they were able to utilize a DPS line of Shax/Sparkr. Playing an impressive combination of heroes which enabled Shax to run wild as Tracer while Sparkr shot them from a distance. The Reign is a team however who, if they choose, could match this style of play. So the Spitfire will need to be able better adapt on the fly if they wish to win this game. This will be a true test for the rising squad, yet even if they make it competitive, the scoreline may not reflect it. The Reign simply looks to be reaching its full potential.
Courtesy of the Washington Justice.
The Justice in 2021 has been a somewhat puzzling team. Coming into the year they were touted as the next superteam. How could they not be? With a lineup of legendary veterans such as Decay and Fury alongside immensely exciting prospects like Mag and Assassin. Yet even with all their resources and talent, they have had trouble at times bringing it all together. Not to say it’s been the worst year, yet a feeling of being underwhelmed has crept into the communities minds. When it all clicks for them though they have shown to be a strong team who can compete with the best. It is unclear which team though will show up on the day. Their Summer Showdown hasn’t been particularly impressive so they will need to not underestimate the surging Spitfire to avoid entering the league’s history books as a winless team first win.
For the Spitfire, it may be hard to believe when comparing rosters, but this is their best chance at a win this weekend. The Justice is very mortal. If Decay is unable to hard carry then the team seems to struggle, despite the best efforts of some individuals. They need to control the pace and flow of the game. Do not give them the chance to put them on the backfoot. The team works best when they can engage with controlled aggression with their excellent DPS given the space to perform. If they can continue their momentum from their close loss to the Shock they may be able to achieve the upset. Until they get a win however they are the perennial underdog. A close game is completely within the realm of possibility, yet getting themselves over the line is the real task.
This weekend will be a true test for the lads. They have struggled all year long but finally, have looked more competitive than ever. A win this weekend isn’t impossible, the London Spitfire Summer Showdown isn’t done yet. Keep the faith Squadron, blue skies may be on the horizon.
Follow Ethan on Twitter @EthanButler for all your London Spitfire, Overwatch League, and Esports needs.
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