The Seoul Dynasty (1-1)

The Seoul Dynasty always have a way of playing with their fans hearts. With mid-to-high expectations walking into the season, questions were raised around them. From star pickups getting their Overwatch League debut this week in Min-hyuk “Michelle” Choi and Seung-soo “Jecse” Lee and their Seoul Dynasty debut, standout main tank from season one, Chan-hyung “Fissure” Baek. Seoul have never looked more fierce, but how would they fair in battle?

The Seoul Dynasty, however, had an interesting Week 1 of the Overwatch League’s second season. They looked dominant with a victory of the Gladiators on day one and then didn’t with a devastating loss to the Fuel on the fourth day of the first week. Seoul look to improve on what their strengths were to turn things around in their second week.

Week 1 Recap

The LA Gladiators (1-1)

2019-02-14 Photo Courtesy of Robert Paul for Blizzard Entertainment

In the opening day of the second season, The Dynasty took down the Gladiators 3-1. Losing on control only, Seoul prevailed through the last three maps of their set. A dominant showing of flexibility from Min-hyuk “Michelle” Choi on D.va and Sombra on Kings row which really helped Seoul put on a blistering attack. The Dynasty would halt the Gladiators just before the second capture point.

From their defense on Kings Row to Horizon Lunar Colony fans saw a well composed triple tank, triple support composition from Seoul. A full hold on the assault map would lead into the escort map, Route 66. Through all four rounds of this map, Seoul looked most composed. From disengages to rotations in the fight, Seoul were able to capitalize on a clutch self destruct from Michelle followed by a game winning earth shatter from Fissure that would yield a series victory.

Chan-hyung “Fissure” Baek Image Courtesy of the Overwatch League

Player of the match: Chan-hyung “Fissure” Baek

Fissure looked dominant on Reinhardt as this series progressed. Their aggressive style meshes well with the discord orbs and biotic grenades from Ryujehong. Fissure not only made space against the Gladiators, he took it.

With a smile on his face during the post game interview, Fissure says there’s “Nobody else” that is a better main tank than they.

The Dallas Fuel (1-1)

2019-02-17 / Photo courtesy of Robert Paul for Blizzard Entertainment

The Seoul Dynasty struggle against an oppressive Sombra player. Dylan “aKm” Bignet came to play, wreaking havoc. Hacking front line members such as Reinhardt and D.va, Effect was able to lay down a stage winning graviton surge.The second control stage Seoul Dynasty would take as star support, Ryujehong, slept 6 members of the Fuel. The last stage of control would have aKm answering back taking away Seoul’s Sound Barrier with an EMP to win the map and go up a map in the series.

Seoul and Dallas would go back and forth trading EMPs on Kings Row. Earthshatters and Graviton Surges thrown down, both teams captured all three points and headed into overtime. During Seoul’s second attack, Dallas would set up shop early with aKm controlling Seoul’s front line with a high charged Zarya. Seoul gained no progress on the capture point. With one tick needed to win the map, aKm would show off his hit scan background with an amazing opening on Widowmaker. Three head-shots in sequence, would lead Dallas to victory.

Seoul were able to take the assault map, Volskaya, but were not be able to get past The Dallas Fuel on Rialto, getting halted just before the first capture point. Seoul couldn’t get past aKm. It was the same advantage on Dallas’s attack that lead them to victory.  Giving up ultimates and hero composition to stall the point, OGE answered in kind with a match ending earth shatter to take the series 3-1 over Seoul.

aKm Player of the Match as Zarya

Player of the match: Dylan “aKm” Bignet

Three out of the four maps, the Fuel played aKm. Through a diverse hero pool, they dominated the battles. From multiple enemies being hacked via EMP, composed bubble management on Zarya with main tank, OGE, to three widow eliminations on Kings Row.

This was aKm’s best performance in the Overwatch League so far as Dallas utilize his hero pool to full effect in their compositions.

Week 2 Preview

The Chengdu Hunters: 1-0 (2/21)

Graphic courtesy of the Chengdu Hunters

The Chengdu Hunters had an impressive comeback in a reverse sweep against The Guangzhou Charge in their debut match of the Overwatch League. The Hunters represented Chinese Overwatch well with versatile compositions. There was a lot of Wrecking Ball out of Chengdu’s main tank, Ding “Ameng” Menghan and Widowmaker from Lo “Baconjack” Tzu-Heng.

Ma “LateYoung” Tianbin Image Courtesy of the Overwatch League

Ma “LateYoung” Tianbin brings more than just a stellar Roadhog to the party. One can feel their energy irradiating from the stage, even on stream. Driving communication and through explosive play, gives the Hunters life when a fight seems lost. Chinese Overwatch is represented well by the aggression LateYoung lays down on to front line of Chengdu with Main tank Ding “Ameng” Menghan.

Seoul will have to disengage timely while picking their fights and opportunities accordingly. This was seen in their first match versus the Gladiators. Seoul will also need to be prepared for the hyper aggression of the Hunters and overcome composition differences to win.

Prediction: Seoul wins 3-2

Player to Watch

Min-hyuk “Michelle” Choi Image Courtesy of the Overwatch League

Min-hyuk “Michelle” Choi

Michelle being added onto this roster meant more than just a reliable off tank. It means flexibility for Seoul. They’re Pharah and even more impressive, Sombra, will be a key to success for Seoul going foward.

As a team, they looked best on hybrid and assault. These map variants, along with a few stages from control and escort are where DPS and flexibility can be brought out. Allowing Michelle to shine on Sombra is where The Dynasty find most success and will throughout this first stage.

Stay Connected

All Player Images Courtesy of the Overwatch League

Follow me on Twitter @PkMnPandA for more sports & esports updates.

You can “Like” The Game Haus on Facebook and “Follow” us on twitter for more esports great esports coverage

“From Our Haus to Yours”