Followers and gamers alike anticipated the Atlanta Reign to start out off robust within the 2023 Overwatch League playoffs, however as a substitute, they confronted two of the perfect DPS gamers on this planet and crumbled to lose their first LAN match all season.
The Hangzhou Spark reverse swept the Atlanta Reign 3-2 right this moment within the first match of the playoffs, sending them into an elimination match a lot sooner than many anticipated. The Atlanta Reign have been the Goliath of OWL in 2023, from their energy on paper to their performances each regionally and internationally. However each groups needed to modify to a brand new meta, and it was the Spark with higher mid-match variations that gained the sequence and received out forward in Toronto.
Heading into this sequence, regardless of their expertise, no one anticipated the Spark to defeat the Reign. Atlanta gained the Midseason Insanity in 2023 with out dropping a sequence, sweeping Hangzhou in that run. This time for the Spark, jet lag wasn’t even the largest drawback they confronted, as they have been solely in a position to scrim in opposition to one NA workforce earlier than their playoffs match in opposition to the Reign.
The Spark fought completely on their understanding of the newest patch from Sept. 7, and it didn’t begin off nice. They saved map one shut, although map two slipped by means of their fingers. Regardless of happening 2-0, they saved the temper up and believed within the comeback.
“I feel in map one, the Management map, we fought them actually shut, 99 to 99,” Guxue stated to the media in a post-match press convention. “Map two, we took 4 minutes simply to get the primary goal, which is why we didn’t get it. We didn’t do too nicely the primary two maps, however we made some changes, and we simply have been in a position to defeat them.”
These changes got here in three waves, first with the tank position. Regardless of varied adjustments that gave the tank participant a harder time on Winston, Guxue managed to adapt, primarily with swaps to Doomfist when he was getting targeted an excessive amount of.
“I feel on this meta, Winston isn’t the last word alternative for comps, as a result of he can’t take as a lot injury,” Guxue stated. “As a substitute, we use Doomfist because of his higher probability of survival, and I’m equally assured on each heroes.”
The opposite two changes got here from the DPS gamers, Depart and Shy. Spark started the sequence working Sombra, however they tailored to Tracer and Sojourn because the third map started. This gave the Spark flexibility for his or her Ana final, in a position to give it to Shy for his Sojourn or for Guxue to remain alive and dive.
The Reign weren’t in a position to maintain that duo contained, and the gang erupted when the Spark accomplished the comeback on Route 66, a lot to the appreciation of Depart.
“We really feel actually excited as a result of we all know the Reign are a extremely robust workforce, and having the ability to reverse sweep them is a giant accomplishment,” Depart stated to the media. “Additionally, we really feel further pleasure enjoying in a LAN due to our followers help, cheering for us.”
Underdogs are all the time going to get love from dwell crowds, and the Spark received that love after they accomplished the David vs. Goliath story to start out off the match right this moment. Now, the Reign should win two matches in a row simply to make it to the ultimate day of the occasion in the event that they nonetheless hope to carry their second trophy above their heads.
The Hangzhou Spark face the Dallas Gasoline subsequent, and Atlanta Reign face the loser of Boston and London, each on Sept. 29.
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