It’s the start of Contenders China today, but because I’ve been busy with quite a bit of work (back to school dee colon) I’m kinda late with a preview piece for the Chinese scene. Anyways, here we are. Like any good sequel, it has to be split into two parts for maximum clicks. So here’s One Updoot, One Downdoot, Contenders China edition. Part 1.

Apparently I patented the Second Wind-style aesthetic according to the Team Singapore Discord

This first part will feature all the teams in the first day of matches, which are:

1. Bilibili Gaming vs. LGD Gaming

2. Bubble Burster Gaming vs. ̶V̶i̶r̶g̶i̶n̶ ̶T̶e̶m̶p̶t̶ ̶G̶a̶m̶i̶n̶g̶ Phantom Wizard

3. ̶T̶1̶w̶ T1W.GZA vs. Triple Six Legend

Bilibili Gaming (Semifinalists, Season 1)

Out: No one

In: Bazzi (DPS, 2-way), NoSmite (Tank, 2-way)

My updoot: :crab: Shy won a tournament :crab:

(No but actually, props to the guy leading his team to his first ever championship in like 2 years)

My downdoot:

LGD Gaming (Semifinalists, Season 1)

Out: No one

In: Kadalis (DPS)

My updoot: LGD has needed an upgrade on the Zarya role, and Kadalis might just be what they needed. After playing second fiddle to Kephrii and Water on GE Pantheon, and then being mostly benched on X6-Gaming, Kadalis might just finally have a permanent starting position on a team. This might also be what LGD needed to get them over the edge into a Contenders grand finals that they haven’t been in since Season 2 of last year.

My downdoot: I don’t really have one, except that in their 2+-year history they still haven’t won a major championship, like at all.

Match preview: BLG vs. LGD

Both teams would likely see a shakeup in the DPS lineups since last season. I’m expecting BLG to run a Bazzi-Shy-Yakumo triple DPS lineup that can run triple DPS and Sombra GOATS without many hero swaps. LGD could also start the Kadalis-wanli-Kaneki trio, but I think they’ll bench wanli for Kadalis instead. We’ll have to see who got the better acquisitions during the offseason. Both teams are also adding Koreans to a full Chinese lineup, so communication barriers might be present. Especially so for NoSmite, who is on the tank role and presumed to be the main target caller.

Bubble Burster Gaming (New team)

Out: New team

In: climax (DPS), TTuba (DPS), Jihun (Tank), RICK (Off-tank), Zihee (Support), ANB (Support), Zerrari (Support), Joy (Substitute support)

My updoot: climax is finally back to playing! In fact, a lot of the players on the team actually have Contenders experience (5 out of the starting 6). The DPS duo have synergy having both been on O2, while RICK, Zihee, and ANB all played on Hero Taciturn Panther a long while ago. So the synergy’s there for BBG, we’ll have to see what the team can make of it.

My downdoot: The GOATS meta hasn’t been really forgiving to climax, who hasn’t looked particularly good on Zarya. His Brigitte is okay, but TTuba’s on that role. That being said, apparently Jihun is a Hammond main, so maybe we’ll see multi DPS comps from BBG instead. Perhaps climax can show off his hitscan that put him on the map? And RICK on DPS? Please?

Phantom Wizard (5th, Season 2 Trials)

Out: 399 (Support), Nyang (DPS), NuoRan030 (Support)

In: bravolav (Off-tank), Ketto (Support)

My updoot: If you know who this man is you deserve a veterans’ discount.

My downdoot:

AMY seriously needs to hold a job down. Source: Liquipedia

Match preview: BBG vs. PW

Despite both teams being new to Contenders this season, I’m expecting BBG to beat PW in this match. BBG should have the upper hand in terms of player strengths, synergy, and experience. However, this could be a 5th place vs 6th place match up, considering the rest of their group. Either team needs to really dominate the other in order to even pose a threat to the rest of the group.

̶T̶1̶w̶T1W.GZA (2nd, Season 1 / 3rd, Pacific Showdown)

Out: No one

In: No one

My updoot: How could this man do any harm?

This is wya, btw. Source: NeXT on Weibo

My downdoot:

Unluckers. Go agane next time. Source: over.gg

Triple Six Legend (Quarterfinalists, Season 1)

Out: SOBER (Support), Raphael (DPS)

In: 399 (Support), Rachel (DPS)

My updoot: This is the play made by DPS that kept them in Contenders :)

My downdoot: He’s leaving the team at the end of the season :(

Match preview: T̶1̶w̶T1W.GZA vs. TSL

One question I want to ask is: who plays main support between 399 and Shush on TSL? Both are flex supports, so one of them is gotta pick up the Lucio skates. But either ways, it’s probably going to be an uphill climb for TSL. With some new faces in the team, TSL might need some time for those additions to gel. The synergy from TSL cannot match the synergy forged by T1w for about half a year now. Then again, T1w has struggled against much weaker teams before, so who knows.

Conclusion

Interestingly, Contenders China is streamed at the same time as Contenders Australia, so guess what that means? That’s right, double the Contenders at the same time! Not sure whether there is an English stream though, and where it would be. But either ways, you can catch Chinese Contenders on CC, Zhanqi, Bilibili, or Huya! Learn a new language, it wouldn’t hurt, right?