In recent news posted by Blizzard on the Overwatch League Website, the roster construction rulebook has been released for the 2020 OWL season. For a full explanation of everything detailed in this rulebook, read TGH’s overview here. One of the more interesting details coming out of this news is the age cutoff announcement for 2020. The rule reads, “Players who were born on or before June 15, 2002, are eligible to sign Overwatch League contracts for the 2020 season”. With this age cutoff now publicly announced, many fans and pundits have begun theorising which young Contenders players could make it big in the OWL next year. So here is a list of the top players who will be eligible for the 2020 season.

1. RunAway

Every player on the starting roster of RunAway is eligible for the 2020 Overwatch League season. Both Kim “Mag” Tae-sung and Jeong “Heesu” Hee-su are born in 2002, so they will miss some of the matches next season. One of the more sought after players this offseason will be flex DPS player Jun-ki “Yaki” Kim. Yaki has a very similar hero pool to Byungsun “Fleta” Kim of the Seoul Dynasty and is just as dynamic. Gang “Gangnamjin” Nam-jin, Yu “QoQ” Sung-jun and Lee “LeeJaeGon” Jae-Gon are the more consistent players on the roster and should each have OWL rosters looking to sign them.

2. Gil-seong “Glister” Lim

Glister currently plays for the undefeated Gen.g team in Korean Contenders. Anyone who enjoys watching up and coming talent should be keeping an eye on this player. His hero pool is generally tilted toward projectile heroes and he is most known for his Hanzo and Genji. Glister is another one of those players born in 2002 that will be thankful for the new age cutoff in the league. However, Glister is born in January so he will not miss any matches in the 2020 season should he be signed.

3. He “Molly” Chengzhi

Molly is a Chinese player currently playing in the Chinese Contenders region for the team LGE.Huya. A beast of a flex support player, Molly is just seventeen and would be a great pick-up for a Chinese OWL team looking to greater represent their home region. His team, LGE.Huya, won the last season of Contenders in dominant fashion with Molly being one of the more impressive players on the roster. It should be mentioned that LGE.Huya is the Chengdu Hunter’s Academy team. So he may not be seen in the league next year as the Hunters already have two flex supports on their roster.

4. The DPS players for Element Mystic

Element Mystic has three of the most dynamic and mechanically gifted DPS players in any Contenders region. Kim “S9ark1e” Yeong-han, Jung “Xzi” Ki-hyo and Kim “Doha” Dong-ha are all eligible for the 2020 season. S9ark1e, in particular, is touted as being the next big thing in competitive Overwatch. He is born in May, however, so he will come with the downside of having to miss some of the first two stages. S9ark1e is most well known for his Genji and Doomfist and has carried his team in many important clutch situations.

Both Doha and Xzi are superstars in their own right, however, they have a much less versatile hero pool. If Sombra ever dominates an OWL meta again then teams will need to be thinking of signing Doha. He is a pioneer of modern Sombra play.

5. Tae-Hoon “Edison” Kim

Edison is another South Korean player currently playing in that region’s Contenders league. He is certainly most well known for his Widowmaker highlights online but has recently shown a lot of versatility in the most recent season of Contenders. He can play both projectile and hitscan heroes which is a great boon for any team searching for flexible DPS players. Here is a clip of Edison popping heads in Korean Contenders.

해설진들도 연신 소름 끼친다고 하던 에디슨 선수 피지컬 pic.twitter.com/a2dr98u1xp — verse (@verseowbg) July 5, 2018

6. Kyungbo “Alarm” Kim

Alarm is already of age for the Overwatch League but is too much of a superstar to be left off of this list. Every pro player wants to play with Alarm and every coach wants to work with him. Whichever team lands this big fish will have a much easier time bringing other talent to the team because of it. Wherever Alarm finds himself in the OWL, he will be immediately among the best flex supports in the league.

7. Honourable Mentions!

Hugo “ SharP ” Sahlberg of Envy in NAW Contenders

” Sahlberg of Envy in NAW Contenders Tan “Mijia” Xujie of T1W.GZA in Chinese Contenders

Xujie of T1W.GZA in Chinese Contenders Seung-jun “WhoRU” Lee of Meta Skyfoxes in NAE Contenders

Lee of Meta Skyfoxes in NAE Contenders Jung-won “Lastro” Mun of Meta Skyfoxes in NAE Contenders

Mun of Meta Skyfoxes in NAE Contenders Ju ho “climax” Maeng, Ho-Sung “TTuba” Lee & Kim “JiHun” Ji-hun of Bubble Burster Gaming in Chinese Contenders

Maeng, Ho-Sung Lee & Kim Ji-hun of Bubble Burster Gaming in Chinese Contenders Dong-Hoon “Ritz” Son of GC Busan Wave in Korean Contenders

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