Overwatch World Cup: Meet the Players!

What’s up guys and gals, CaptainPlanet here. Last week, Blizzard announced their plans for Overwatch at BlizzCon: The Overwatch World Cup, a competition styled in the spirit of the “real” World Cup where players will compete to represent their Nation in a multi-national competition. These players will be chosen by voting for players chosen by Blizzard who represent “a mix of representatives from each participating country, including pro gamers, skilled community personalities from the area, and local players who’ve climbed the ranks in Season 1 of Competitive Play.”

With this announcement, I realized that I know quite a bit about a certain section of nominees: those players whose names make up a veritable set of Titans in Overwatch’s esports scene. I reached out to as many of the professional organizations who compete at the highest levels of play, to help me write profiles for their nominated players. What follows will be a “Meet the Players” guide – profiling the Overwatch World Cup nominees who have the greatest amount of raw talent to bring to their nations’ teams. This list will be slightly favored towards players who actually responded to my request – the players who did not have time to respond but received an invite will receive honorable mentions (and will be updated once the full list is released).

Table of Contents

**Note, there are some reports that EU players had a “hidden” secret round of cuts that happened between when I interviewed them, and when the voting went live. These profile will stay live if these players made it to the final round – as I believe they’re worth profiling regardless.

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United States

Player: EnVyUs Talespin

Overbuff Profile

Main Heroes: Pharah, Genji, Tracer, Reaper, Junkrat, Soldier: 76

Gaming Background: Shootmania, Tribes: Ascend, Firefall, Nosgoth, Dirty Bomb

Involved in Overwatch since: October 27, 2015

Make your case for Team USA in 6 words or less: My back is strong.

Funniest Overwatch Moment you can recall? Harryhook stalling the cart for 10 seconds on his own, on King’s Row (clip here: http://plays.tv/video/57a11928b3502331c3)

Personal Favorite Play of the Game? http://plays.tv/video/576df3c115b2af6dda (Tale takes out Seagull mid-air on his Pharah, Rocket Barrages a freshly Resurrected team, then mid-air’s Seagull again)

Anything else you’d like to add: I’d like to believe I’ve proven myself to be one of the top Overwatch players in the world and would love to represent my country at Blizzcon.

CaptainPlanet Profile: If Overwatch has gods, Talespin would be one of the players who sits on the pantheon. In closed beta’s ancient history, Talespin made a name for himself by leading the first version of EnVyUs as Overwatch’s most dominant Pharah player – dethroning Seagull as Envy ripped off a crazy winstreak in the GosuGamers weeklies of those days. Talespin was the only player from this former Envy squad to join the freshly disbanded IDDQD squad to form EnVyUs version 2.0 – a team that has now surpassed their insane winstreak of 50+ games in a row. By all metrics Talespin is one of the strongest DPS players in the United States, and would be a ringer among ringers in the Overwatch World Cup.

Player: C9 Adam

Overbuff Profile

Main Heroes: Mercy, Zenyatta, Lucio, Symmetra

Gaming Background: CS 1.6 / World of Warcraft: Rank 1 Arena Player, Guild Leader and Raid Leader (in-game shot-caller) of vodka US 1st Raiding Guild / (These are the only games I played at a high level / competed)

Involved in Overwatch since: 10/28/15 - Invited to Overwatch Beta

Make your case for Team USA in 6 words or less: I will make Mercy great again! USA!

Funniest Overwatch Moment you can recall? Not inside Overwatch, but having to give Surefour socks to wear at LAN Esports Arena (Agents Rising) because he didn’t pack any.

Personal Favorite Play of the Game? My triple pistol kill and triple rez play on 1st point Hollywood in a tournament. Got the aim and the brain, Mercy Main.

Anything else you’d like to add: I love the USA! I will not disappoint as your support for the event.

CaptainPlanet Profile: There are very few players that are well known solely for their support play, but Adam belongs to that special club. Since the formation of the Cloud 9 squad in their GoogleMe days, Adam has functioned as the team’s “Rock” providing consistent, extremely high level support play on his Zenyatta and Mercy. Adam’s Cloud 9 squad has dominated the NA Overwatch esports scene, taking many 1st place trophies in the 0 Hero Limit era and vacillating between 2nd and 3rd place behind the EnVyUs juggernaut as of late. Like Talespin, Adam represents the very best of the US in his chosen Overwatch specialization.

Player: Cloud 9 KyKy

Overbuff Profile

Main Heroes: Zarya, D.Va, Winston, Roadhog, Reaper, Mei (moreso the first 3)

Gaming Background: Darkfall, WoW, Unreal Tournament, DotA, League of Legends, various mmos and other games.

Involved in Overwatch since: The 2nd day of the closed beta, October 29th

Make your case for Team USA in 6 words or less: Team-centered leader that plays to win.

Funniest Overwatch Moment you can recall? Not checking the corner on the top of Lijiang’s Control Center and Seagull killing my teleporter in the last map of a GosuGamer weekly.

Personal Favorite Play of the Game? I don’t even watch them :(

Anything else you’d like to add: I’ve had 2 broken fingers the past 12 years of my life, and if I get voted maybe I’ll finally get them fixed.

CaptainPlanet Profile: Having personally played against Cloud 9 at LAN, there’s no denying their cohesiveness as a team. They coordinate their pushes, swarm over your defenses, and rip off multiple kills before you can even react. This kind of teamwork is not natural – it must be practiced – and a strong team captain is needed to lead the charge. As Cloud 9’s captain, KyKy is that leader. KyKy’s Hero pool is strongly biased towards tanks and initiators, fitting his “Leading the Charge” playstyle. Team USA will need a captain to break through defenses and push the front line, and KyKy is one of the country’s best.

Player: OhNo Purposeful

Overbuff Profile

Main Heroes: Mercy, Zenyatta, Lucio

Gaming Background: I’ve played a lot of LoL and WoW but nothing competitive until the last game I played which was a small Korean MMO called Blade and Soul

Involved in Overwatch since: I started playing at launch and have no closed beta experience.

Make your case for Team USA in 6 words or less: You won’t find someone more motivated!

Funniest Overwatch Moment you can recall? In a match against MoonMoon, one of my teammates got slept by his Ana and the two of us stopped fighting to join in an embarrassing tbag sesh on his body.

Personal Favorite Play of the Game? I remember I got a nasty POTG as Mercy, snuck behind the enemy team on Anubis and killed their Mercy and Reaper which gave me enough Res charge to pick up the 4 dead members of my team on the point.

Anything else you’d like to add: I’d like to add that I would absolutely love to represent Team USA in the Overwatch World Cup, I guarantee you that you won’t find a player better suited than me. I’m a top tier support player with great game knowledge, capable of strategizing and leading the team in this international competition.

CaptainPlanet Profile: Continuing the theme of strong, American leaders – we come to Purposeful. Purposeful coaches team OhNo – one of Overwatch’s newest breakout teams who managed to defeat Northern Gaming and Method in a deep run in ESL’s final qualifying tournament to chose the teams that would travel to GamesCom in Germany at the end of August. It’s a shame that Purposeful was the only player from Team OhNo to receive an nomination to the World Cup, but no one can doubt the Team’s success under his watchful eye. Team USA would welcome such a hard working player!

Player: Cloud 9 DeBett

Overbuff Profile

Main Heroes: Reinhardt, Winston, Zarya, D.Va

Gaming Background: Dota2 and a bunch of MMOs

Involved in Overwatch since: Early Closed Beta

Personal Favorite Play of the Game? https://clips.twitch.tv/overwatchopen/StupidNewtRitzMitz

Anything else you’d like to add: Nope!

CaptainPlanet Profile: DeBett marks the third Cloud 9 player on my Team USA short list, and let’s just say there’s a reason why Cloud 9 has been an ever-present figure at or near the top of the NA scene since Closed Beta. Adam brings the heals, KyKy brings the initiation, but DeBett is The Man – the Main Tank of the Cloud 9 squad. DeBett is extensively versed in all the Tanks of Overwatch (as demonstrated by his solo-quad kill as Winston above), and his chemistry with KyKy is unmatched should these two be selected together. As much as I love MoonMoon, Team USA is going to need a world class Tank to compete with the likes of Canada, Sweden, and Finland – and DeBett is our guy.

Honorable Mentions

Seagull (NRG)

Reaver (Cloud 9)

Gods (NRG)

Enigma (NRG)

PapaSmurf (Splyce)

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Canada

Player: NorthernGaming Mangachu

Overbuff Profile

Main Heroes: Pharah, McCree, Reaper, Torbjorn, Junkrat, Roadhog

Gaming Background: TF2, Project M, Melee

Involved in Overwatch since: Day 2 of closed beta

Make your case for Team Canada in 6 words or less: I frag for a living.

Funniest Overwatch Moment you can recall? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6e6_GGTRkgQ this was from closed beta 1 but it was sick at the time

Personal Favorite Play of the Game? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vVIHtJe_ElM

Anything else you’d like to add: I tweet memes @ng_mangachu

CaptainPlanet Profile: Coming off a stacked US roster, Mangachu represents Canada’s greatest Pharah foil to USA’s Talespin. Mangachu brings years of projectile-based expertise to the table as a former TF2 player specializing in Soldier. While Talespin may represent Overwatch’s Mt. Everest of explosive-based Heroes, Mangachu is Overwatch’s K2: mysterious, always waiting in the shadow, but just as deadly.

Player: Method Roolf

Overbuff Profile

Main Heroes: Zenyatta, Lucio

Gaming Background: I’ve never played any other game competitively but I was High elo in League of Legends

Involved in Overwatch since: I got in the beta November 10th of last year. I only played casually at first and started playing competitively after the beta came back from break in February

Make your case for Team Canada in 6 words or less: rank 1 in the top 500 😉

Anything else you’d like to add: It would be an honour to be able to represent team Canada at the OW World Cup and I think I am one of the best picks to do so, I am currently one of the only support players playing at the top of the leaderboards and ranked 1st in the top 500 for Blizzard’s in-game rankings

CaptainPlanet Profile: Roolf may just be Canada’s best Support player. While players like Nevix play support in tournaments but dominate the Ranked Play ladder playing DPS classes, Roolf has reached the very top of competitive play by maining exclusively support classes – reaching a skill rating of 88 at the time of this writing. One can hardly find a player so single-mindedly focused on a particular, essential aspect of Overwatch – and Team Canada is extremely lucky he’s around to represent the country.

Player: Method Exi

Overbuff Profile

Main Heroes: Zarya, Winston, Soldier 76, Tracer

Gaming Background: Never any other professional level games, but top percent or so on ladder in a bunch, including SC2, CSGO, LoL.

Involved in Overwatch since: Pretty much the start of beta.

Make your case for Team Canada in 6 words or less: other country good but Canada best

Anything else you’d like to add: I’m the Mei from the Mei Demonic Ritual video. I can bring those dark secrets to help Team Canada.

CaptainPlanet Profile: Exi joins Roolf as Method’s second canadian nominee for the Overwatch World Cup – filling the vital Flex role for the potential national squad. With a possible Canadian roster of Surefour on DPS, Roolf on Support, Pokelawls on Genji, and whoever else may fill the Tank role from the list of non-pro streamers, Team Canada will need a player with a deep Hero Pool to fill the gaps and provide flexibility to all potential Maps and Opponent teams. Exi has such a pool - bringing experience both playing secondary Tank and DPS classes like Zarya and Tracer that will prove an excellent fit for the team up north.

Honorable Mentions:

Surefour (Cloud 9)

Azk (Liquid)

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united kingdom

Player: Creation Esports Numlocked

Overbuff Profile

Main Heroes: Reinhardt, Winston, Zarya

Gaming Background: TF2, League of Legends

Involved in Overwatch since: November 2015

Make your case for Team UK in 6 words or less: I’m the captain uk esports needs

Funniest Overwatch Moment you can recall? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FxKy3mBKw7c (Linkzr trying out for hide and seek champion of the world by contesting the payload on Dorado)

Personal Favorite Play of the Game? Always love getting POTG for hitting all 6 people in a Zarya ult with your lightning gun as Winston.

Anything else you’d like to add: A vote for me is a vote regretting brexit!

CaptainPlanet Profile: For every KyKy, there’s an equal and opposite Numlocked. Numlocked leads Creation Esports as Team Captain, a multi-national european team with a strong tournament record. While NA teams have to contend with the Boogeyman that is EnVyUs, the top of the EU scene has much more parity. Creation, Rogue, and Misfits constantly jockey for the top spot in Europe and #3 spot in the world behind EnVyUs and Cloud 9. With leadership and Main Tank experience like Numlocked, the UK has the potential for a deep Overwatch World Cup run.

Player: Reunited Kruise

Overbuff Profile

Main Heroes: Lucio, Ana and Genji (Flex support)

Gaming Background: HoN, Dota, CS and Tf2

Involved in Overwatch since: I got into the closed beta very early, so around a year now.

Anything else you’d like to add: I feel it’s important to vote for players who you know are good and capable of winning instead of voting for players you like. Some serious competition out there and I want the UK to make it to Blizzcon.

CaptainPlanet Profile: Speaking of the Reunited / Misfits / Creation Esports EU shuffle, Kruise of Reunited has been nominated for his excellence in Flex / Support play. Kruise has made a name for himself with hilarious but huge Lucio plays (https://twitter.com/KruiseOW/status/759519045284720640), and for his love of Ana who unfortunately has not quite reached competitive viability just yet (although, Kruise demonstrates her potential: https://twitter.com/KruiseOW/status/761938667019567106). Flex players are the rarest of Overwatch roles, so the United Kingdom would be wise to vote for Kruise.

Honorable Mentions

Kyb (Reunited)

Sharyk (ANOX)

Realzx (Weunited)

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Germany

Player: Creation Art1er

Overbuff Profile

Main Heroes: McCree, Genji, Tracer

Gaming Background: RTCW, CS:S, Brink, Shootmania, CS:GO, DirtyBomb

Involved in Overwatch since: End of 2015

Make your case for Team Germany in 6 words or less: Make Germany Great Again!

Funniest Overwatch Moment you can recall? Numlocked getting knocked off 3 times in a row on Lijang by Pharah eksdee

Personal Favorite Play of the Game? Reinhardt bounced me 1km in the air while I was High-Noon-ing. Did a 360 in air and killed 5 guys.

Anything else you’d like to add: I am ready, I got the German flag in-game :D

CaptainPlanet Profile: Art1er has been fragging players left and right along with his DPS partner, Bromas, since early Closed Beta. Known primarily for huge McCree High Noons in tournaments, Art1er also plays a mean Genji with >70% winrate in Ranked Play. Art1er represents the best of the best among Germany DPS nominations and German voters should be looking to fill out their squad with this Overwatch Ace.

Player: Luminosity Gaming Ruster

Overbuff Profile

Main Heroes: Reinhardt, Winston, Zarya , Genji, Zenyatta

Gaming Background: World of Tanks, TF2

Involved in Overwatch since: 27.10.2015

Make your case for Team Germany in 6 words or less: No brain, no aim, Winston main.

Funniest Overwatch Moment you can recall? Jumping off the map

Personal Favorite Play of the Game? Pushing 5 people off the map with Primal Rage

Anything else you’d like to add: I am a scientist, not a monkey. ﻿ CaptainPlanet Profile: Ruster is the main tank of the newly acquired Luminosity Gaming squad, and he’s an unabashed Winston main. Team Germany will be needing their very own Reinhardt to lead the charge in the Overwatch World Cup, and Ruster’s extensive main tanking experienced will be a premium addition to the team.

Player: Luminosity Gaming Eissfeldt

Overbuff Profile

Main Heroes: McCree, Tracer, Reaper, Soldier, Zarya

Gaming Background: Natural Selection 2, Dirty Bomb

Involved in Overwatch since: \11⁄ 2015

Make your case for Team Germany in 6 words or less: Ready? Speedboost and go!

Funniest Overwatch Moment you can recall? After Ana was out we had a fun time dancing around a sleeping enemy

Personal Favorite Play of the Game? Walling off enemies with Mei, removing the Wall and then triggering Dead Eye

Anything else you’d like to add: Nope! ﻿ CaptainPlanet Profile: Without Bromas (who is Spanish), Art1er is going to need a new DPS partner for Team Germany. Look no further than Eissfeldt, Luminosity’s resident McCree Main. Assuming Ruster wins a spot as well, Eissfeldt will be coming to Team Germany with instant chemistry with his main tank, an essential element to any high-level teamwork. Germany: look no further for a great DPS for your team.

Honorable Mentions

Internethulk (EnVyUs)

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Sweden

Player: Misfts Nevix

Overbuff Profile

Main Heroes: Zenatta, Ana, Genji

Gaming Background: CSGO, LOL

Involved in Overwatch since: Beginning of 2016

Make your case for Team Sweden in 6 words or less: SKÅL

﻿ CaptainPlanet Profile: Starting off what is likely the most stacked possible lineup is Sweden’s Nevix – one of Misfit’s two Support players with his partner Zebbosai. What separates Nevix from other Support players is not just his amazing Support play (including liberal use of Ana, who is frowned upon by other Pros), but his success on the competitive play ladder. As of writing this profile, Nevix holds the #2 and #6 spots in the world rankings (on his main and alt accounts) with a Skill Rating greater than 90 – playing a mish-mash of Heroes including Ana, Genji, McCree and Zarya. Nevix would be a great addition as any role to team Sweden, given his Tournament and Ladder success.

Player: Luminosity Gaming Mineral

Overbuff Profile

Main Heroes: Lucio

Gaming Background: Competitive Team Fortress 2

Involved in Overwatch since: 2015-11-30

Make your case for Team Sweden in 6 words or less: Oh Let’s Break It Down

Funniest Overwatch Moment you can recall? Me failing miserably and missing every shot as Torbjörn on a POTG

Personal Favorite Play of the Game? I play Lucio and never get any POTGs

Anything else you’d like to add: Let’s make Sweden great again! ﻿ CaptainPlanet Profile: Like with Adam and Team USA, Team Sweden is going to need a dedicated Support player. Look no further than Mineral, Sweden’s premier Lucio Main. The timing of Lucio Speed Boosts is an integral part to any team’s success, and Sweden will go far with the deep tournament experience that Mineral provides.

Honorable Mentions:

Chipshajen (EnVyUs)

Cocco (EnVyUs)

Mendokusaii (FaZe)

TviQ (Rogue)

Zebbosai (Misfits)

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Finland

Player: Luminosity Gaming Tseini

Overbuff Profile

Main Heroes: Genji,Reaper,Widowmaker,Tracer,McCree

Gaming Background: TF2

Involved in Overwatch since: November 2015

Make your case for Team Finland in 6 words or less: All aim no brain

Funniest Overwatch Moment you can recall? Minerals Torbjörn ultimate

Personal Favorite Play of the Game? 5K Genji ult against Weunited, simply because of ZPs cast

Anything else you’d like to add: CU@lan ﻿ CaptainPlanet Profile: Tseini’s extensive experience in competitive Team Fortress 2 as a Sniper prepared him well for Overwatch, and he has been a well-known name throughout the scene since early Beta. Tseini plays for the newly acquired Luminosity Gaming squad as one of their two DPS, routinely taking on several players at once on his deadly Genji. With a stacked Sweden team looming – Tseini and the rest of the Finnish team may be the best hope to take some games off their European neighbors.

Honorable Mentions

Taimou (EnVyUs)

LiNkzr (Creation Esports)

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Spain

Player: Creation Esports Bromas

Overbuff Profile

Main Heroes: Soldier:76, Tracer, Reaper, Mccree.

Gaming Background: Battlefield 3 & 4

Involved in Overwatch since: late November early December

Make your case for Team Spain in 6 words or less: “I will carry this don’t worry” 6⁄ 6

Funniest Overwatch Moment you can recall? http://plays.tv/video/579a8a34052ad86e19/w-t-f (Numlocked has had enough of Shadowburn’s shit)

Personal Favorite Play of the Game? The POTG of my 1st ever tournament win in Overwatch, with IDDQD. Just some random tactical visor kills but it was a special moment for me!

Anything else you’d like to add: I love Overwatch. Blizzard buff Soldier please.

﻿ CaptainPlanet Profile: Bromas is one of Overwatch’s “Original Gangsta” DPS players. I remember doing highlight videos of huge plays from extremely early on in the closed beta, and it seemed like every top 5 plays had a little bit of Bromas love. Bromas has brought his Battlefield experience to bear on Overwatch with his love of Soldier 76, but he plays all hitscan characters at a very high level. Spain’s team has little representation in the esports world, but those who do hail from within its borders are top notch quality, and Bromas is no exception.

Editor’s note:

This profile was written before Blizzard apparently started cutting players behind the scenes. Bromas unfortunately did not make the second round – a real shame!! I will be leaving this profile up regardless as he deserves the recognition.

Honorable Mentions:

Winghaven (Reunited)

HarryHook (EnVyUs)

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Korea

Player: EHOME IAN

Overbuff Profile

Main Heroes: Genji, Reaper, Soldier 76

Gaming Background: League of Legends

Involved in Overwatch since: February 2016

Make your case for Team Korea in 6 words or less: My teammates are Hero artists!

Funniest Overwatch Moment you can recall? When I won 5 vs. 1 in a team fight

Personal Favorite Play of the Game? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BxNfjjCOgGc

Anything else you’d like to add: I want to make some good memories in this opportunity

Player: EHOME Akaros

Overbuff Profile

Main Heroes: Genji

Gaming Background: World of Warcraft

Involved in Overwatch since: Closed Beta

Make your case for Team Korea in 6 words or less: We are Korean.

Funniest Overwatch Moment you can recall? Yet to be seen!

Personal Favorite Play of the Game? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ghd6iNjzkYI (warning 3 minutes long)

Anything else you’d like to add: Hanzo is good

Player: EHOME JJINU

Overbuff Profile

Main Heroes: Ana / Pharah

Gaming Background: League of Legends

Involved in Overwatch since: Closed Beta (Feb 17th start)

Make your case for Team Korea in 6 words or less: We are the Breathtaking Possibilities

Funniest Overwatch Moment you can recall? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bLoc0GQoO0E

Personal Favorite Play of the Game? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b1kW1_46YSw&feature=youtu.be

Anything else you’d like to add: Nothing.

Player: EHOME Geguri

Overbuff Profile

Main Heroes: Zarya

Gaming Background: Zarya, Genji

Involved in Overwatch since: 2 months before release

Make your case for Team Korea in 6 words or less: We are Korean.

Funniest Overwatch Moment you can recall? Yet to be seen!

Personal Favorite Play of the Game? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hc_Uhvuu4VI&feature=youtu.be

Anything else you’d like to add: Ho-Woo

Honorable Mentions:

Nomi

Noru

Lime (center)

CaptainPlanet Profile: There’s not been much word out of Korea regarding invites to the Overwatch World Cup, so I reached out to Lime – the coach of EHOME’s Overwatch squad to give us a taste of what we could expect from this esport-crazed nation. Lime is the scene’s main link to the East – often the source of the Korean Netcafe stats that pop up on Twitter from time to time. Under Lime, his team had practiced tirelessly – often with little sleep due to having to work full time jobs without sponsorship. Now, they represent EHOME as one of Korea’s first professional Overwatch teams. Geguri – EHOME’s Zarya expert – also garnered some notoriety in the West after stories emerged that rival players accused her of cheating, only to quit the game in shame after losing to the ace in person.

Regardless if the players of EHOME or other Korean players receive nominations to the Overwatch World Cup, the West should be scared of how seriously they will take this opportunity. Already, Western players are joking around about the lack of prize pool and less “serious” nature of the World Cup, but you can guarantee this will not be the case with Korea. Watch out world…the Koreans are coming.