Season 1 of the Overwatch League was a rollercoaster for fans of the Philadelphia Fusion. The team missed the pre-season due to visa issues, and after finally taking to the stage, they did so without their complete roster. It wouldn’t be until the end of Sado’s 30-game suspension in Stage 4 that the Fusion achieved their final form.

In almost every stage, the Fusion made adjustments to their roster and game plan in according to changes in the metagame in an attempt to find the consistency that eluded them since Day 1. The uncertain nature of these roster swaps might have spelled disaster for any other team, but at the beginning of stage 2, the Fusion found their anchor in the form of Josh “Eqo” Corona. Through stoic leadership, and unparalleled work ethic, Eqo became the glue that held the team together.

With this new formula for success, the Fusion went on to make playoffs, defeat the NYXL, and make it to the Grand Finals. Although the Fusion ultimately placed second for the season, the hard work, focus, and sheer determination it took to get them there cannot be overstated.

Coming into Season 2, the Fusion find themselves in the opposite position, of having one of the most unchanged rosters in the league. This newfound consistency, paired with Eqo’s leadership, paid off in a big way. In the first game of the season, the Fusion managed to win their rematch against Season 1 champions, the London Spitfire.

In the wake of this victory, I spoke with Eqo about his journey through esports and his philosophy on professional gaming.

The following interview has been edited for length and clarity.

Credit: Robert Paul

Adam: What are the main things you would say formed you into the player you are today?

Eqo: I got into games when I was around 4, my first game was Counter-Strike. I guess I come from a lot of aim heavy based games. I played a lot of different types of games growing up, playing the same game never satisfied me. I tried all the genres, from MOBAs, to FPS, to MMOs. I found out about Overwatch from a friend, he told me that if I was able to get Top 500 in this game I might be able to go pro. That’s how it was back then, anyone who played well could form a team and possibly compete.

Overwatch seemed like a really cool game with a lot of MOBA and FPS aspects to it, that attracted me to it. After I started playing, it just felt natural, and logical. All I had to do was keep practicing. My computer was really bad back then, so the grind to the top was really a struggle, at least at the beginning. I had to adapt since it was a heavy game that required a good computer. I placed in Plat and after that, it took me about a month to get Masters, after that it leveled out and was pretty clean moving forward.

It took about two seasons for me to get Top 50, and then at some point, I got rank one, which attracted my first team, Complexity. It was my first professional setting and lifestyle, and it taught me a lot about what it meant to be a good player and teammate. Even though we didn't do very good at the time, my teammates knew a lot and taught me a lot. I succeed now because of the things that I learned there.

Credit: Robert Paul

Adam: How did playing on sub-optimal equipment affect your development as a player, do you think it helped you become better?

Eqo: I don't really think there's any situation where playing in worse circumstances would make you a better player. At the end of the day, if you have all the tools you need, then all it takes is the dedication to be the best. So no matter the equipment, good computer or not, my mindset was always the same. The only thing that changed with a good computer was my ability to implement all that I had learned. So in my opinion having a bad computer can only hurt you as a player. You can’t do what you're supposed to do, so you come up with different strats, which teaches bad habits.

Adam: What are some of the biggest differences between your time with Complexity, and your time with the Fusion?

Eqo: I don't think anything ever really changes for me. It doesn’t matter if its Overwatch League or Complexity, what I have to do is the same. I just have to focus on the plays I have to do, the improvements I need to make as a player, and how I can contribute to my team. The stage may change, and so do the stakes, but my feelings on my job never change.

Adam: When you debuted in Stage 2 last year, you were supremely confident against every DPS in the league. Has that changed at all going into Season 2?

Eqo: I think a lot of people saw me as a cocky player because I was a newbie coming in and I was so confident against all the other pros. In my opinion though, at the end of the day the only player you have to think about is yourself, the only mind you have to change is your own. You have to strive to be a better version of yourself. You should always be competing with yourself, your biggest opponent, that way you'll always be satisfied because there will always be one more step you can go. I have endless amounts of competition with myself, that's why I don't bother worrying about other players, I'm already satisfied competing with myself.

Adam: When you have time off, do you stay in that singularly focused mindset, or do you actually give yourself a break?

Eqo: I think you misunderstand. It's not a mindset I put myself in, it's just me. Why would I need time off from myself? It's just how I live my life. I do everything to the fullest because otherwise, it wouldn't fulfill me, you know, it would just be a waste of time. It's the same way with everything, including gaming. I'm not stressing myself out going, "oh my god I'm working so hard." It's just my normal day. If anything it's actually relaxing. Not everyone has to be like me though, that's the beauty of it. We all have our own tools that work our way; it doesn't make me better or worse than anyone. You can achieve the same level by going two separate ways.

Adam: As a DPS main, I'd like to get your impressions on the quadruple DPS comp we saw from London and the Competitive ladder.

Eqo: Well you have to break it down to its most basic parts. What is a comp for? You want a comp that is optimally better than the enemy comp at achieving its desired goal. The reason these comps are appearing on the ladder right now is because of the perception of the player base that they're a necessity for them. However, as the meta evolves, necessity evolves with, so there's not much of an opinion to give.

If people play those comps to counter GOATS and it works, they're going to keep playing it. If people stop playing GOATS then we won’t see it, it’s just a matter of necessity. Because it's always changing, I don't give it too much thought. For me, the 4 DPS comp has a lot of weaknesses so I would only ever use it against GOATS.

Credit: Robert Paul

Adam: As a veteran of the Overwatch League, what advice would you give to the new players coming into the league on how to adapt to this new lifestyle?

Eqo: My advice to new league players would be to ask yourself, "Why not?" Why not do what’s necessary for you to accomplish whatever it is you want to accomplish. I can't decide what that is for people, but I know they shouldn't let anything stand in the way of it. Don't think about fears, or weaknesses, because if you have time to think about all that, then that becomes your weakness. Ask yourself, "Why not use the time I spend thinking about this, to better myself?"

You can make yourself weaker in a lot of areas without even noticing if you dwell on weakness. Find enjoyment in every comp and every practice and every game. If you don't enjoy what you are doing, you're not going to give it your all.

For example, a lot of people don't like Brig, I've played it with my Flex Support, and I realized it was an opportunity. Now that Brig is a thing, I can make connections with my teammates, my supports, and that makes it a lot of fun. See, even Brig is an opportunity for fun and growth.