In the Overwatch League, we are seeing a growing division between the old and the new. We are seeing pioneers die out while new blood rises to the top. We see players split up as new teams form. However, legacies are eternal, and perhaps the biggest legacy in professional Overwatch is that of Lunatic-Hai.

Lunatic-Hai lifting the trophy, winning OGN APEX S2. Image from ESPN

Oh, Lunatic-Hai. We fans saw you go through victory and defeat and everything in between. We followed as you went from hopeful contenders to uncrowned kings to global champions. We felt disappointment as you were upset by KongDoo Uncia, pure bliss as you came back against all odds against RunAway, great hype as you pulled through in 9 maps over KongDoo Panthera, utter disbelief as you fell not once, but twice to the young upstarts of GC Busan.

We saw the absolute legends that were you. We saw Jinhyuk “Miro” Gong, who revolutionized the way we played Winston. We saw Jinmo “Tobi” Yang, who gave Lucio an entirely new impact in-game. Seungjun “WhoRU” Lee, the pioneer of Genji’s “ninja” playstyle. Joonhyuk “ZUNBA” Kim, the man whose creative uses of Graviton Surges caught eyes across the globe. Injae “EscA” Kim, the first player to use Sombra to the fullest. Gido “Gido” Moon, the rookie who came out of nowhere to rise to the occasion. Jehong “Ryujehong” Ryu, considered by many as the best player in the world, who gave Ana an entirely new meaning with his incredible Sleep Darts. And of course, Hojong “alwaysoov” Chae and Kwangjin “beast” Baek, who brought to Overwatch the importance of good coaching with their deep insight and knowledge.

Lunatic-Hai’s APEX S3 full roster. Image from OGN

I still remember the incredible moments. Miro diving off of Ilios in his Primal Rage to chase down an enemy Mercy. Ryujehong landing the nastiest Sleep Dart against a Nanoblading Genji. Tobi winning a 1v1 duel against Hyojong “Haksal” Kim’s Dragonblade as Lucio. EscA’s 5-man EMP to bring home the APEX S3 championship. So many moments of hype and excitement and triumph.

Miro’s Bizzare Adventure. Image from OGN

And you weren’t just great players, you were personalities. Whenever someone complains about “emotionless Koreans,” I want them to see you, Lunatic-Hai. You let us see who you really were, and we loved you for that. At APEX’s karaoke contest, we saw ZUNBA jokingly sing along to the theme of a Korean children’s TV show, followed by Tobi singing an emotional ballad before Miro went into a rap. We saw the skit where Ryujehong would confess his insecurities about aging to EscA, where Tobi would admit his fear of the number 4.

Lunatic Hai’s roster and staff for APEX S2. From left to right, beast, Miro, WhoRU, ZUNBA, EscA, Tobi, Ryujehong, and alwaysoov. Image from Inven Global

Of course, we didn’t just see the good parts of you, we also saw the bad and the ugly. The scandal of Donggeun “Dean” Geum and Taejun “LEETAEJUN” Lee having relations with fans, strictly forbidden in Korea. The disappearance of WhoRU before it was later revealed that he was benched as a punishment for his ego. The signing of Geonho “Claris” Lee and Sangbeom “Munchkin” Byeon only to be released three days later in another scandal. But even though you weren’t perfect, seeing this side of you made you more human.

To me, though, the one moment that sticks out in my head is your match against KongDoo Panthera in the APEX S3 Finals. A 9-map thriller, it is my firm belief that this match was and always will be the best match of Overwatch to ever be played. Sure, the Overwatch League, the Overwatch World Cup, and even Overwatch Contenders have had great matches, but to me, nothing can compare to this one. As the teams played outside of the Lotte World Tower, I remember staying up late in Korea to watch the match with my sister on my phone using my family’s tiny pocket WiFi. I remember my screams of hype watching EscA land that final EMP to seal the deal, which probably woke up more than a few people in our apartment complex. And as I saw the glowing blue emblem of Lunatic-Hai displayed on the fifth-tallest building in the world, I felt pure joy, knowing that my team was officially the best team in Overwatch.

The OGN APEX S3 Finals at the Lotte World Tower. Image from OGN

The reason I’m writing this piece is the announcement of ZUNBA’s departure from the Seoul Dynasty. With Ryujehong transferred to the Vancouver Titans and Miro and EscA’s retirements, Tobi is the last Lunatic-Hai member on the Dynasty. In addition, with WhoRU now signed to the New York Excelsior and ZUNBA and Gido currently looking for teams, Lunatic-Hai has officially disbanded.

I want to bring up something that Ryujehong said while he was choosing a team for Season 3. “Honestly, the team I want to join is Lunatic-Hai… but that’s not gonna happen now.” In a way, I share his sentiment. As an LH fan, I naturally followed them to the Dynasty in the Overwatch League, and I stuck with Seoul as my team, even when I found out that WhoRU wouldn’t be able to play until Season 3, even when EscA left for PUBG, even when the Dynasty disappointed us all in Season 1, even when Miro retired, even when Gido, besat, and alwaysoov were released. But now, with Ryujehong, Tobi, and ZUNBA split up for good, I don’t know who to support anymore. Sure, I like the new guys on Seoul, but I agree with Jehong in that the team that I will always love, no matter what, is Lunatic-Hai.

Lunatic-Hai at the APEX S2 Finals. Image from Heroes Never Die.

I think I speak for all of us when I say that you have changed this game forever. You brought something truly special to Overwatch, and we as a community can never thank you enough for that. Our scene wouldn’t be what it is today if it wasn’t for you. You are not just a pioneer, you are a creator. So thank you, Lunatic-Hai. Thank you for all that you have done for us. You may have disbanded, but at least to me, your legacy lives on.