{"id":15146,"date":"2021-04-16T10:32:57","date_gmt":"2021-04-16T10:32:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ginx.tv\/overwatch-league-how-covid-19-pushed-jake-back-to-pro-play"},"modified":"2024-07-19T07:15:06","modified_gmt":"2024-07-19T07:15:06","slug":"overwatch-league-how-covid-19-pushed-jake-back-to-pro-play","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ginx.tv\/en\/overwatch\/overwatch-league-how-covid-19-pushed-jake-back-to-pro-play","title":{"rendered":"Overwatch League 2021: How COVID-19 pushed Jake back to pro play"},"content":{"rendered":"

It’s been a long wait for players, coaches, fans, and everyone involved with the Overwatch<\/a> League, with the extended offseason due to a later than usual start date building up the anticipation even if the majority of the season will still take place online, away from the roar of passionate crowds longing for LAN events to make a proper return.<\/p>\n

The Overwatch community has not been starved for content, however, as the offseason has proven to be just as exciting as the regular season. Naturally, player swaps and roster overhauls were the head-turners during these past few months, as teams look to build squads that can compete at the highest level and pros search for greener pastures or kick start their careers after years of grinding in Contenders. <\/p>\n

With OWL 2021<\/a> right around the corner, both rookies eagerly awaiting their debuts and veterans looking to prove doubters wrong shared what keeps them motivated to come back to Overwatch, and their expectations for this upcoming year of competition. <\/p>\n

Carpe’s MVP dream<\/h2>\n

\"carpe
(Picture: Overwatch League)<\/span><\/p>\n

Touted as one of the greatest to ever play the game, Jae-hyeok “Carpe” Lee’s OWL resume doesn’t really stack up against some of his most successful peers. Despite being close to lifting the OWL trophy two times (2018 and 2020), the hitscan specialist still has the drive to push the Philadelphia Fusion to another grand finals appearance. <\/p>\n

“One of the things that keeps me motivated is to get that win for my team,” Carpe explained during the start-of-season OWL press conference. “I also want to prove that I am one of the best players in Overwatch, so getting that MVP title as well.” <\/p>\n

It’s about the little things<\/h2>\n

Overwatch is a game that boasts a very vocal fanbase, usually overly critical of balance changes, a feeling that plenty of pros tend to share, however, for many, it’s still the FPS they fell in love with back in 2016.<\/p>\n

“For me, Overwatch is really fun,” Byeong-ju “Valentine” Kim admitted. The Boston Uprising’s rookie DPS relishes the challenge of finally competing in OWL after dominating Korean Contenders in 2020 and isn’t shy when it comes to explaining that, just maybe, he might find competition at his level. <\/p>\n