{"id":32177,"date":"2022-06-05T23:56:13","date_gmt":"2022-06-05T23:56:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ginx.tv\/la-gladiators-win-kickoff-clash"},"modified":"2024-07-19T08:03:23","modified_gmt":"2024-07-19T08:03:23","slug":"la-gladiators-win-kickoff-clash","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ginx.tv\/en\/overwatch\/la-gladiators-win-kickoff-clash","title":{"rendered":"LA Gladiators sweep Dallas Fuel in front of home crowd to win OWL’s Kickoff Clash"},"content":{"rendered":"

Soon after the Seoul Dynasty lifted the Overwatch<\/a> Kickoff Clash East region trophy, marking the first silverware the franchise has won, it was time for the West division to crown their victor, with Los Angeles Gladiators coming out on top emphatically. <\/p>\n

The Gladiators came into the Kickoff Clash as a third seed, dropping below the Dallas Fuel and San Francisco Shock, two squads that reverse swept Los Angeles during the tournament qualifiers. It was immediately apparent that the coaching staff had fixed those issues that allowed teams to take maps away from Gladiators as they tore through the Kickoff Clash bracket. <\/p>\n

Los Angeles prevented a potential Battle for Texas at the Esports Stadium in Arlington by dismantling the Houston Outlaws 3-0. In the upper bracket semifinals, they made relatively easy work of the Dallas Fuel 3-1. That map would be the only one LAG would drop their entire tournament run, as they proceeded to 3-0 the Atlanta Reign in the upper bracket final, and finally, sweeping the Fuel in the Kickoff Clash grand final.<\/p>\n

The clash of styles between Los Angeles and Dallas seemed to favor the California reps at every twist and turn. While Fuel heavily relied on Han-been “Hanbin” Choi’s expertise in piloting the Zarya, the synergy with the rest of his squad, particularly DPS Tae-hoon “Edison” Kim, who was forced to play Reaper against a highly mobile composition like the one presented by Los Angeles, was simply absent.<\/p>\n

Rookie Gladiators seize the glory<\/h2>\n
\"overwatch
The Gladiators become the first tournament champs in Overwatch 2 alongside Seoul Dynasty. (Picture: Blizzard Entertainment)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The Gladiators opted to play a rush comp, with Rookie of the Year candidate Corey “Reiner” Scoda marking the tempo with his Reinhardt play, switching to Winston or the newly reworked Doomfist when needed. <\/p>\n