Historically, we associate the North America region with bringing in talented players from other regions. However, the Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) region has gotten in on the fun this time. The Overwatch Champions Series (OWCS) allows for a maximum of two non-resident players, and several teams have brought in talent from outside the region to bolster their lineup. In this article, we detail each one of these non-resident players participating in OWCS EMEA Stage 3, including their history, current team, mixed-roster experience, and hero pools.
TOPDRAGON 🇰🇷
Role: Damage
Team: A One Man Army
Past Teams: Gen.A (2020), Gen.G (2020-2022), First Fabulous Fighter (2021), Talon Esports (2022), Sin Prisa Gaming (2022), O2 Blast (2023), Dreamers (2023), Mkers (2024)
Best Heroes: Genji, Pharah, Echo, Hanzo
TOPDRAGON is a Korean flex DPS player who specializes in the classic projectile characters. He came up through the Gen.G academy system alongside players like SOMEONE and OPENER and burst onto the scene playing for First Fabulous Fighter in Contenders China. His Chinese Contenders experience has rubbed off on his play, giving him a flair for flashy plays not unlike Jinmu. In 2024, he's become a world traveler, playing in North America, Oceania, and Saudi Arabia. Now, he's traveled to the Netherlands to compete, in person, with A One Man Army.
D0nghun 🇰🇷
Role: Support
Team: A One Man Army
Past Teams: Anghells (2022), Sheer Cold (2022), Timeless (2022), Dreamers (2023), Washington Justice (2023).
Best Heroes: Lúcio, Brigitte
D0nghun is noteworthy as a Korean player who has spent most of his career playing in Europe. This is because he spent time living in Germany due to his father's job. His 2024 has been quiet, marked by unsuccessful qualifying campaigns with some former Timeless comrades in North America. He returns to his EU roots and reunites with former Dreamers teammate TOPDRAGON on A One Man Army.
MCD 🇰🇷
Role: Support
Team: Hypnos
Past Teams: Element Mystic (2019-2020), Hangzhou Spark (2021), Boston Uprising (2022), Dallas Fuel (2023), Ataraxia (2024).
Best Heroes: Moira, Ana, Zenyatta
While there are conversations worth having about some of MCD's past discriminatory remarks against Chinese players, this article focuses on in-game attributes. He's a capable and experienced flex support who particularly excels on Moira, perhaps owing to his time in Rush's coaching system. MCD filled in for Ryujehong on Team Hasbeen in the Stage 1 OWCS Korea Open Qualifiers after the latter got into an accident. After an unsuccessful stint with Ataraxia, MCD returns to EMEA to play for Hypnos. The MCPrash backline has so far delighted spectators around the globe.
Bliss 🇰🇷
Role: Support
Team: Twisted Minds
Past Teams: Gen.A (2019), Gen.G (2019-2022), O2 Blast (2022), Dallas Fuel (2023), YETI (2024)
Best Heroes: Lúcio, Mercy, Brigitte
Bliss was a bright spot at Main Support for the 2023 Dallas Fuel after shining in Contenders. While he placed well with YETI in OWCS Korea Stage 1, FNATIC chose to replace him with LeeJaeGon when they signed the roster. The organization kept him under contract on the inactive roster, at which point Twisted Minds signed him. Considering FNATIC's recent performances, Bliss might be laughing at them now.
Vigilante 🇰🇷
Role: Support
Team: Twisted Minds
Past Teams: GGTC (2019-2020), BATTLICA (2020). 200ms (2020), Element Mystic (2020), Talon Esports (2021), Washington Justice (2022), Atlanta Reign (2022-2023), RunAway (2024)
Best Heroes: Zenyatta, Ana, Baptiste, Brigitte
We've been waiting for Vigilante to have his big tier 1 moment, but it hasn't quite arrived. After sitting on Atlanta Reign's bench for a year and a half, he joined RunAway for OWCS Korea Stage 1. Things looked promising initially for the team, but they collapsed down the stretch. He joined Twisted Minds for FACEIT League and EWC, where he remains.
Redmoosegoat 🇨🇦
Role: Damage
Team: WASP X OHHHH NO
Past Teams: N/A
Best Heroes: Junkrat
Redmoosegoat is a Canadian Junkrat one-trick with a history of playing alongside other one-tricks and trickster players. There isn't much data on him, but he could be WASP X OHHHH NO's secret weapon.
Landon 🇺🇸
Role: Support
Team: Spacestation Gaming
Past Teams: Scion Esports (2020), Susanoo (2020), Northwood University (2020-2022, 2023-2024), Solaris (2021), London Spitfire (2022-2023), Geekay Esports (2023)
Best Heroes: Baptiste, Kiriko, Brigitte, Ana
Landon is the only American in the EMEA OWCS this stage. Since the end of OWL, Landon's done a lot of winning. He went back to Northwood and immediately won Overwatch Collegiate Homecoming, went to Saudi Arabia and got second in Saudi eLeague, and dominated Jay3's Community Clash. With his former Spitfire teammates on Spacestation Gaming, Landon has continued to dominate.
Overwatch Champions Series Stage 3 Group Stage kicks off Friday, August 16th.
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