2021 Philadelphia Fusion season

Last updated
2021   Philadelphia Fusion season
Head coachKim "NineK" Bum-hoon
Owner Comcast Spectacor
RegionEast
Results
Record10–6 (.625)
Place
May Melee Regional finals
June JoustDid not qualify
Summer ShowdownDid not qualify
Countdown Cup Regional finals
Season Playoffs Lower round 1
Total Earnings$50,000

The 2021 Philadelphia Fusion season was the fourth season of the Philadelphia Fusion's existence in the Overwatch League and their first under head coach Kim "NineK" Bum-hoon.

Contents

Preceding offseason

Roster changes

Free agents
PositionHandleName2021 teamDate signedNotes
Support BoomboxIsaac CharlesYoung and Beautiful (OWC)March 10 [1]
Damage ChipsaPhilip GrahamOption declined
Damage EqoJosue CoronaPhiladelphia FusionNovember 18 [2] Option declined
Tank FuryKim Jun-ho Washington Justice November 21 [3]
Damage IvyLee Seung-hyun New York Excelsior December 22 [4]
Tank PokoGael GouzerchPhiladelphia FusionNovember 17 [2] Option declined
Tank SadoKim Su-min Toronto Defiant November 21 [5] Option declined
Legend
  Light green background indicates a player was re-signed by the Fusion.
  Light red background indicates a player departed from the Fusion.

The Fusion entered free agency with seven free agents, four of which became free agents due to the team not exercising the option to retain the player for another year. [6]

Acquisitions

The Fusion's first offseason acquisition was Kim "Mano" Dong-gyu, a veteran tank player coming from the New York Excelsior who signed on November 2, 2020. The Fusion next signed Niclas "Shockwave" Jensen, a second-year damage playing who played for the Vancouver Titans in mid-2020, on November 23. [7] Philadelphia did not pick up another player until 2021; on March 15, they signed Kim "Rascal" Dong-jun, a veteran damage player coming off back-to-back Grand Finals championships with the San Francisco Shock. [8] The Fusion next signed Choi "Hotba" Hong-jun, a tank player from the Excelsior who was a part of the Fusion's 2018 Grand Finals team, on April 7. [9] One day later, they signed Yang "Tobi" Jin-mo, a veteran support player coming off a Grand Finals appearance with the Seoul Dynasty in 2020. [10]

Departures

Five of the Fusion's seven free agents did not return, four of which signed with other teams, beginning with tank players Kim "Fury" Jun-ho and Kim "Sado" Su-min, who signed with the Washington Justice and Toronto Defiant, respectively, on November 21, 2020. [3] [5] The Fusion lost damage player Lee "Ivy" Seung-hyun on December 22 after he signed with the New York Excelsior. [4] Support player Isaac "Boombox" Charles signed with Overwatch Contenders team Young and Beautiful on March 10, 2021. [1] The Fusion's final free agent, damage player Philip "Chipsa" Graham did not sign with a team in the offseason. Outside of free agency, the Fusion transferred damage player Jeong "Heesu" Hee-su to the Toronto Defiant on November 23, 2020. [11]

Regular season

May Melee

The Fusion began their 2021 season on April 17, with a 3–1 win over the Seoul Dynasty in the May Melee qualifiers. [12] In their following match, they swept the Los Angeles Valiant 3–0. [13]

Final roster

2021 Philadelphia Fusion roster
PlayersCoaches
RoleNo.HandleNameNationality
Damage 18 Carpe Lee Jae-hyeokSouth Korea
Damage 24sHockWave (2W)Jensen, NiclasDenmark
Damage 15EQOCorona, JosueIsrael
Damage 27RascalKim Dong-junSouth Korea
Tank 7ManoKim Dong-gyuSouth Korea
Tank 8HOTBAChoi Hong-joonSouth Korea
Tank 21Poko (2W)Gouzerch, GaelFrance
Support 4tobiYang Jin-moSouth Korea
Support 33FunnyAstro (2W)Hathaway, DanielUnited Kingdom
Support 17 Alarm Kim Kyung-boSouth Korea
Head coach
  • Kim "NineK" Bum-hoon

Legend:
  • (I) Inactive
  • (S) Suspended
  • (2W) Two-way player
  • Emojione BW 1F503.svg Substitute
  • Cruz Roja.svg Injury / Illness
  

Latest roster transaction: April 8, 2021.

Standings

PosTeamPldWLPtsPCTMWMLMTMDQualification
1 Shanghai Dragons 16124200.75038192+19Advance to season playoffs
2 Chengdu Hunters 16115150.68838222+16
3 Seoul Dynasty 16124120.75040220+18Advance to play-ins
4 Philadelphia Fusion 16106100.62537243+13
5 Hangzhou Spark 167970.43832310+1
6 New York Excelsior 167970.438293203
7 Guangzhou Charge 1651150.3132038418
8 Los Angeles Valiant 1601600.000248146
Source: The Overwatch League
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) winning percentage (including tournaments); 3) regular season wins; 4) regular season map differential

Game log

Regular season

2021 game log
May Melee
Qualifier match 1April 17Philadelphia Fusion31 Seoul Dynasty Online 
8:00 am EDT     Details  
2 Oasis 1
4 Blizzard World 3
2 Dorado 3
3 Temple of Anubis 2
Qualifier match 2April 18Philadelphia Fusion30 Los Angeles Valiant Online 
8:00 am EDT     Details  
2 Busan 1
3 Eichenwalde 2
3 Watchpoint: Gibraltar 2
Qualifier match 3April 24Philadelphia Fusion31 Hangzhou Spark Online 
6:30 am EDT     Details  
1 Lijiang Tower 2
3 Watchpoint: Gibraltar 2
2 Hanamura 1
2 Eichenwalde 1
Qualifier match 4April 25 Chengdu Hunters 13Philadelphia FusionOnline 
6:30 am EDT     Details  
1 Ilios 2
0 Havana 1
3 Volskaya Industries 2
2 King's Row 3
Regional finalsMay 02 Shanghai Dragons 32Philadelphia FusionOnline 
5:00 am EDT     Details  
2 Nepal 1
2 Volskaya Industries 2
1 Eichenwalde 2
0 Havana 1
2 Ilios 1
5 Watchpoint: Gibraltar 4

June Joust
Qualifier match 1May 22 New York Excelsior 31Philadelphia FusionOnline 
8:00 am EDT     Details  
2 Lijiang Tower 0
3 Numbani 0
2 Rialto 3
2 Volskaya Industries 0
Qualifier match 2May 23Philadelphia Fusion13 Chengdu Hunters Online 
8:00 am EDT     Details  
0 Busan 2
1 Eichenwalde 2
2 Dorado 1
1 Temple of Anubis 1
0 Ilios 2
Qualifier match 3June 04 Guangzhou Charge 03Philadelphia FusionOnline 
5:00 am EDT     Details  
0 Oasis 2
3 Hanamura 3
1 Hollywood 3
1 Junkertown 3
Qualifier match 4June 05 Los Angeles Valiant 13Philadelphia FusionOnline 
5:00 am EDT     Details  
0 Nepal 2
1 Volskaya Industries 2
1 Numbani 0
1 Rialto 2

Summer Showdown
Qualifier match 1July 03Philadelphia Fusion30 Guangzhou Charge Online 
5:00 am EDT     Details  
2 Ilios 0
3 Watchpoint: Gibraltar 2
2 Hanamura 2
3 Hollywood 2
Qualifier match 2July 04Philadelphia Fusion03 Shanghai Dragons Online 
6:30 am EDT     Details  
1 Lijiang Tower 2
2 Junkertown 3
1 Volskaya Industries 2
Qualifier match 3July 09 Chengdu Hunters 32Philadelphia FusionOnline 
6:30 am EDT     Details  
0 Nepal 2
2 Volskaya Industries 3
3 King's Row 2
3 Junkertown 2
2 Busan 0
Qualifier match 4July 10 New York Excelsior 31Philadelphia FusionOnline 
5:00 am EDT     Details  
2 Busan 1
2 Temple of Anubis 1
2 Eichenwalde 3
2 Route 66 1

Countdown Cup
Qualifier match 1July 31Philadelphia Fusion30 Shanghai Dragons Online 
8:00 am EDT     Details  
2 Busan 0
1 Numbani 0
2 Rialto 1
Qualifier match 2August 01 Hangzhou Spark 13Philadelphia FusionOnline 
8:00 am EDT     Details  
2 Nepal 1
1 Blizzard World 2
0 Route 66 3
1 Temple of Anubis 2
Qualifier match 3August 07 New York Excelsior 13Philadelphia FusionOnline 
5:00 am EDT     Details  
1 Lijiang Tower 2
0 Route 66 3
2 Hanamura 1
2 Numbani 3
Qualifier match 4August 08Philadelphia Fusion23 Seoul Dynasty Online 
5:00 am EDT     Details  
2 Oasis 0
3 Havana 0
2 Volskaya Industries 3
2 King's Row 3
0 Nepal 2
Regional finalsAugust 15 Seoul Dynasty 31Philadelphia FusionOnline 
6:59 am EDT     Details  
2 Busan 0
3 Volskaya Industries 3
2 Blizzard World 3
1 Rialto 0
2 Ilios 1

2021 season schedule

Postseason

2021 playoff game log
East Play-ins
SemifinalsSeptember 5 Hangzhou Spark 13Philadelphia FusionOnline 
5:05 am EDT     Details  
2 Oasis 1
2 Volskaya Industries 3
1 King's Row 2
0 Route 66 1
FinalsSeptember 5Philadelphia Fusion31 Seoul Dynasty Online 
7:02 am EDT     Details  
2 Busan 0
0 Hanamura 1
6 Numbani 5
2 Dorado 1

Season Playoffs
Upper round 1September 21Philadelphia Fusion13 Los Angeles Gladiators Online 
8:30 pm PDT     Details  
0 Ilios 2
2 Temple of Anubis 1
2 King's Row 3
1 Havana 3
Lower round 1September 22Philadelphia Fusion23 San Francisco Shock Online 
8:30 pm PDT     Details  
1 Nepal 2
3 Volskaya Industries 2
3 King's Row 4
3 Route 66 2
0 Ilios 2

References

  1. 1 2 Young and Beautiful [@YaB_OW] (March 10, 2021). "Here are the players that will be representing Young and Beautiful in EU Contenders this 2021 season" (Tweet). Retrieved March 10, 2021 via Twitter.
  2. 1 2 Searl, Nate (November 18, 2020). "Eqo and Poko rejoin the Philadelphia Fusion for the 2021 OWL Season". Daily Esports. Retrieved January 24, 2021.
  3. 1 2 Michael, Cale (November 21, 2020). "Washington Justice signs Fury". Dot Esports. Retrieved January 24, 2021.
  4. 1 2 Alford, Aaron (December 23, 2020). "NYXL Complete 2021 Lineup". Hotspawn. Retrieved January 21, 2021.
  5. 1 2 Czar, Michael (November 21, 2020). "Sado signed by the Toronto Defiant". Daily Esports. Retrieved January 24, 2021.
  6. "2021 Player Contract Status". Overwatch League. October 21, 2020. Retrieved April 21, 2021.
  7. Richardson, Liz (November 23, 2020). "Philadelphia Fusion signs DPS sHockWave". Dot Esports. Retrieved January 24, 2021.
  8. Richardson, Liz (March 15, 2021). "Rascal joins the Philadelphia Fusion". Dot Esports. Retrieved March 15, 2021.
  9. Richardson, Liz (April 7, 2021). "HOTBA returns to Philadelphia Fusion". Dot Esports. Retrieved April 7, 2021.
  10. Field Level Media (April 8, 2021). "Fusion add tobi to Overwatch League roster". Reuters. Retrieved April 8, 2021.
  11. Richardson, Liz (November 23, 2020). "Toronto Defiant acquires former Fusion DPS Heesu". Dot Esports. Retrieved January 24, 2021.
  12. Field Level Media (April 17, 2021). "Philadelphia Fusion open strong in Week 1 of Overwatch League". Gwinnett Prep Sports. Retrieved April 20, 2021.
  13. O'Dwyer, Jack (April 19, 2021). "Overwatch League Week 1 Round-Up". MSN. Retrieved April 19, 2021.