2021 Toronto Defiant season

Last updated
2021   Toronto Defiant season
Head coachKim "KDG" Dong-gun
OwnerChris Overholt
RegionWest
Results
Record9–7 (.563)
Place
May Melee Regional semifinals
June JoustDid not qualify
Summer ShowdownDid not qualify
Countdown Cup Regional finals
Season PlayoffsDid not qualify
Total Earnings$0

The 2021 Toronto Defiant season will be the third season of Toronto Defiant's existence in the Overwatch League and the team's first under head coach Kim "KDG" Dong-gun.

Contents

Preceding offseason

Roster changes

Free agents
PositionHandleName2021 teamDate signedNotes
Damage AgilitiesBrady Girardi Los Angeles Valiant December 9 [1] Option declined
Tank BeastAdam DentonToronto DefiantNovember 6 [2] Option declined
Support KarivBak Young-seo Guangzhou Charge November 10 [3] Option declined
Support KruiseHarrison PondYoung and Beautiful (OWC)March 10 [4]
Damage LogixAndreas BerghmansToronto DefiantOctober 23 [5]
Damage MangachuLiam Campbell
Tank NevixAndreas KarlssonOption declined
Tank NumlockedSebastian BartonOption declined
Support RokyPark Joo-sung
Damage SurefourLane RobertsOption declined
Damage ZykkThomas HosonoOption declined
Legend
  Light green background indicates a player was re-signed by the Defiant.
  Light red background indicates a player departed from the Defiant.

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

Acquisitions

The Defiant's first offseason acquisition was Park "Aztac" Jeong-su, a rookie support player coming off of an Overwatch Contenders Korea championship on team WSG Phoenix while on a loan from Uprising Academy, who was signed on November 17, 2020. [7] Two days later, they signed An "Ansoonjae" Soon-jae, another rookie support player previously playing for Contenders team Element Mystic. [8] On November 21, Toronto signed Kim "Sado" Su-min, a veteran tank player coming off of a season with the Philadelphia Fusion in which he was a top-five main tank player in the league. [9] Two days later, the Defiant acquired damage player Jeong "Heesu" Hee-su from the Philadelphia Fusion. [10] The following day, they signed Choi "Michelle" Min-hyuk, a "consistently impressive" veteran tank player coming off a 2020 Grand Finals season with the Seoul Dynasty. [11] The Defiant made one acquisition in December; on December 11, they signed "Na1st" Lee Ho-sung, a rookie damage player specializing in projectile heroes coming from Contenders team T1. [12] The team's final acquisition was Mun "Lastro" Jung-won, a support player who had recently been released from the Los Angeles Valiant, signing on February 10, 2021. [13]

Departures

Nine of the Defiant's eleven free agents did not return, three of which signed with other teams, beginning with support player Bak "Kariv" Young-seo signing with the Guangzhou Charge on November 10, 2020. [3] On December 9, damage player Brady "Agilities" Girardi signed with the Los Angeles Valiant. [1] The team's final free agent to sign to another team was support player Harrison "Kruise" Pond, who signed with Overwatch Contenders team Young and Beautiful on March 10, 2021. [4] Four of the Defiant's free agents announced their retirements in the offseason: damage player Lane "Surefour" Roberts, [14] damage player Thomas "Zykk" Hosono, [15] tank player Sebastian "Numlocked" Barton, [16] and support player Park "Roky" Joo-sung. [17] Damage player Liam "Mangachu" Campbell and tank player Andreas "Nevix" Karlsson did not sign with a team in the 2020 offseason.

Regular season

The Defiant began their 2021 season on April 17, playing against Canadian rivals Vancouver Titans in the May Melee qualifiers. They won their opener 3–1. [18] Despite starting their following match against the Atlanta Reign with a 0–2 deficit, Toronto defeated the Reign 3–2 to close the week undefeated. [19]

On May 25, the Defiant announced that it had three positive COVID-19 cases within the organization, including damage player Andreas "Logix" Berghmans. Two days later, they signed Luka "Aspire" Rolovic, a damage player from Overwatch Contenders team American Tornado, on a 30-day contract. [20]

Final roster

2021 Toronto Defiant roster
PlayersCoaches
RoleNo.HandleNameNationality
Damage 22LogixBerghmans, AndreasBelgium
Damage 12AspireRolovic, LukaUnited States
Damage 10HeesuJeong Hee-suSouth Korea
Damage 18Na1stLee Ho-sungSouth Korea
Tank 9SADOKim Su-minSouth Korea
Tank 51MichelleChoi Min-hyukSouth Korea
Support 30ANSOONJAEAn Soon-jaeSouth Korea
Support 77LastroMun Jung-wonSouth Korea
Support 10AztacPark Jeong-suSouth Korea
Head coach
  • Kim "KDG" Dong-gun

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

Latest roster transaction: June 21, 2021.

Transactions

Transactions of/for players on the roster during the 2020 regular season:

Standings

PosTeamPldWLPtsPCTMWMLMTMDQualification
1 Dallas Fuel 16115170.68840263+14Advance to season playoffs
2 Los Angeles Gladiators 16115140.68841210+20
3 Atlanta Reign 16115130.68841210+20
4 San Francisco Shock 16124120.75043242+19Advance to play-ins
5 Houston Outlaws 16115110.68834243+10
6 Washington Justice 169790.56329262+3
7 Toronto Defiant 169790.563313100
8 Paris Eternal 168880.500323220
9 Boston Uprising 167970.438273114
10 Florida Mayhem 1651160.3132638212
11 London Spitfire 1611510.0631247135
12 Vancouver Titans 1611510.0631045035
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 17Toronto Defiant31 Vancouver Titans Online
3:00 pm EDT     Details
2 Busan 1
3 Eichenwalde 2
1 Watchpoint: Gibraltar 2
2 Hanamura 1
Qualifier match 2April 18Toronto Defiant32 Atlanta Reign Online
6:00 pm EDT     Details
0 Nepal 2
2 Blizzard World 3
3 Dorado 2
2 Temple of Anubis 1
2 Busan 0
Qualifier match 3April 30Toronto Defiant03 Washington Justice Online
6:00 pm EDT     Details
0 Oasis 2
0 Temple of Anubis 2
0 Blizzard World 1
Qualifier match 4May 01 London Spitfire 13Toronto DefiantOnline
4:30 pm EDT     Details
1 Lijiang Tower 2
3 Volskaya Industries 2
1 King's Row 2
2 Havana 3
Regional semifinalsMay 02Toronto Defiant03 Florida Mayhem Online
3:00 pm EDT     Details
0 Ilios 2
1 Temple of Anubis 2
1 King's Row 2

June Joust
Qualifier match 1May 21 Paris Eternal 13Toronto DefiantOnline
3:00 pm EDT     Details
0 Busan 2
3 Eichenwalde 1
2 Dorado 3
1 Temple of Anubis 2
Qualifier match 2May 22Toronto Defiant03 Boston Uprising Online
6:00 pm EDT     Details
0 Ilios 2
2 Numbani 3
3 Rialto 4
Qualifier match 3May 29 San Francisco Shock 31Toronto DefiantOnline
4:30 pm EDT     Details
2 Oasis 0
1 Junkertown 2
2 Hanamura 1
3 Hollywood 1
Qualifier match 4May 30Toronto Defiant13 Houston Outlaws Online
3:00 pm EDT     Details
2 Lijiang Tower 1
0 Rialto 3
0 Volskaya Industries 2
0 Numbani 3

Summer Showdown
Qualifier match 1June 26 Florida Mayhem 23Toronto DefiantOnline
4:30 pm EDT     Details
1 Ilios 2
2 Hollywood 1
3 Watchpoint: Gibraltar 1
2 Hanamura 3
0 Lijiang Tower 2
Qualifier match 2June 27Toronto Defiant30 Vancouver Titans Online
6:00 pm EDT     Details
2 Oasis 1
3 Eichenwalde 0
2 Route 66 0
Qualifier match 3July 09 Los Angeles Gladiators 30Toronto DefiantOnline
4:30 pm EDT     Details
2 Lijiang Tower 1
5 Temple of Anubis 4
1 Eichenwalde 0
Qualifier match 4July 10Toronto Defiant13 Dallas Fuel Online
4:30 pm EDT     Details
0 Busan 2
1 Volskaya Industries 2
2 King's Row 1
1 Junkertown 3

Countdown Cup
Qualifier match 1August 06 London Spitfire 13Toronto DefiantOnline
3:00 pm EDT     Details
1 Ilios 2
1 Rialto 0
1 Temple of Anubis 2
2 Numbani 3
Qualifier match 2August 07Toronto Defiant30 Washington Justice Online
6:00 pm EDT     Details
2 Lijiang Tower 0
2 Havana 1
2 Hanamura 1
Qualifier match 3August 12 Paris Eternal 23Toronto DefiantOnline
3:00 pm EDT     Details
1 Oasis 2
2 Volskaya Industries 3
6 King's Row 5
3 Route 66 2
1 Nepal 2
Qualifier match 4August 14 San Francisco Shock 31Toronto DefiantOnline
6:00 pm EDT     Details
1 Busan 2
2 Hanamura 1
2 Numbani 0
Regional semifinalsAugust 15 Paris Eternal 23Toronto DefiantOnline
3:00 pm EDT     Details
2 Lijiang Tower 1
0 Volskaya Industries 1
1 Blizzard World 2
3 Rialto 2
1 Oasis 2
Regional finalsAugust 15Toronto Defiant13 Atlanta Reign Online
6:15 pm EDT     Details
1 Busan 2
3 Volskaya Industries 3
3 King's Row 5
1 Route 66 0
1 Oasis 2

2021 season schedule

Postseason

2021 playoff game log
West Play-ins
SemifinalsSeptember 4 Boston Uprising 03Toronto DefiantOnline
5:30 pm EDT     Details
1 Busan 2
1 Temple of Anubis 2
1 King's Row 3
FinalsSeptember 5Toronto Defiant03 San Francisco Shock Online
3:00 pm EDT     Details
0 Oasis 2
1 Volskaya Industries 2
0 Numbani 3

References

  1. 1 2 Czar, Michael (December 10, 2020). "Agilities returns to the Los Angeles Valiant". Daily Esports. Retrieved January 29, 2021.
  2. Richardson, Liz (November 6, 2020). "Toronto Defiant re-signs main tank Beast". Dot Esports. Retrieved January 29, 2021.
  3. 1 2 Howard, Brandon (November 12, 2020). "Guangzhou Charge Add KariV, Mandu". TheGamer. Retrieved January 17, 2021.
  4. 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.
  5. McMahon, Mallory (October 23, 2020). "Toronto Defiant Sign Logix for 2021 Season". The Game Haus. Retrieved January 19, 2021.
  6. "2021 Player Contract Status". Overwatch League. October 21, 2020. Retrieved April 21, 2021.
  7. Richardson, Liz (November 17, 2020). "Toronto Defiant signs flex support Aztac". Dot Esports. Retrieved January 29, 2021.
  8. Michael, Cale (November 19, 2020). "Toronto Defiant signs ANSOONJAE". Dot Esports. Retrieved January 29, 2021.
  9. Johnson, Xavier (November 21, 2020). "Toronto Defiant signs former Fusion tank SADO". Dot Esports. Retrieved April 22, 2021.
  10. Richardson, Liz (November 23, 2020). "Toronto Defiant acquires former Fusion DPS Heesu". Dot Esports. Retrieved January 24, 2021.
  11. Richardson, Cale (November 24, 2020). "Toronto Defiant signs off-tank Michelle". Dot Esports. Retrieved January 27, 2021.
  12. Czar, Michael (December 12, 2020). "Flex DPS Na1st signs to the Toronto Defiant". Daily Esports. Retrieved January 29, 2021.
  13. Field Level Media (February 10, 2020). "Defiant sign former Valiant support Lastro". Reuters. Retrieved February 11, 2021.
  14. Michael, Cale (February 3, 2021). "Sentinels signs former Overwatch League pro Surefour as a content creator". Dot Esports. Retrieved February 3, 2021.
  15. Michael, Cale (January 17, 2021). "ZYKK retires from Overwatch to pursue VALORANT". Dot Esports. Retrieved January 29, 2021.
  16. Field Level Media (January 21, 2021). "Numlocked announces retirement from OWL". Reuters. Retrieved January 29, 2021.
  17. Joo-sung Park [@OW_RoKY] (November 9, 2020). "Player retirement and new challenge" (Tweet). Retrieved January 29, 2021 via Twitter.
  18. Field Level Media (April 17, 2021). "SP9RK1E leads Fuel past Gladiators in Overwatch Week 1". Reuters. Retrieved April 19, 2021.
  19. Waltzer, Noah; Field Level Media (April 18, 2021). "Houston upsets San Francisco, improves to 2-0 in wild Sunday". Gwinnet Prep Sports. Retrieved April 19, 2021.
  20. 1 2 Richardson, Liz (May 27, 2021). "Toronto Defiant adds DPS Aspire on 30-day contract". Dot Esports. Retrieved May 27, 2021.
  21. Toronto Defiant [@TorontoDefiant] (June 21, 2021). "We are saying goodbye to Adam as he retires from professional Overwatch" (Tweet) via Twitter.