Founded | September 7, 2018 |
---|---|
League | Overwatch League |
Region | West |
Team history | Vancouver Titans (2018–present) |
Based in | Vancouver, Canada |
Colours | |
Owner | Canucks Sports & Entertainment |
Website | Official website |
Uniforms | |
The Vancouver Titans are a professional Overwatch esports team based in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. The Titans compete in the Overwatch League (OWL) as a member of the league's West region. Founded in 2018, the Vancouver Titans began play as one of eight expansion teams in 2019 and is one of two professional Overwatch teams in Canada (the other, Toronto Defiant). The team is owned by Canucks Sports & Entertainment, owners of the Vancouver Canucks of the National Hockey League (NHL) and the Vancouver Warriors of the National Lacrosse League (NLL).
For their inaugural season, the Titans signed a roster consisting of mostly members from Korean Overwatch Contenders team RunAway. In their first year, they reached all three of the stage playoffs, made two stage final appearances, won one stage title, finished at the top of the regular season standings, and reached the 2019 Grand Finals, where they ultimately lost to the San Francisco Shock. However, conflicts between players and management resulted in the Titans organization parting ways with their entire roster at the beginning of the 2020 season. Since then, the Titans have failed to reach any playoffs and had their worst season in 2021, ending it with a 1–15 regular season record.
On September 7, 2018, Activision Blizzard announced that NHL's Vancouver Canucks ownership Aquilini Group had purchased a slot for the Vancouver-based franchise for a reported $30 million to $60 million. [1] [2] "Esports has seen extraordinary success and continues to be one of the fastest growing industries in the world," said Aquilini Group managing director Francesco Aquilini in a statement. "We can't wait to launch the team in Vancouver." [3] On October 18, the team announced they had partnered with Canadian esports organization Luminosity Gaming to add esports expertise to the organization. [4]
On December 1, a video revealed the Vancouver Titans' brand during the second intermission of a Vancouver Canucks game, concluding with "Today, we release the Titans." The team also announced that it had signed all eight members of the Korean Overwatch Contenders champions RunAway and Hwang "Pajion" Ji-sub as the team's head coach. [5]
Vancouver's first OWL match was a 4–0 sweep over the Shanghai Dragons. [6] Behind a core starting lineup of Park "Bumper" Sang-beom, Choi "JJANU" Hyun-woo, Kim "Haksal" Hyo-jong, Seo "SeoMinSoo" Min-soo, Kim "SLIME" Seong-jun, and Lee "Twilight" Ju-seok, the Titans posted a 7–0 record in the first stage of the season. The team capped off the stage running through the Stage 1 playoffs, going on to defeat the San Francisco Shock, 4–3, in the Stage 1 finals. [7] The Titans reached the Stage 2 finals, going undefeated in the process, where they again faced the Shock. However, their undefeated streak came to an end, as they lost the match, 2–4. [8] The Titans recorded an OWL record 19-game regular season winning streak, which was snapped Stage 3, as they lost their first regular season match on June 23, against the Los Angeles Valiant. [9] While they qualified for the Stage 3 playoffs, Vancouver was defeated by the Shanghai Dragons in the semifinals round. [10] The league introduced a 2-2-2 role lock for Stage 4; on August 16, the Titans signed tank player Hwang "TiZi" Jang-hyeon, who was a former player for RunAway. [11] Vancouver ended the regular season with a league-best 25–3 record and the top seed in the season playoffs. [12] Haksal and Twilight were awarded Role Star commendations on the season; [13] Haksal was also named the OWL Rookie of the Year. [14] In the season playoffs, Bumper and TiZi split playing time, with TiZi taking more time as the playoffs went on. [15] Vancouver ran through the upper bracket of the season playoffs, ultimately defeating the New York Excelsior, 4–3, in the upper bracket finals to advance to the Grand Finals. [16] In a rematch of the Stage 1 and Stage 2 finals, the Titans faced the Shock in the Grand Finals on September 29. However, the Titans were held without winning a single map in the series, losing 0–4, and finished as the league's runners-up. [17]
Following the 2019 season, the Vancouver Titans parted ways with four of their players, including Bumper and TiZi. [18] The team signed two former Seoul Dynasty players in tank Baek "Fissure" Chan-hyung and support Ryu "ryujehong" Je-hong. [15] The team began their season living in Vancouver and practicing at a gaming facility at Adamas Esports Training and Performance at Fortius Sport & Health. With the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Overwatch League shifted all matches to an online format. The Titans players requested to move back to South Korea amid the pandemic, which was approved by Aquilini management. However, Aquilini would not fund the team a team house, nor would they provide a training facility for them to practice at. In South Korea, the Titans players encountered technical difficulties playing from their homes and eventually boycotted practice. [19] According to Tim Holloway, esports director of Aquilini Group, the Titans originally planned to compete in the league's newly formed Asia region, but the time difference "made it difficult for management and the home fanbase to connect with the team and technical challenges for the players playing from home further exacerbated the situation." [20] Unable to resolve differences between players and management, the Titans organization parted ways with tank JJANU and head coach Pajion on April 30 and released the rest of their roster on May 6. [20] [21] Days later, the Titans announced the hiring of Steven "Flubby" Coronel as their new head coach and signed a roster consisting entirely of the players from North American Overwatch Contenders team Second Wind. [22] [23] The team struggled throughout the season, finishing with a 6–15 regular season record. A 0–3 loss to the Washington Justice in the North America play-in tournament on September 3 ended the team's season. [24]
Prior to the start of the 2021 season, the Titans retained half of their roster from the previous season and picked up underperforming players who were dropped or traded from other OWL teams to fill their holes. [25] The team did not outperform expectations, going on a 12-game losing streak to start the season. Vancouver picked up its first win of the season on August 6, 2021, with a 3–0 win over the Boston Uprising — their first win in nearly a year. [26] The Titans ended the season with a 1–15 record, marking their worst finish in franchise history. [27]
After an abysmal 2021 season, the Titans again dropped their entire roster. [27] The team picked up seven players, forming a mixed nationality roster, in the offseason, including former Toronto Defiant hitscan player Luka "Aspire" Rolovic and former Atlanta Reign support player Petja "Masaa" Kantanen. [28] [29]
On December 1, 2018, the Aquilini Group officially unveiled the Vancouver Titans brand. The name Titans is "indicative of the traits associated with the Sasquatch – a powerful, imposing, and mythical being." The logo features the Pacific Northwest folklore figure with a 'V' in the nose and a mountain range on the top of its head in the team's colours of blue, green, and white. The colours represent the greenery that surrounds the Pacific Ocean in the Vancouver area and are similar of that of the Vancouver Canucks' official colours. "In choosing our identity we wanted to introduce a team that would resonate with fans in the Pacific Northwest," Aquilini Group managing editor Francesco Aquilini said in a statement. "With a local feel and an experienced, skilled team, we are ready and can't wait to have the Titans compete at the highest level in esports." [5] [30]
In August 2019, the Vancouver Titans announced a partnership with Circle K on limited edition souvenir cups that featured images of Titans players Twilight, Haksal, Bumper, and SeoMinSoo. [31] [32]
Vancouver Titans roster | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Players | Coaches | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Legend:
| Latest roster transaction: July 11, 2023. |
Handle | Name | Seasons | Record | Notes | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Pajion | Hwang Ji-sub | 2019–2020 | 27–5 (.844) | Released after four games in 2020. | [5] [21] |
Flubby | Steven Coronel | 2020–2022 | 5–34 (.128) | Released after six games in 2022. | [23] [33] |
dpei | David Pei | 2022 | 5-13 (.278) | [34] [35] | |
Ascoft | Valentin Wulfman | 2023–present | 0-0 (–) | [36] |
Season | P | W | L | W% | Finish | Playoffs |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2019 | 28 | 25 | 3 | .893 | 1st, Pacific | Lost in Grand Finals, 0–4 (Shock) |
2020 | 21 | 6 | 15 | .286 | 10th, North America | Did not qualify |
2021 | 16 | 1 | 15 | .063 | 12th, West | Did not qualify |
2022 | 24 | 5 | 19 | .208 | 11th, West | Did not qualify |
Rookie of the Year
| Role Star selections
| All-Star Game selections
| All-Star Game head coaches
|
The Shanghai Dragons are a professional Overwatch esports team based in Shanghai, China. The Dragons compete in the Overwatch League (OWL) as a member of the league's East region. Founded in 2017, Shanghai Dragons are one of the league's twelve founding members and are one of four professional Overwatch teams based in China. The team is owned by Chinese internet technology company NetEase, who also own Team CC, an academy team for the Dragons that compete in Overwatch Contenders.
The Los Angeles Gladiators are an American professional Overwatch esports team based in Los Angeles, California. The Gladiators compete in the Overwatch League (OWL) as a member of the league's West region. Founded in 2017, the Los Angeles Gladiators are one of twelve founding members of the OWL and are one of two professional Overwatch teams based in Los Angeles. The team is owned by Stan Kroenke and Josh Kroenke of Kroenke Sports & Entertainment, who also owns Gladiators Legion, an academy team for Los Angeles that competed in Overwatch Contenders.
The New York Excelsior is an American professional Overwatch esports team based in New York City, New York. The Excelsior compete in the Overwatch League (OWL) as a member of the league's West region. Founded in 2017, the team is one of twelve founding members of the Overwatch League and is the first professional esports team to represent the city of New York. The franchise is owned by NYXL, which was founded under the name Andbox by venture capital fund Sterling.VC, supported by Sterling Equities. They also own NYXL Academy, an academy team for NYXL that competed in Overwatch Contenders.
Los Angeles Valiant is an American professional Overwatch esports team representing the city of Los Angeles, California. Valiant compete in the Overwatch League (OWL) as a member of the league's West region. Founded in 2017, Los Angeles Valiant is one of twelve founding members of the OWL and one of two professional Overwatch teams based in Los Angeles.
The San Francisco Shock are an American professional Overwatch esports team based in San Francisco, California. The Shock compete in the Overwatch League (OWL) as a member of the league's West region. Founded in 2017, the San Francisco Shock is one of the twelve founding members of the OWL and is one of three professional Overwatch teams in California. The team is owned by Andy Miller, co-owner of the Sacramento Kings and NRG Esports. The Shock have won three midseason tournament titles, qualified for three season playoffs, and won back-to-back OWL Grand Finals, making them one of the most accomplished franchises in OWL history.
Seoul Dynasty is a South Korean professional Overwatch esports team based in Seoul, South Korea. The Dynasty compete in the Overwatch League (OWL) as a member of the league's East region. Founded in 2017, Seoul Dynasty is one of the league's twelve founding members and one of two professional Overwatch teams based in South Korea. The team is owned by Kevin Chou of Generation Gaming, who also own and operate an academy team for the Dynasty that compete in Overwatch Contenders (OWC) under the moniker Gen.G Esports.
The Houston Outlaws are an American professional Overwatch esports team based in Houston, Texas. The Outlaws compete in the Overwatch League (OWL) as a member of the league's West region.
Seoul Infernal is a professional Overwatch esports team based in Seoul, South Korea. The Infernal compete in the Overwatch League (OWL) as a member of the league's East region. Founded in 2017 as the Philadelphia Fusion, it is one of the league's twelve founding members and was the first professional esports team based in Pennsylvania. The team is owned by Comcast Spectacor, who also own the Philadelphia Flyers of the National Hockey League (NHL). It also manages Fusion University and T1, academy teams for the Infernal that compete in Overwatch Contenders.
Toronto Defiant is a Canadian professional Overwatch esports team based in Toronto, Ontario. The Defiant compete in the Overwatch League (OWL) and are a member of the league's West region. Founded in 2018, Toronto began play as one of eight expansion teams in 2019 and is one of two professional Overwatch teams based in Canada. The team is owned by OverActive Media, who also owned the Montreal Rebellion, a former academy team for the Defiant that competed in Overwatch Contenders (OWC).
Hangzhou Spark is a Chinese professional Overwatch esports team based in Hangzhou, Zhejiang. The Spark compete in the Overwatch League (OWL) as a member of the league's East region. Founded in 2018, Hangzhou Spark began play as one of eight expansion teams in 2019 and is one of four professional Overwatch teams based in China. The team is owned by Bilibili, a Chinese video sharing website; the company also owns Bilibili Gaming, who operate their own Overwatch division that compete in Overwatch Contenders as an academy team for the Spark.
Washington Justice is an American professional Overwatch esports team based in Washington, D.C. The Justice compete in the Overwatch League (OWL) as member of the league's West region. Founded in 2018, Washington Justice began play as one of eight expansion teams in 2019. The team is owned by Mark Ein, who founded Washington Esports Ventures to manage the franchise. The team has reached the season playoffs two times.
The 2019 Boston Uprising season was the second season of Boston Uprising's existence in the Overwatch League.
The 2019 Toronto Defiant season was the first season of Toronto Defiant's existence in the Overwatch League as one of eight expansion franchises added for the 2019 season. After posting a 5–2 record in Stage 1, the Defiant qualified for the Stage 1 Playoffs, but a 0–3 loss against the Shock eliminated the team in the quarterfinals. The team failed to recreate the success they found in Stage 1 in the following stages, going 2–5, 0–7, and 1–6 in Stages 2, 3, and 4, respectively. A 2–3 loss to the Fusion on August 4 officially eliminated Toronto from postseason contention, and three days later, the team released head coach Lee "Bishop" Beom-joon. Despite numerous roster changes throughout the season, the Defiant finished the season in 17th place overall with an 8–20 record.
The 2019 Vancouver Titans season was the first season of Vancouver Titans's existence in the Overwatch League as one of eight expansion franchises added for the 2019 season.
The 2019 Overwatch League Grand Finals was the second championship series of the Overwatch League (OWL), which took place on September 29, 2019. The series was the conclusion of the 2019 Overwatch League playoffs and was played between the Vancouver Titans and San Francisco Shock at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
RunAway was a South Korean esports team, best known for their Overwatch division that competed in Overwatch Apex and Overwatch Contenders (OWC). The team was founded in 2016 by Yoon "Runner" Dae-hoon and is co-owned with his wife Lee "Flowervin" Hyun-ah. RunAway has competed in numerous major tournaments and fielded the team that would become the Vancouver Titans of the Overwatch League (OWL). The team's Overwatch division competed in the Korea region of OWC, and since inception, they won three OWC regional titles and four NetEase Esports X Tournament (NeXT) titles. They expanded into League of Legends in late 2019 before shutting down the division shortly afterwards. In June 2021, RunAway disbanded its Overwatch division.
The 2020 Vancouver Titans season was the second season of Vancouver Titans's existence in the Overwatch League. The team entered the season as the defending Pacific Conference champions looking to bounce back after their 2019 Grand Finals loss to the San Francisco Shock. The Titans planned to host two homestand weekends in the 2020 season at the Rogers Arena in Downtown Vancouver, but all homestand events were canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Kim Hyo-jong (Korean: 김효종), better known by Haksal, is a retired professional South Korean Overwatch player. During his career, he was best known for his play on the damage hero Genji and support hero Brigitte. He played in the Overwatch League (OWL) for the Vancouver Titans and New York Excelsior and in Overwatch Apex and Overwatch Contenders for team RunAway.