If most of your online betting before the COVID-19 pandemic focused on live pro and college sports, then you may be new to some of the rivalries that have become storied in the realm of eSports. Overwatch is one of the multiplayer combat games that has produced a number of professional leagues, and the APEX Season 2 Finals between the teams RunAway and Lunatic Hai, from the perspective of the eSports world, is every bit as epic as the battles between Larry Bird’s Boston Celtics and Magic Johnson’s Los Angeles Lakers. Those two teams have gone through roster changes, as many of the Lunatic Hai crew became the Seoul Dynasty, while some of the RunAway players became the Vancouver Titans. However, the two rosters are coming together for a throwback rematch on Sunday, May 31. Learn more about this matchup in our preview & Overwatch Odds.
The Legendary Showdown between RunAway and Lunatic Hai
This couldn’t have happened if the Vancouver Titans hadn’t released the vast majority of their players, bringing in a bunch of rookies instead. Friction had arisen between the team members and management after the players went back to South Korea during the COVID-19 pandemic. The team had lived in Vancouver and practiced at a local gaming facility.
When case numbers started to rise in Canada, the players asked for permission to go back to South Korea, and they were allowed to do so. However, the team would not arrange for a similar training facility in South Korea for them to practice or compete. Instead, the team said the players would need to take part with the team from home. Several of the players had difficulties connecting and then started boycotting practices and games. Initially, the league sought to move the team to the Asian division due to the time difference, but that did not work out either, and so the Titans parted ways with a talented team.
This is tough for the Overwatch League, but it is good news for fans who want to see this rematch. Jehong “ryujehong” Ryu had said he would not take part in the rematch, but he will participate. Such big names as Bumper, Tobi, Miro, Haksal, Runner and Kaiser are all expected to play.
Lunatic Hai had built one of the best Overwatch teams ever. Miro’s tactics with playing the hero Winston (and Ryujehong with Ana) have become the tactics that other players have emulated since. Lunatic Hai won APEX in the first two years of the competition; RunAway was not able to win a championship until they moved to Overwatch Contenders.
RunAway’s key players include Bumper, known not just for his terrific play but also his trash talking and even-keeled personality. Kaiser had been the prototypical Tank player for RunAway, with a number of highlights, so it will be interesting to see where Bumper plays. Juseok “Twilight” Lee will play in a Support role. The biggest disappointment will be the absence of Jjanu and Seominsoo.
Lunatic Hai will also have Taejun “Leetaejun” Lee in addition to Tobi and Miro. Seungjoon “Whoru” Lee” will return, along with the former MVP, Gido. Expect Whoru to appear at Tank or Support; however, he has been struggling as part of New York Excelsior, so it will be interesting to see if he can bounce back. Injae “Esca” Kim is the only big name who will miss this for Lunatic Hai, due to military responsibilities.
Expect an exciting rematch as an Overwatch League that has been struggling to find good news finally has a headliner that fans from the past can return to celebrate, and fans from today’s game can come together to enjoy.
