WHAT IS THE OVERWATCH CHAMPION SERIES (OWCS)?

The Overwatch Champions Series (or OWCS) is the professional eSports league for Blizzard's Overwatch 2. Ran by Blizzard in collaboration with FACEIT (NA and EMEA) and WDG (ASIA), OWCS serves as a replacement to the previous Overwatch League (2017-2023) and began on February 2024.

HOW TO GET INTO OWCS

This stage (at least) is slightly difficult to follow, compared to the Overwatch League. However, most matches are announced on major social medias (Twitter and Instagram primarily) and matches are streamed on both Youtube and Twitch. During the weekdays, both Japan and Pacific regions play at around 2-3 AM PST (Monday through Thursday), Korea plays at 1 AM PST (Friday through Sunday), and NA and EMEA play on the weekends from 9 AM to 3 PM PST (EMEA makes up the first three matches)

HOW I GOT INTO PROFESSIONAL OVERWATCH

I first dipped my toes into competitive Overwatch back during the summer of 2019, but it wouldn't be until June 2022 when I truly got into the Overwatch League. From the few weeks that I watched OWL in 2019 and the fact that they were located remotely close to me, I decided to support the Los Angeles Gladiators through the Kickoff Clash, Midsummer Madness (a.k.a best time of my life) and the slightly dissapointing end to their season. I would go on to support the Florida Mayhem and Hangzhou Spark for the final season of the Overwatch League. Ever since the announcement of the Overwatch Champions Series, I have been carefully following the circuit since scrims :-D.

As to why I enjoy Overwatch Esports so much? I don't really have an answer to that. Maybe it has to do with my 1200 hours on Overwatch, whatever. But it makes me happy, the feeling of watching your team win (or lose), or watching a player Ajax or Wub / AKM blade or C9, or the nail-biting moments of a match that goes to map 5 or 7.