The 2021 Philadelphia Fusion season will be the fourth season of the Philadelphia Fusion's existence in the Overwatch League and their first under head coach Kim "NineK" Bum-hoon.
Preceding offseason
Roster changes
Free agents
| Position
|
Handle
|
Name
|
2021 team
|
Date signed
|
Notes
|
| Support
|
Boombox
|
Isaac Charles
|
Young and Beautiful (OWC)
|
March 10[1]
|
–
|
| Damage
|
Chipsa
|
Philip Graham
|
–
|
–
|
Option declined
|
| Damage
|
Eqo
|
Josue Corona
|
Philadelphia Fusion
|
November 18[2]
|
Option declined
|
| Tank
|
Fury
|
Kim Jun-ho
|
Washington Justice
|
November 21[3]
|
–
|
| Damage
|
Ivy
|
Lee Seung-hyun
|
New York Excelsior
|
December 22[4]
|
–
|
| Tank
|
Poko
|
Gael Gouzerch
|
Philadelphia Fusion
|
November 17[2]
|
Option declined
|
| Tank
|
Sado
|
Kim 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
|
| Players |
Coaches
|
| Role
|
No.
|
Handle
|
Name
|
Nationality
|
| Damage
|
18
|
Carpe
|
Lee Jae-hyeok
|
South Korea
|
| Damage
|
24
|
sHockWave (2W)
|
Jensen, Niclas
|
Denmark
|
| Damage
|
15
|
EQO
|
Corona, Josue
|
Israel
|
| Damage
|
27
|
Rascal
|
Kim Dong-jun
|
South Korea
|
| Tank
|
7
|
Mano
|
Kim Dong-gyu
|
South Korea
|
| Tank
|
8
|
HOTBA
|
Choi Hong-joon
|
South Korea
|
| Tank
|
21
|
Poko (2W)
|
Gouzerch, Gael
|
France
|
| Support
|
4
|
tobi
|
Yang Jin-mo
|
South Korea
|
| Support
|
33
|
FunnyAstro (2W)
|
Hathaway, Daniel
|
United Kingdom
|
| Support
|
17
|
Alarm
|
Kim Kyung-bo
|
South Korea
|
|
- Head coach
|
|
Legend:
- (I) Inactive
- (S) Suspended
- (2W) Two-way player
- Substitute
- Injury / Illness
|
Latest roster transaction: April 8, 2021.
|
Standings
Game log
Regular season
Postseason
References
- ^ a b 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.
- ^ a b Searl, Nate (November 18, 2020). "Eqo and Poko rejoin the Philadelphia Fusion for the 2021 OWL Season". Daily Esports. Retrieved January 24, 2021.
- ^ a b Michael, Cale (November 21, 2020). "Washington Justice signs Fury". Dot Esports. Retrieved January 24, 2021.
- ^ a b Alford, Aaron (December 23, 2020). "NYXL Complete 2021 Lineup". Hotspawn. Retrieved January 21, 2021.
- ^ a b Czar, Michael (November 21, 2020). "Sado signed by the Toronto Defiant". Daily Esports. Retrieved January 24, 2021.
- ^ "2021 Player Contract Status". Overwatch League. October 21, 2020. Retrieved April 21, 2021.
- ^ Richardson, Liz (November 23, 2020). "Philadelphia Fusion signs DPS sHockWave". Dot Esports. Retrieved January 24, 2021.
- ^ Richardson, Liz (March 15, 2021). "Rascal joins the Philadelphia Fusion". Dot Esports. Retrieved March 15, 2021.
- ^ Richardson, Liz (April 7, 2021). "HOTBA returns to Philadelphia Fusion". Dot Esports. Retrieved April 7, 2021.
- ^ Field Level Media (April 8, 2021). "Fusion add tobi to Overwatch League roster". Reuters. Retrieved April 8, 2021.
- ^ Richardson, Liz (November 23, 2020). "Toronto Defiant acquires former Fusion DPS Heesu". Dot Esports. Retrieved January 24, 2021.
- ^ Field Level Media (April 17, 2021). "Philadelphia Fusion open strong in Week 1 of Overwatch League". Gwinnett Prep Sports. Retrieved April 20, 2021.
- ^ O'Dwyer, Jack (April 19, 2021). "Overwatch League Week 1 Round-Up". MSN. Retrieved April 19, 2021.
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