The group stage of this year’s Overwatch World Cup 2017 has ended as of last night, and the winners are now known. The German team will not compete for the title at Blizzcon despite tough matches.
32 teams from 32 countries qualified for the group stage of the World Cup. In eight groups of four teams each, they fought over the past weekends for one of the last eight spots, to compete for the title of world champion at Blizzcon this coming November.
Our Boys! – Team Germany
The teams were assembled by committees previously elected through a vote of the Overwatch community in their respective countries. For Germany, these were the two pro-gamers Dennis “INTERNETHULK” Hawelka and Nicholas “skipjack” Rosada, as well as the streamer and caster “Cirouss”.
Ultimately, the committee selected the following players for the team:
- Joshua “cRNKz” Santana as an offensive player
- Dennis “INTERNETHULK” Hawelka as support
- Herman “Nesh” Kobrin as a flex player
- Nicholas “skipjack” Rosada as tank
- Arthur “Eissfeldt” Marx as a flex player
- Marcel “Veinless” Lehmann as support
The Group Stage Process
Each team played against all three other teams in their group. The matches consisted of 4 rounds. In each round, a map from a different category was played:
- Hybrid: King’s Row, Numbani, and Hollywood
- Control: Ilios, Lijang Tower, and Nepal
- Assault: Horizon Lunar Colony and Volskaya Industries
- Escort: Dorado and Route 66
The maps played were selected through mutual vetoes from both teams. In the case of a 2:2 tie, a tiebreaker match was played on the control map Oasis. In the exciting matches, the following teams were able to establish themselves as group winners in their respective groups:
- Group A: China and Norway
- Group B: France and Thailand
- Group C: Sweden and Australia
- Group D: Japan and Spain
- Group E: South Korea and the Netherlands
- Group F: Canada and Russia
- Group G: The USA and Chinese Taipei
- Group H: The United Kingdom and Germany
Good job, German craftsmanship!
Accordingly, the matches of Group H in Los Angeles from August 11-13 were particularly exciting. Germany narrowly won their first encounter against Israel with a score of 3:2. With the first-ever tie in the group stage for a map (Horizon Lunar Colony, with each team getting one point), the matches were balanced and exciting. The strength of the German Overwatch players became clearer in the match against Belgium.
The German team dominated Belgian and secured the encounter with a score of 4:0.
In the final match against the United Kingdom, the German team was overwhelmed. This was surprising. Although the UK team was considered the favorite, a 4:0 win for the UK was unexpectedly clear.
No victory in the Round of 16, but exciting matches
Germany finished second in the group and faced the USA in the Round of 16, which was contested in a best-of-five format. The German team held its own against the significantly stronger USA.
Nevertheless, Germany lost 0:3 and will not participate in the title race at Blizzcon.
The individual results of the Round of 16 are:
| China : Thailand | 3 : 0 |
| Sweden : Spain | 3 : 0 |
| South Korea : Russia | 3 : 0 |
| USA : Germany | 3 : 0 |
| France : Norway | 3 : 0 |
| Japan : Australia | 2 : 3 |
| Canada : Netherlands | 3 : 0 |
| United Kingdom : Chinese Taipei | 3 : 0 |
In the quarter-finals in November, we will thus see the following encounters:
- China vs Sweden
- South Korea vs USA
- France vs Australia
- Canada vs the UK
Thus, eight very strong teams will compete against each other. Who will ultimately take home the trophy remains to be seen – and for Germany, we hope for another chance next year!
