The Shanghai Dragons are one of the premier Overwatch League teams. Established in 2017, these Dragons are owned by Chinese internet technology company NetEase.
After suffering through an impressive 42 match defeats in their inaugural Overwatch League season, the Dragons have managed to turn things around. Their latest triumph over Boston Uprising shows how hard work can pay off in spades.
Team History
Shanghai Dragons- Esports Team have been one of the most dramatic teams to emerge from Overwatch League competition. Starting out 0-40 during Season 1, their subsequent win against San Francisco Shock in Stage 3, has demonstrated incredible resilience, mental toughness, and perseverance.
Though their success can often be attributed to new players and rookies joining, it was also due to a change in mindset that propelled them forward. Head Coach Moon brought with her an integrative approach to game progression that had lasting results.
Geguri and Fearless struggled to coordinate with each other on the tank line; their poor communication was one reason why the Dragons were amongst one of the most disorganized units during Stage 1.
Gamsu’s arrival from Boston Uprising enabled the Dragons to form an unparalleled tank duo that rivaled some of the top teams in the league, while diem quickly become an essential piece in their DPS line within their triple-tank/triple-support meta.
Roster Changes
After suffering through an embarrassing debut season in the Overwatch League, Shanghai Dragons made major roster adjustments following an unsuccessful first campaign where they went 0-40 and lost 42 matches.
During this period, several members had left and two retired – Sinatraa being one.
The team was also able to supplement some of their losses with new signings like Vulcan. These new players helped the team return to form after such a challenging start.
The Shanghai Dragons boast a deep roster that will propel them forward, including Rookie of the Year candidate Lee “LIP” Jae-won and veteran sniper Kim “Genji” Se-yeon – players that could push APAC ahead with this lineup.
Coaching Changes
Over time, The Dragons have experienced numerous coaching changes. Some were minor; such as adding additional players to improve communication and coordination; while some have been more substantial.
One of the more notable coaching changes that took place was adding Song “Quatermain” Ji-hoon as a player coach – this brings an unmatched set of abilities that can improve our game-by-game performances.
Addition of Seung-Hyeon “Ir1s” Kim as a flex support player was another important change, which enabled the team to more efficiently compete against teams with more experienced flex players.
The Dragons recently hired Sun Jun Young as their interim head coach, taking over for Chen Congshan who was fired last week. Sun will serve as interim until his replacement can be found permanently.
Final Words
After an unpromising start in their inaugural Overwatch League season, Shanghai Dragons are finally on a roll, winning their inaugural game to claim victory and make history for themselves as underdogs.
What lies in store for a Shanghai team after it scored two victories at home against two powerful foes? It’s an exciting prospect, one which should inspire debate among fans who had once given up hope on them.
First and foremost, one needs to assess what this era of the team can accomplish without losing its identity or losing fans en masse. Although 42 consecutive losses no longer define them, does that imply fan adoration will decrease as time passes?
Meanwhile, the Dragons are slowly returning to what made them successful last year with a scrappy lineup that has shown they can compete with top teams. It is promising start for an ambitious squad looking to challenge top teams this year.
