2021 Shanghai Dragons season
Overwatch League champions
East Region champions
Head coachMoon Byung-chul
General managerYang Van
OwnerNetEase
RegionEast
Results
Record12–4 (.750)
Place
May MeleeGrand finals
June JoustChampions
Summer ShowdownChampions
Countdown CupDid not qualify
Season PlayoffsChampions
Total Earnings$1,770,000

The 2021 Shanghai Dragons season was the fourth season of the Shanghai Dragons's existence in the Overwatch League and their second under head coach Moon Byung-chul.

Preceding offseason

Roster changes

Free agents
Position Handle Name 2021 team Date signed Notes
Damage Dding Yang Jin-hyeok – – –
Damage Diem Bae Min-sung Shanghai Dragons December 2[1] –
Damage Diya Lu Weida – – –
Tank Geguri Kim Se-yeon – – –
Support Luffy Yang Sung-hyeon – – –
Legend
  Light green background indicates a player was re-signed by the Dragons.
  Light red background indicates a player departed from the Dragons.

The Dragons entered free agency with five free agents.[2]

Acquisitions

The Dragons's first offseason acquisition was Koo "Fate" Pan-seung, a veteran tank player, who was acquired from the Florida Mayhem on November 11, 2020.[3] Six days later, the Dragons signed Jeong "Erster" Jun, a "generally adaptable" damage player who played with the Atlanta Reign in 2020.[4] Shanghai's final acquisition of the offseason was He "Molly" Chengzhi, a support formerly with the Chengdu Hunters who was signed on November 24.[5]

Departures

Four of the Dragons' five free agents did not return, none of which were signed with other teams, which included damage player Yang "Dding" Jin-hyeok, damage player Lu "Diya" Weida, tank player Kim "Geguri" Se-yeon, and support player Yang "Luffy" Sung-hyeon. Outside of their free agents, the Dragons' first departure was tank player Lee "Fearless" Eui-seok, who was transferred to the Dallas Fuel on November 7.[6] Twenty days later, on November 27, the Dragons released tank player Seo "Stand1" Ji-won.[7]

Regular season

The Dragons' first match of the 2021 season resulted in a win over the Guangzhou Charge in the May Melee qualifiers.[8] After defeating the Philadelphia Fusion in the Eastern regional knockouts, the Dragons entered the May Melee tournament, the first of four midseason double-elimination tournaments in the regular season, as the second-seeded Eastern team.[9] The team fell to the Dallas Fuel in the upper bracket finals, dropping them to the lower bracket of the tournament; the Dragons reached the finals of the tournament through the lower bracket, where they once again lost to the Fuel.[10]

Prior to the start of the June Joust qualifiers, damage player Joon "Erster" Jeong retired.[11] Looking to add depth to their roster, the Dragons signed damage player Lee "WhoRU" Seung-jun several days later.[12] The team won three of their four June Joust qualifying matches to advance them to the regional knockouts.[13] Several days before the knockouts began, the Dragons lost another player to retirement in damage player Bae "Diem" Min-seong;[14] once again looking for depth, the team signed damage player Chae "Develop" Rak-hoon shortly afterwards.[15] The Dragons advanced to the June Joust tournament after defeating the Seoul Dynasty in the regional knockouts.[13] The team lost their first match of the tournament, again to the Fuel;[16] however, after making it to the finals through the lower bracket, the Dragons defeated the Fuel to claim their first title of the 2021 season.[17]

The Dragons continued their success throughout the Summer Showdown, winning all four of their qualifying matches and advancing past the regional qualifiers.[18] Prior to the start of the Summer Showdown tournament, the team added former Dragons player Kim "Daemin" Dae-min as a coach.[19] The Dragons went undefeated in the tournament, and after defeating the Chengdu Hunters in the finals, they claimed their second consecutive midseason tournament title.[20]

In the final tournament cycle of the regular season, the Countdown Cup, the Dragons went 2–2 in the qualifiers, failing to advance to the regional knockouts for the first time in the season; Dragons' head coach Moon "Moon" Byung-chul stated that they were "resting" their players during the tournament cycle.[21] The team finished the regular season with 12 wins, 4 losses, 20 league points, and the top seed in the season playoffs.[22]

Kim "Fleta" Byung-sun, Lee "Lip" Jae-won, and Kim "Izayaki" Min-chul were all MVP candidates for the 2021 regular season.[23] Additionally, Lee "Lip" Jae-won, Kang "Void" Jung-woo, Kim "Izayaki" Min-chul, and Lee "Leejaegon" Jae-gon were awarded Role Star commendations for damage, tank, support, and support, respectively.[24]

Playoffs

Shanghai selected the sixth-seeded San Francisco Shock as their opponent for the first round of the season playoffs; the Dragons swept the Shock, 3–0.[25] The team next defeated the fourth-seeded Los Angeles Gladiators by a score of 3–1.[26] Moving on to the upper bracket finals, the Dragons faced the second-seeded Dallas Fuel, marking the fifth time the two teams had played each other in a midseason or season playoff match in the 2021 season. Despite keeping the maps close, the Dragons came out with a 3–1 victory to advance the Grand Finals bracket.[27]

In the Grand Finals match, the Dragons swept the Reign by a score of 4–0 to win their first OWL championship.[28]

Final roster

2021 Shanghai Dragons roster
PlayersCoaches
Role No. Handle Name Nationality
Damage 70 LIP Lee Jae-won South Korea
Damage 1 Fleta Kim Byung-sun South Korea
Damage 23 WhoRU Seung-jun Lee South Korea
Damage 3 Develop Chae Rak-hoon South Korea
Tank 7 Fate Koo Pan-seung South Korea
Tank 57 Void Kang Jun-woo South Korea
Support 2 LeeJaeGon Lee Jae-gon South Korea
Support 22 Izayaki Kim Min-chul South Korea
Support 66 Molly He Chengzhi China
Head coach
  • Moon "Moon" Byung-chul
Legend:
  • (I) Inactive
  • (S) Suspended
  • (2W) Two-way player
  • Substitute player Substitute
  • Injured Injury / Illness
  

Latest roster transaction: June 10, 2021.

Transactions

Transactions of/for players on the roster during the 2021 regular season:

  • On May 21, damage player Jeong "Erster" Joon retired.[11]
  • On May 25, the Dragons signed damage player Lee "WhoRU" Seung-jun.[12]
  • On June 3, damage player Bae "diem" Min-seong retired.[14]
  • On June 10, the Dragon signed damage player Chae "Develop" Rak-hoon.[15]

Standings

Pos Team Pld W L Pts PCT MW ML MT MD Qualification
1 Shanghai Dragons 16 12 4 20 0.750 38 19 2 +19 Advance to season playoffs
2 Chengdu Hunters 16 11 5 15 0.688 38 22 2 +16
3 Seoul Dynasty 16 12 4 12 0.750 40 22 0 +18 Advance to play-ins
4 Philadelphia Fusion 16 10 6 10 0.625 37 24 3 +13
5 Hangzhou Spark 16 7 9 7 0.438 32 31 0 +1
6 New York Excelsior 16 7 9 7 0.438 29 32 0 −3
7 Guangzhou Charge 16 5 11 5 0.313 20 38 4 −18
8 Los Angeles Valiant 16 0 16 0 0.000 2 48 1 −46
Source: The Overwatch League
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) winning percentage (including tournaments); 3) regular season wins; 4) regular season map differential

Game log

Regular season

2021 game log
May Melee
Qualifier match 1 April 17 Guangzhou Charge 0 – 3 Shanghai Dragons Online
5:00 pm CST    Details
1 Lijang Tower 2
3 Blizzard World 3
0 Dorado 1
0 Temple of Anubis 2
Qualifier match 2 April 18 Chengdu Hunters 3 – 0 Shanghai Dragons Online
6:30 pm CST    Details
2 Oasis 0
1 Eichenwalde 0
4 Watchpoint: Gibraltar 3
Qualifier match 3 April 30 Shanghai Dragons 3 – 2 Hangzhou Spark Online
8:00 pm CST    Details
2 Nepal 0
2 Volskaya Industries 4
0 King's Row 3
1 Havana 0
2 Busan 0
Qualifier match 4 May 01 Shanghai Dragons 3 – 0 New York Excelsior Online
8:00 pm CST    Details
2 Ilios 1
2 Temple of Anubis 1
3 Blizzard World 1
Regional finals May 02 Shanghai Dragons 3 – 2 Philadelphia Fusion Online
5:00 pm CST    Details
2 Nepal 1
2 Volskaya Industries 2
1 Eichenwalde 2
0 Havana 1
2 Ilios 1
5 Watchpoint: Gibraltar 4
Tournament first round May 07 Shanghai Dragons 3 – 2 Florida Mayhem Online
10:00 am CST    Details
2 Ilios 0
1 Hanamura 1
1 King's Row 2
1 Watchpoint: Gibraltar 0
0 Oasis 2
3 Dorado 2
Upper finals May 08 Dallas Fuel 3 – 2 Shanghai Dragons Online
9:00 am CST    Details
2 Ilios 0
2 Temple of Anubis 2
1 Blizzard World 2
3 Watchpoint: Gibraltar 2
0 Oasis 2
2 Dorado 0
Lower finals May 08 Shanghai Dragons 3 – 0 Florida Mayhem Online
1:30 pm CST    Details
2 Oasis 0
1 Hanamura 0
2 King's Row 1
Grand finals May 09 Shanghai Dragons 2 – 4 Dallas Fuel Online
9:00 am CST    Details
0 Lijiang Tower 2
1 Temple of Anubis 0
2 King's Row 3
2 Watchpoint: Gibraltar 3
2 Ilios 0
1 Blizzard World 2

June Joust
Qualifier match 1 May 22 Shanghai Dragons 3 – 0 Chengdu Hunters Online
6:30 pm CST    Details
2 Oasis 0
2 Hollywood 1
6 Junkertown 5
Qualifier match 2 May 23 Shanghai Dragons 0 – 3 Hangzhou Spark Online
5:00 pm CST    Details
1 Nepal 2
3 Numbani 4
0 Rialto 1
Qualifier match 3 May 29 Shanghai Dragons 3 – 0 Los Angeles Valiant Online
5:00 pm CST    Details
2 Busan 0
3 Rialto 1
1 Volskaya Industries 1
1 Numbani 0
Qualifier match 4 May 30 Seoul Dynasty 1 – 3 Shanghai Dragons Online
6:30 pm CST    Details
1 Lijiang Tower 2
1 Dorado 2
3 Temple of Anubis 2
0 Eichenwalde 3
Regional finals June 06 Seoul Dynasty 0 – 3 Shanghai Dragons Hangzhou, CN
6:30 pm CST    Details Future Sci-Tech City
Hosted by the Hangzhou Spark
0 Lijiang Tower 2
1 Temple of Anubis 2
0 Hollywood 2
Tournament first round June 11 Dallas Fuel 3 – 0 Shanghai Dragons Online
10:30 am CST    Details
2 Busan 0
2 Volskaya Industries 1
3 Numbani 2
Lower round 1 June 12 New York Excelsior 0 – 3 Shanghai Dragons Online
10:45 am CST    Details
0 Busan 2
0 Temple of Anubis 2
2 Numbani 3
Lower finals June 12 Shanghai Dragons 3 – 0 Atlanta Reign Online
12:00 noon CST    Details
2 Lijiang Tower 1
3 Hanamura 2
4 Numbani 3
Grand finals June 13 Shanghai Dragons 4 – 3 Dallas Fuel Online
9:00 am CST    Details
0 Lijiang Tower 2
0 Volskaya Industries 2
2 Numbani 1
3 Rialto 4
2 Busan 1
3 Eichenwalde 2
2 Junkertown 1

Summer Showdown
Qualifier match 1 July 03 Seoul Dynasty 0 – 3 Shanghai Dragons Online
6:30 pm CST    Details
0 Busan 2
0 Route 66 1
1 Temple of Anubis 2
Qualifier match 2 July 04 Philadelphia Fusion 0 – 3 Shanghai Dragons Online
6:30 pm CST    Details
1 Lijiang Tower 2
2 Junkertown 3
1 Volskaya Industries 2
Qualifier match 3 July 09 Los Angeles Valiant 0 – 3 Shanghai Dragons Shanghai, CN
8:00 pm CST    Details Jing'An Sports Center
Hosted by the Shanghai Dragons
1 Nepal 2
0 Volskaya Industries 1
2 King's Row 3
Qualifier match 4 July 10 Hangzhou Spark 1 – 3 Shanghai Dragons Shanghai, CN
8:00 pm CST    Details Jing'An Sports Center
Hosted by the Shanghai Dragons
0 Ilios 2
1 Hanamura 2
2 Hollywood 1
1 Watchpoint: Gibraltar 2
Regional finals July 11 New York Excelsior 0 – 3 Shanghai Dragons Shanghai, CN
5:12 pm CST    Details Jing'An Sports Center
Hosted by the Shanghai Dragons
0 Ilios 2
2 Volskaya Industries 3
4 King's Row 5
Tournament first round July 16 Atlanta Reign 0 – 3 Shanghai Dragons Online
11:00 am CST    Details
0 Nepal 2
1 Hanamura 2
0 King's Row 3
Upper finals July 17 Chengdu Hunters 2 – 3 Shanghai Dragons Online
9:00 am CST    Details
1 Ilios 2
1 Temple of Anubis 2
4 Eichenwalde 3
3 Watchpoint: Gibraltar 2
0 Busan 2
Grand finals July 18 Chengdu Hunters 1 – 4 Shanghai Dragons Online
9:00 am CST    Details
2 Ilios 0
1 Temple of Anubis 2
1 Eichenwalde 3
2 Route 66 3
0 Nepal 2

Countdown Cup
Qualifier match 1 July 31 Philadelphia Fusion 3 – 0 Shanghai Dragons Online
8:00 pm CST    Details
2 Busan 0
1 Numbani 0
2 Rialto 1
Qualifier match 2 August 01 Shanghai Dragons 2 – 3 New York Excelsior Online
6:30 pm CST    Details
1 Ilios 2
3 King's Row 2
1 Havana 2
3 Volskaya Industries 2
1 Lijiang Tower 2
Qualifier match 3 August 07 Seoul Dynasty 2 – 3 Shanghai Dragons Online
6:30 pm CST    Details
2 Nepal 0
2 Route 66 3
2 Temple of Anubis 0
1 Blizzard World 2
0 Busan 2
Qualifier match 4 August 08 Shanghai Dragons 3 – 1 Guangzhou Charge Online
8:00 pm CST    Details
2 Lijiang Tower 0
3 Havana 0
0 Hanamura 1
4 Numbani 3

2021 season schedule

Postseason

2021 playoff game log
Season Playoffs
Upper round 1 September 22 San Francisco Shock 0 – 3 Shanghai Dragons Online
10:00 am CST    Details
1 Ilios 2
0 Hanamura 1
2 King's Row 3
Upper round 2 September 23 Los Angeles Gladiators 1 – 3 Shanghai Dragons Online
1:30 pm CST    Details
0 Ilios 2
2 Hanamura 0
0 Numbani 1
0 Havana 1
Upper final September 23 Dallas Fuel 1 – 3 Shanghai Dragons Online
10:30 am CST    Details
0 Ilios 2
3 Volskaya Industries 2
2 Numbani 3
1 Dorado 3
Grand Finals September 25 Atlanta Reign 0 – 4 Shanghai Dragons Online
9:00 am CST    Details
0 Ilios 2
2 Hanamura 3
5 King's Row 6
2 Havana 3

References

  1. ↑ Czar, Michael (December 2, 2020). "Diem returns to the Shanghai Dragons". Daily Esports. Retrieved January 29, 2021.
  2. ↑ "2021 Player Contract Status". Overwatch League. October 21, 2020. Retrieved April 21, 2021.
  3. ↑ Richardson, Liz (November 11, 2020). "Shanghai Dragons acquires main tank Fate". Dot Esports. Retrieved January 17, 2021.
  4. ↑ O'Dwyer, Samuel (November 18, 2020). "Shanghai Dragons add Erster". Dot Esports. Retrieved January 16, 2021.
  5. ↑ Shanghai Dragons [@ShanghaiDragons] (November 25, 2020). "Welcome to the party! Our newest pickup Molly is here!" (Tweet). Retrieved January 17, 2021 – via Twitter.
  6. ↑ Howard, Brandon (November 9, 2020). "Dallas Fuel Sign Fearless From Shanghai Dragons". TheGamer. Retrieved January 17, 2021.
  7. ↑ Shanghai Dragons [@ShanghaiDragons] (November 27, 2020). "After friendly negotiations, Stand1 has been released from his contract and is now a free agent" (Tweet). Retrieved January 29, 2021 – via Twitter.
  8. ↑ Field Level Media (April 17, 2021). "Philadelphia Fusion open strong in Week 1 of Overwatch League". Gwinnett Prep Sports. Retrieved September 24, 2021.
  9. ↑ Richardson, Liz (May 3, 2021). "Here are the Overwatch League May Melee teams". Dot Esports. Retrieved September 24, 2021.
  10. ↑ Richardson, Liz (May 8, 2021). "Dallas Fuel win Overwatch League May Melee". Dot Esports. Retrieved September 24, 2021.
  11. 1 2 O'Dwyer, Samuel (May 21, 2021). "Erster retires from competitive Overwatch". Dot Esports. Retrieved September 24, 2021.
  12. 1 2 Czarnowski, Michael (May 25, 2021). "Shanghai Dragons sign highly-touted prospect WhoRU". Upcomer. Retrieved September 24, 2021.
  13. 1 2 Richardson, Liz (June 7, 2021). "Here are the Overwatch League June Joust teams". Dot Esports. Retrieved September 24, 2021.
  14. 1 2 O'Dwyer, Samuel (June 3, 2021). "Diem retires from Overwatch". Dot Esports. Retrieved September 24, 2021.
  15. 1 2 Czarnowski, Michael (June 10, 2021). "Shanghai Dragons sign Develop to replace recent departures". Upcomer. Retrieved September 24, 2021.
  16. ↑ Collins, Sean (June 10, 2021). "Dallas Fuel tank player 'Hanbin': Shanghai Dragons 'not prepared' as Fuel continue dominance in June Joust". The Dallas Morning News. Retrieved September 24, 2021.
  17. ↑ Richardson, Liz (June 12, 2021). "Shanghai Dragons win Overwatch League June Joust". Dot Esports. Retrieved September 24, 2021.
  18. ↑ Richardson, Liz (July 12, 2021). "Here are the Overwatch League Summer Showdown teams". Dot Esports. Retrieved September 24, 2021.
  19. ↑ Czarnowski, Michael (July 14, 2021). "Daemin returns to the Shanghai Dragons as coach". Upcomer. Retrieved September 24, 2021.
  20. ↑ Richardson, Liz (July 17, 2021). "Shanghai Dragons win the Overwatch League Summer Showdown". Dot Esports. Retrieved September 24, 2021.
  21. ↑ Qu, Bonnie (September 20, 2021). "Shanghai Dragons are the team to beat in Overwatch League playoffs". Upcomer. Retrieved September 24, 2021.
  22. ↑ "Overwatch League 2021 Standings". Overwatch League. Retrieved September 24, 2021.
  23. ↑ Garcia, Ethan (August 13, 2021). "Fleta, Sp9rk1e among MVP candidates for 2021 Overwatch League season". Dot Esports. Retrieved September 24, 2021.
  24. ↑ Richardson, Liz (September 24, 2021). "Overwatch League reveals 2021 Role Stars". Dot Esports. Retrieved September 25, 2021.
  25. ↑ "Overwatch League playoffs recap: Day 1". Upcomer. September 22, 2021. Retrieved September 24, 2021.
  26. ↑ "Overwatch League 2021 playoffs recap: Day 2". Upcomer. September 23, 2021. Retrieved September 24, 2021.
  27. ↑ Collins, Sean (September 24, 2021). "After semifinal loss to Shanghai, Dallas Fuel will eventually have to slay Dragons to win OWL title". The Dallas Morning News. Retrieved September 24, 2021.
  28. ↑ Richardson, Liz (September 25, 2021). "Shanghai Dragons win the 2021 Overwatch League championship". Dot Esports. Retrieved September 26, 2021.
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