2021 Hangzhou Spark season

The 2021 Hangzhou Spark season is the third season of Hangzhou Spark's existence in the Overwatch League. After their first two games, the Spark released head coach Hwang "paJion" Ji-sub and promoted Hwang "Andante" Jae-hong to interim head coach.

2021 Hangzhou Spark season
Head coach
  • Hwang "paJion" Ji-sub
    (Released April 26)
  • Hwang "Andante" Jae-hong
    (Interim)
General managerChen Youyou
OwnerRui Chen
RegionEast
Results
Record7–9 (.438)
Place
May MeleeDid not qualify
June JoustRegional finals
Summer
Showdown		Did not qualify
Countdown CupDid not qualify
Season PlayoffsDid not qualify
Total Earnings$0

Preceding offseason

Roster changes

The Spark entered free agency with five free agents, all of which became free agents due to the Spark not exercising the option to retain the player for another year.[1]

Acquisitions

The Spark's first acquisition of the offseason was Zheng "Shy" Yangjie, a rookie damage player promoted from the team's Overwatch Contenders academy team Bilibili Gaming on October 22, 2020.[2] The team's next acquisition came on November 16 with the signing of Jia "LiGe" Chengjie, a rookie tank player coming off of a second-place finish with Team CC in Contenders China.[3] The following day, the Spark signed Lee "MCD" Jeong-ho, a rookie support player from Contenders team Element Mystic.[4] The next day, they signed Lee "Takoyaki" Young-hyun, a rookie tank player coming from Contenders team Team Diamond.[5] One days later, on November 18, Hangzhou signed Shin "Bernar" Se-won, a second-year tank player coming off of a 6–15 season with the London Spitfire.[6] The Spark's final acquisition of the offseason came on November 19 with the signing of Seo "SeoMinSoo" Min-soo, a damage player who is considered one of the best flex damage players in the league with a "very deep pool of heroes to draw from," although he did not compete in the 2020 season.[4]

Departures

Outside of the Spark's free agents, tank player Yu "QoQ" Sung-jun was released from the team on November 12, 2020.[7] None of the Spark's five free agents returned, three of which signed with other teams, beginning with support player Yoon "Bebe" Hee-chang signing with the Washington Justice on November 19.[8] Three days later, tank player Park "Ria" Sung-wook also signed with the Justice.[9] On March 8, 2021, damage player Chon "Ado" Gi-hyeon signed with Overwatch Contenders team RunAway.[10] Two of the Spark's free agents did not sign with a team in the 2020 offseason: damage player "Adora" Kang Jae-hwan and tank player Song "Sasin" Sang-hyun.

Regular season

May Melee

After an 0–2 start, the Spark released head coach Hwang "Pajion" Ji-sub and assistant coach Kim "nOrU" Jae-dong on April 26; Hwang "Andante" Jae-hong was promoted to interim head coach and Kim "Mentalist" Chung-in was brought on as an assistant coach.[11]

Final roster
2021 Hangzhou Spark roster
PlayersCoaches
RoleNo.HandleNameNationality
Damage  17 Shy  Zheng Yangjie  China 
Damage  21 Architect  Park Min-ho  South Korea 
Damage  18 SeoMinSoo  Seo Min-soo  South Korea 
Tank  8 guxue  Xu Qiulin  China 
Tank  11 BERNAR  Shin Se-won  South Korea 
Tank  22 LiGe (2W)  Jia Chengjie  China 
Support  37 iDK  Park Ho-jin  South Korea 
Support  13 M1ka  Liu Jiming  China 
Support  14 ColdEst  Tong Xiaodong  China 
Head coach
  • Vacant
Legend

Latest roster transaction: August 24, 2021.

Transactions

Transactions of/for players on the roster during the 2020 regular season:

  • On June 22, the Spark released damage player Kim "GodsB" Kyeon-bo.[12]
  • On June 28, the Spark released tank player Lee "Takoyaki" Young-hyun.[13]
  • On August 24, the Spark released support player Lee "MCD" Jeong-ho.[14]

Standings
2021 Overwatch League East standings
# Team PTS W L PCT P MR MD
Playoffs
1 Shanghai Dragons 20 12 4 .750 16 38–19–2 +19
2 Chengdu Hunters 15 11 5 .688 16 38–22–2 +16
Play-ins
3 Seoul Dynasty 12 12 4 .750 16 40–22–0 +18
4 Philadelphia Fusion 10 10 6 .625 16 37–24–3 +13
5[lower-alpha 1] Hangzhou Spark 7 7 9 .438 16 32–31–0 +1
Did not qualify for postseason
6[lower-alpha 1] New York Excelsior 7 7 9 .438 16 29–32–0 -3
7 Guangzhou Charge 5 5 11 .313 16 20–38–4 -18
8 Los Angeles Valiant 0 0 16 .000 16 2–48–1 -46
Tiebreakers
  1. Hangzhou placed ahead of New York based on map differential.

Game log

Regular season
2021 game log
May Melee
Qualifier match 1 April 24 Philadelphia Fusion 3 – 1 Hangzhou Spark Online
6:30 pm CST    Details
1 Lijiang Tower 2
3 Watchpoint: Gibraltar 2
2 Hanamura 1
2 Eichenwalde 1
Qualifier match 2 April 25 Hangzhou Spark 1 – 3 New York Excelsior Online
5:00 pm CST    Details
1 Busan 2
2 Havana 3
2 Volskaya Industries 0
1 King's Row 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 Guangzhou Charge 0 – 3 Hangzhou Spark Online
6:30 pm CST    Details
1 Oasis 2
1 Temple of Anubis 2
2 Blizzard World 3

June Joust
Qualifier match 1 May 22 Guangzhou Charge 1 – 3 Hangzhou Spark Online
5:00 pm CST    Details
2 Lijiang Tower 0
2 Eichenwalde 3
1 Dorado 3
3 Temple of Anubis 4
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 June 04 Los Angeles Valiant 0 – 3 Hangzhou Spark Hangzhou, CN
8:00 pm CST    Details Future Sci-Tech City
Hosted by the Hangzhou Spark
0 Oasis 2
0 Hanamura 2
1 Hollywood 2
Qualifier match 4 June 05 Chengdu Hunters 1 – 3 Hangzhou Spark Hangzhou, CN
8:00 pm CST    Details Future Sci-Tech City
Hosted by the Hangzhou Spark
1 Ilios 2
3 Volskaya Industries 2
3 Numbani 5
2 Rialto 3
Regional finals June 06 New York Excelsior 3 – 1 Hangzhou Spark Hangzhou, CN
5:00 pm CST    Details Future Sci-Tech City
Hosted by the Hangzhou Spark
0 Oasis 2
2 Temple of Anubis 0
3 Numbani 2
1 Dorado 0

Summer Showdown
Qualifier match 1 June 26 Hangzhou Spark 3 – 0 Los Angeles Valiant Online
5:00 pm CST    Details
2 Lijiang Tower 1
2 Eichenwalde 1
1 Route 66 0
Qualifier match 2 June 27 Hangzhou Spark 0 – 3 Seoul Dynasty Online
5:00 pm CST    Details
1 Nepal 2
3 King's Row 4
2 Junkertown 3
Qualifier match 3 July 09 Hangzhou Spark 3 – 2 New York Excelsior Shanghai, CN
5:00 pm CST    Details Jing'An Sports Center
Hosted by the Shanghai Dragons
1 Oasis 2
3 Volskaya Industries 2
3 King's Row 2
2 Junkertown 3
2 Nepal 0
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

Countdown Cup
Qualifier match 1 July 31 Hangzhou Spark 2 – 3 Seoul Dynasty Online
5:00 pm CST    Details
2 Lijiang Tower 0
3 King's Row 2
0 Rialto 3
2 Volskaya Industries 3
1 Oasis 2
Qualifier match 2 August 01 Hangzhou Spark 1 – 3 Philadelphia Fusion Online
8:00 pm CST    Details
2 Nepal 1
1 Blizzard World 2
0 Route 66 3
1 Temple of Anubis 2
Qualifier match 3 August 13 Hangzhou Spark 1 – 3 Chengdu Hunters Online
5:00 pm CST    Details
0 Busan 2
2 Hanamura 1
3 King's Row 4
1 Havana 2
Qualifier match 4 August 14 Guangzhou Charge 3 – 2 Hangzhou Spark Online
5:00 pm CST    Details
2 Ilios 0
3 Volskaya Industries 4
4 Numbani 5
3 Rialto 2
2 Lijiang Tower 1

2021 season schedule

Postseason
2021 playoff game log
East Play-ins
Semifinals September 5 Hangzhou Spark 1 – 3 Philadelphia Fusion Online
5:05 pm CST    Details
2 Oasis 1
2 Volskaya Industries 3
1 King's Row 2
0 Route 66 1

References
  1. "2021 Player Contract Status". Overwatch League. October 21, 2020. Retrieved April 21, 2021.
  2. O'Dwyer, Samuel (October 22, 2020). "Hangzhou Spark promotes Chinese wunderkind Shy to main Overwatch League roster". Dot Esports. Retrieved January 18, 2021.
  3. Castelot, Ophelie (November 16, 2020). "Overwatch League: Hangzhou Spark Signs Lige". ESTNN. Retrieved January 18, 2021.
  4. Howard, Brandon (November 20, 2020). "Hangzhou Spark Sign SeoMinSoo, MCD". TheGamer. Retrieved January 18, 2021.
  5. Alford, Aaron (November 23, 2020). "Hangzhou Spark Bring on Fresh Talent for 2021 Season". Hotspawn. Retrieved January 18, 2021.
  6. Field Level Media (November 19, 2020). "Hangzhou Spark sign off tank Bernar". Reuters. Retrieved January 18, 2021.
  7. Castelot, Ophelie (November 13, 2020). "Overwatch League: Hangzhou Spark releases QoQ". ESTNN. Retrieved January 18, 2021.
  8. Alford, Aaron (November 19, 2020). "Washington Justice signs BeBe". Dot Esports. Retrieved January 18, 2021.
  9. Johnson, Xavier (November 22, 2020). "Washington Justice signs off-tank Ria". Dot Esports. Retrieved January 18, 2021.
  10. RunAway [@Runaway_OW] (March 8, 2021). "Runaway's new team rosters are on display" (Tweet). Retrieved April 19, 2021 – via Twitter.
  11. Johnson, Xavier (April 26, 2021). "Hangzhou Spark parts ways with Pajion, Andante becomes interim head coach". Dot Esports. Retrieved April 26, 2021.
  12. Richardson, Liz (June 22, 2021). "Hangzhou Spark parts ways with GodsB". Dot Esports. Retrieved June 23, 2021.
  13. Richardson, Liz (June 28, 2021). "Hangzhou Spark parts ways with Takoyaki". Dot Esports. Retrieved June 28, 2021.
  14. Richardson, Liz (August 24, 2021). "Hangzhou Spark drops MCD due to xenophobic 'in-game behavior'". Dot Esports. Retrieved August 24, 2021.
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