KEY POINTS

  • The "Overwatch League" will begin its playoff race on September 3
  • 20 teams from Asia and North America will face each other
  • Two teams from Asia and North America regions will challenge each other in the Grand Finals 

Organizers of the Overwatch League are making sure that their tournaments are still good to go despite COVID-19 canceling its in-person matches in an effort to spread the virus. The OWL will begin its playoff race starting September 3 after a successful "May Madness" and "Summer Showdown."

The virus caused by the novel coronavirus has hit the esports world hard. This paved the way for organizers to come up with a plan to remain on their timeline. As reported by the Washington Times, the OWL was forced to cancel matches in Asia and North America during the start of the third season in February. A month later, the entire schedule was migrated online.

By April, the OWL announced its first regional tournament, "May Madness." Vice President Jon Spector said viewership skyrocketed as fans were glued to their monitors as they watched 7 teams from Asia and 13 from North America vie for supremacy. The success of "May Madness" was then followed up by the "Summer Showdown" in early July and the "Countdown Cup" in August.

The Overwatch League Grand Finals 2019 event is pictured here; the pandemic has forced cancellation of e-sports tournaments
The Overwatch League Grand Finals 2019 event is pictured here; the pandemic has forced cancellation of e-sports tournaments GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Bryan Bedder

"One of the most successful things about the Overwatch League this year has been that the game has changed frequently. It's added a lot of volatility but it shows us a lot of interesting diversity as well," OWL caster Josh "Sideshow" Wilkinson told the outlet.

The League's last tournament will still adopt the same bracketing with Asia and North America regions going head to head. Engadget said all 20 OWL teams will take part in the tournament and echoed the words of Spector that they did so to accommodate those who were particularly affected by COVID-19.

The lowest-seeded teams in each region will square off in a single-elimination bracket. Those who survive will then have to earn their spot in a double-elimination bracket. Of course, top-tier teams will reap the fruits of their labor since they can choose the map and their opponents. Four teams – two from Asia and two from North America – will challenge each other in the Grand Finals in Asia to "limit server lag," said Engadget.

"Before the four finalists can face-off, we will need a few weeks for health and safety needs and to account for travel logistics," said Blizzard.

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