The Overwatch World Cup 2023 finals were filled with excitement as every series went to five maps. In a thrilling turn of events, Saudi Arabia emerged as the champions, defeating China 3-2 in a reverse sweep. This victory marks Saudi Arabia’s first World Cup championship and makes them the first team to achieve a reverse sweep in a World Cup final.
China, unfortunately, finished in second place for the second time in the World Cup, having previously lost to South Korea in a 4-0 sweep in 2018. However, their performance in that tournament played a significant role in boosting the popularity of Chinese players in the Overwatch League and contributed to the success of the Hangzhou Spark in 2023.
The future of the Overwatch esports scene remains uncertain, leaving Saudi Arabia’s chances of defending their title up in the air. Nevertheless, their triumph in this underdog run will be remembered as one for the ages.
Saudi Arabia caught everyone’s attention with their undefeated run to the grand final, only dropping maps to Finland and China. Despite being down 2-0 against China, they made a strategic shift in their compositions, focusing on Bastion to exploit China’s lack of flexibility. This put immense pressure on China’s DPS players, and although they showcased moments of brilliance, Saudi Arabia ultimately prevailed. The reverse sweep was not a dominant one, as China kept the final map incredibly close, but they couldn’t halt Saudi Arabia’s momentum.
The Overwatch World Cup 2023 also highlighted the rise of two standout players from Saudi Arabia, KSAA and SirMajed. Their exceptional performances on Sigma and Illari respectively played a crucial role in their team’s dominance throughout the tournament.
As the Overwatch 2 competitive scene’s future potentially lies in the hands of a Saudi-backed pitch from ESL, Saudi Arabia’s victory couldn’t have come at a better time. It serves as a significant achievement in the esports world and sets the stage for what’s to come in Overwatch 2.
The Overwatch World Cup marks the conclusion of the BlizzCon 2023 convention weekend. More information about Overwatch 2’s new competitive era will be revealed in the following weeks.
| Team | Score |
|---|---|
| Saudi Arabia | 3 |
| China | 2 |
Source: DOTESPORTS
