What a dream it has been for the Shanghai Dragons and their faithful fans in Stage 3 of the 2019 Overwatch League season. After spending their entire first season in the Overwatch League as the butt of every joke--they became the team to hold the longest losing streak in professional sport--season 2 has been a different tale for the Dragons.
Earlier this year they won their first match in the Overwatch League, after losing 40+ in a row. Now, the dream trip through the Stage 3 Playoffs firmly cements this 2019 season as one turn-around for the ages.
Win or lose, the Shanghai Dragons had the most surprising Stage and one of the most exciting seasons of competitive Esports ever.
The Sweep?
Through the first three maps it looked like the Shanghai Dragons would continue to shock the Overwatch world as they were firmly in control of their match-up against the San Francisco Shock.
In fact, the Dragons nearly swept the Stage 2 Champions in the Shock. On the back of some stellar Doomfist, and DDING on Pharah, the momentum that Shanghai gained in their series against the Titans hadn’t faded. However, the fiery Shock are extremely resilient and they would put up a real fight.
Reverse Sweep?
San Francisco, always a team able to overcome adversity on the map, seemed to have found their fire in Map 4. On the brink of being swept from their third appearance in a Stage Finals this season, the Shock kicked it up a gear.
Even in their loss, the San Francisco Shock managed to defuse the potentially embarrassing performance by taking the first-to-four series the absolute distance.
Stage 3 Champions
Not only did they beat the New York Excelsiors (the first seed team) in the first round of the Playoffs, following up that performance by handily defeating the league-dominant Vancouver Titans in the second-round, but they nearly sent San Francisco home in shock in the Stage 3 FInals.
There is hardly room to discredit the Shanghai Dragons at this point. Sure, the meta shift in the league definitely warps things in their favor, but the newest additions to the starting line-up, coaching staff, and overall outlook are incredible.
