2019 Toronto Defiant season
Head coachLee Beom-joon (rel. Aug. 7)
General managerWon Jae-sun
OwnerChris Overholt
DivisionAtlantic
Results
Record8–20 (.286)
Place
Stage 1 PlayoffsQuarterfinals
Stage 2 PlayoffsDid not qualify
Stage 3 PlayoffsDid not qualify
Season PlayoffsDid not qualify
Total Earnings$25,000

The 2019 Toronto Defiant season was the first season of Toronto Defiant's existence in the Overwatch League as one of eight expansion franchises added for the 2019 season. After posting a 5–2 record in Stage 1, the Defiant qualified for the Stage 1 Playoffs, but a 0–3 loss against the Shock eliminated the team in the quarterfinals. The team failed to recreate the success they found in Stage 1 in the following stages, going 2–5, 0–7, and 1–6 in Stages 2, 3, and 4, respectively. A 2–3 loss to the Fusion on August 4 officially eliminated Toronto from postseason contention, and three days later, the team released head coach Lee "Bishop" Beom-joon. Despite numerous roster changes throughout the season, the Defiant finished the season in 17th place overall with an 8–20 record.

Preceding offseason

The roster of Toronto Defiant at the beginning of the 2019 Overwatch League season: Left to right, top to bottom: Aid, envy, RoKy, Neko, Ivy, Yakpung, Asher, Stellar.

Toronto announced their initial inaugural season roster over a span from October 27 to November 27; the team's roster consisted of the following players:[1]

  • Lee "envy" Kang-Jae,
  • Park "Neko" Se-hyeon,
  • Lee "ivy" Seung-hyun,
  • Lee "Stellar" Do-hyung,
  • Jo "Yakpung" Gyeong-mu,
  • Ko "Aid" Jae-yoon,
  • Choi "Asher" Jun-sung, and
  • Park "RoKy" Joo-seong.

Regular season

The Defiant opened their 2019 season with a match against the Houston Outlaws on February 15; Toronto won the match 3–2.[2] Toronto finished Stage 1 with a 5–2 record and secured a Stage 1 Playoff berth.[3] At the end of Stage 1, the Defiant were tied with the Philadelphia Fusion for the third seed of the Stage 1 Playoffs. By rule, the teams would have to compete in an offline match to determine seeding; however, both teams agreed on a coin-flip, instead. The Defiant received the third seed and faced sixth-seeded San Francisco Shock in the quarterfinals on March 22.[4] The Defiant lost the series 0–3.[5]

A few days prior to the beginning of Stage 2, Toronto Defiant parted ways with their strategic coach Kim "Don" Dong-wook.[6] A day later, DPS player Lee "Stellar" Do-hyung retired from professional Overwatch for personal reasons.[7] To take his place, Defiant signed Jin "im37" Hong, who had been playing Overwatch professionally for only just over a month, hours before the beginning of Stage 2.[8] In Stage 2, Toronto faced the undefeated Vancouver Titans on May 3. The Defiant lost the series 1–3, putting the team on a five-game losing streak. The loss also officially eliminated them from Stage 2 Playoff contention.[9] The team's final match of Stage 2 was against the Paris Eternal. Toronto went on to win, 4–0, marking their first sweep of the season.[10]

There were more roster changes for Toronto heading into Stage 3. Both tank Daniel "Gods" Graeser and tank Normunds "sharyk" Faterins were moved up from the Defiant's academy team Montreal Rebellion in mid-May.[11] The Defiant also had another roster member leave, as Choi "Asher" Joon-seong retired from competitive Overwatch on May 29.[12] In the middle of Stage 3, Toronto transferred off-tank Lee "envy" Kang-jae, who had not played in a match since Stage 2, to the Shanghai Dragons on June 18.[13] More roster transactions took place the following week, as the team promoted veteran DPS Andreas "Logix" Berghmans from the Montreal Rebellion and signed DPS Liam "Mangachu" Campbell, who had played for Team Canada in the 2017 and 2018 Overwatch World Cup.[14] Toronto performed poorly throughout the stage, losing all seven of their matches.[15]

Toronto snapped their nine-game losing streak on August 1, after defeating the Stage 3 Champions Shanghai Dragons, 2–1.[16] The Defiant faced the Philadelphia Fusion three days later, but the team was unable to scrim prior to the match due to an upper-management decision to send Daniel "Gods" Graeser and Go "Aid" Jae-yoon to a media event in Toronto. Toronto lost the match against Philadelphia by a score of 2–3; the loss officially eliminated the Defiant from postseason contention.[17] Following the loss, on August 7, the Defiant released head coach Lee "Bishop" Beom-joon and announced that assistant coach Matthew "Optidox" Sims, assistant coach Shim "Mobydik" Seung-bo, and analyst Dennis "Barroi" Matz would be taking on the role of head coaches by committee for the remainder of the season.[18] Toronto finished the season in 17th place with a 8–20 record.[19]

Final roster

2019 Toronto Defiant roster
PlayersCoaches
Role No. Handle Name Nationality
Damage 2 Ivy Lee Seung-hyun South Korea
Damage 37 im37 Hong Jin-ui South Korea
Damage 22 Logix Berghmans, Andreas Belgium
Damage 51 Mangachu Campbell, Liam Canada
Tank 1 Yakpung Jo Gyeong-mu South Korea
Tank 11 Gods Graeser, Daniel United States
Tank 77 sharyk Faterins, Normunds Latvia
Support 6 Aid Ko Jae-yoon South Korea
Support 7 RoKy Park Joo-seong South Korea
Support 79 Neko Park Se-hyeon South Korea
Head coach
  • Vacant
Legend:
  • (I) Inactive
  • (S) Suspended
  • (2W) Two-way player
  • Substitute player Substitute
  • Injured Injury / Illness
  

Latest roster transaction: June 28, 2019.

Transactions

Transactions of/for players on the roster during the 2019 regular season:

  • On April 3, Lee "Stellar" Do-hyung retired.[20]
  • On April 4, Defiant signed Jin "im37" Hong.[21]
  • On May 21, Defiant promoted Daniel "Gods" Graeser and Normunds "sharyk" Faterins from Montreal Rebellion.[11]
  • On May 29, Choi "Asher" Jun-sung retired.[12]
  • On June 18, Defiant transferred Lee "envy" Kang-jae to Shanghai Dragons.[22]
  • On June 28, Defiant promoted Andreas "Logix" Berghmans from Montreal Rebellion.[23]
  • On June 28, Defiant signed Liam "Mangachu" Campbell.[24]
  • On July 15, Defiant transferred Lee "Stellar" Do-hyung to Boston Uprising.[25]

Standings

Record by stage

StagePldWLPctMWMLMTMDPos
1 7 5 2 .714 16 11 2 +5 3
2 7 2 5 .286 11 18 0 -7 15
3 7 0 7 .000 4 24 0 -20 19
4[lower-alpha 1] 7 1 6 .143 8 19 2 -11 17
Overall 28 8 20 .286 39 72 4 -33 17
  Qualified for playoffs •   Qualified for play-in tournament
  1. ↑ No stage playoffs were held for Stage 4.

League

Pos Div Team Pld W L PCT MW ML MT MD Qualification
1 PAC Vancouver Titans 28 25 3 0.893 89 28 0 +61 Advance to season playoffs (division leaders)
2 ATL New York Excelsior 28 22 6 0.786 78 38 3 +40
3 PAC San Francisco Shock 28 23 5 0.821 92 26 0 +66 Advance to season playoffs
4 PAC Hangzhou Spark 28 18 10 0.643 64 52 4 +12
5 PAC Los Angeles Gladiators 28 17 11 0.607 67 48 3 +19
6 ATL Atlanta Reign 28 16 12 0.571 69 50 1 +19
7 ATL London Spitfire 28 16 12 0.571 58 52 6 +6 Advance to play-ins
8 PAC Seoul Dynasty 28 15 13 0.536 64 50 3 +14
9 PAC Guangzhou Charge 28 15 13 0.536 61 57 1 +4
10 ATL Philadelphia Fusion 28 15 13 0.536 57 60 3 −3
11 PAC Shanghai Dragons 28 13 15 0.464 51 61 3 −10
12 PAC Chengdu Hunters 28 13 15 0.464 55 66 1 −11
13 PAC Los Angeles Valiant 28 12 16 0.429 56 61 4 −5
14 ATL Paris Eternal 28 11 17 0.393 46 67 3 −21
15 PAC Dallas Fuel 28 10 18 0.357 43 70 3 −27
16 ATL Houston Outlaws 28 9 19 0.321 47 69 3 −22
17 ATL Toronto Defiant 28 8 20 0.286 39 72 4 −33
18 ATL Washington Justice 28 8 20 0.286 39 72 6 −33
19 ATL Boston Uprising 28 8 20 0.286 41 78 2 −37
20 ATL Florida Mayhem 28 6 22 0.214 36 75 5 −39
Source: The Overwatch League
Rules for classification: 1) winning percentage; 2) map differential; 3) head-to-head record; 4) head-to-head map differential

Game log

Regular season

2019 game log (Regular season record: 8–20)
Stage 1 (5–2)
1 February 15 Toronto Defiant 3 – 2 Houston Outlaws Burbank, CA
   Recap Blizzard Arena
1 Nepal 2
4 Numbani 5
1 Volskaya Industries 0
2 Route 66 1
2 Busan 1
2 February 22 Atlanta Reign 3 – 1 Toronto Defiant Burbank, CA
   Recap Blizzard Arena
1 Busan 2
2 Numbani 1
6 Horizon Lunar Colony 4
3 Dorado 0
3 February 24 Toronto Defiant 2 – 1 Los Angeles Valiant Burbank, CA
   Recap Blizzard Arena
2 Ilios 1
3 Hollywood 3
4 Horizon Lunar Colony 3
2 Dorado 3
4 March 01 Toronto Defiant 1 – 3 New York Excelsior Burbank, CA
   Recap Blizzard Arena
1 Busan 2
2 King's Row 3
1 Temple of Anubis 2
3 Dorado 0
5 March 03 Boston Uprising 1 – 3 Toronto Defiant Burbank, CA
   Recap Blizzard Arena
0 Busan 2
2 Hollywood 3
4 Temple of Anubis 2
1 Rialto 2
6 March 07 Toronto Defiant 3 – 1 Chengdu Hunters Burbank, CA
   Recap Blizzard Arena
2 Ilios 1
1 King's Row 0
2 Volskaya Industries 3
3 Route 66 2
7 March 09 Hangzhou Spark 0 – 3 Toronto Defiant Burbank, CA
   Recap Blizzard Arena
1 Nepal 2
1 King's Row 3
2 Volskaya Industries 2
3 Rialto 4

Stage 1 Playoffs
Quarterfinals March 22 San Francisco Shock 3 – 0 Toronto Defiant Burbank, CA
8:00 pm PST    Recap Blizzard Arena
2 Busan 1
3 King's Row 0
3 Horizon Lunar Colony 2

Stage 2 (2–5)
8 April 05 Washington Justice 1 – 3 Toronto Defiant Burbank, CA
5:45 pm PST    Recap Blizzard Arena
0 Lijang Tower 2
0 Hanamura 1
2 Eichenwalde 3
3 Watchpoint: Gibraltar 2
9 April 06 Toronto Defiant 2 – 3 Boston Uprising Burbank, CA
1:45 pm PST    Recap Blizzard Arena
2 Busan 0
4 Hanamura 3
1 Eichenwalde 3
0 Rialto 1
1 Oasis 2
10 April 11 Toronto Defiant 1 – 3 Philadelphia Fusion Burbank, CA
8:30 pm PST    Recap Blizzard Arena
0 Busan 2
4 Paris 3
2 Blizzard World 3
2 Watchpoint: Gibraltar 3
11 April 13 Dallas Fuel 4 – 0 Toronto Defiant Burbank, CA
3:00 pm PST    Recap Blizzard Arena
2 Oasis 0
5 Paris 4
3 King's Row 0
3 Rialto 2
12 April 18 San Francisco Shock 4 – 0 Toronto Defiant Burbank, CA
5:30 pm PST    Recap Blizzard Arena
2 Lijiang Tower 0
2 Hanamura 1
2 Eichenwalde 1
3 Watchpoint: Gibraltar 0
13 May 03 Toronto Defiant 1 – 3 Vancouver Titans Burbank, CA
7:00 pm PST    Recap Blizzard Arena
0 Oasis 2
2 Temple of Anubis 0
1 King's Row 2
2 Junkertown 3
14 May 05 Toronto Defiant 4 – 0 Paris Eternal Burbank, CA
12:00 noon PST    Details Blizzard Arena
2 Lijiang Tower 1
2 Temple of Anubis 1
3 King's Row 2
6 Watchpoint: Gibraltar 5

Stage 3 (0–7)
15 June 07 Paris Eternal 3 – 1 Toronto Defiant Burbank, CA
4:00 pm PST    Details Blizzard Arena
0 Ilios 2
1 Paris 0
2 Hollywood 1
3 Havana 2
16 June 14 Toronto Defiant 1 – 3 London Spitfire Burbank, CA
5:45 pm PST    Details Blizzard Arena
2 Ilios 1
0 Volskaya Industries 1
3 Hollywood 4
2 Watchpoint: Gibraltar 3
17 June 22 Toronto Defiant 0 – 4 Guangzhou Charge Burbank, CA
3:30 pm PST    Details Blizzard Arena
0 Ilios 2
2 Paris 4
0 Hollywood 3
0 Watchpoint: Gibraltar 3
18 June 28 Toronto Defiant 0 – 4 Los Angeles Gladiators Burbank, CA
7:15 pm PST    Details Blizzard Arena
0 Nepal 2
1 Horizon Lunar Colony 2
3 Numbani 4
3 Dorado 4
19 June 30 Houston Outlaws 3 – 1 Toronto Defiant Burbank, CA
3:30 pm PST    Details Blizzard Arena
0 Oasis 2
3 Horizon Lunar Colony 2
2 Eichenwalde 1
3 Dorado 1
20 July 06 Toronto Defiant 1 – 3 Atlanta Reign Atlanta, GA
12:00 noon PST    Details Cobb Energy Center
0 Oasis 2
1 Volskaya Industries 0
3 Eichenwalde 4
2 Dorado 3
21 July 07 New York Excelsior 4 – 0 Toronto Defiant Atlanta, GA
2:30 pm PST    Details Cobb Energy Center
2 Nepal 0
2 Horizon Lunar Colony 1
3 Numbani 2
1 Havana 0

Stage 4 (1–6)
22 July 26 Toronto Defiant 1 – 3 Washington Justice Burbank, CA
4:00 pm PST    Details Blizzard Arena
1 Busan 2
2 Temple of Anubis 1
1 Blizzard World 2
2 Havana 3
23 July 28 London Spitfire 3 – 1 Toronto Defiant Burbank, CA
1:45 pm PST    Details Blizzard Arena
0 Ilios 2
1 Temple of Anubis 0
3 Hollywood 0
3 Junkertown 2
24 August 01 Shanghai Dragons 1 – 2 Toronto Defiant Burbank, CA
7:30 pm PST    Details Blizzard Arena
2 Lijiang Tower 1
1 Volskaya Industries 2
3 Hollywood 3
3 Route 66 4
25 August 04 Philadelphia Fusion 3 – 2 Toronto Defiant Burbank, CA
1:45 pm PST    Details Blizzard Arena
2 Lijiang Tower 0
0 Volskaya Industries 1
0 King's Row 1
3 Havana 2
2 Busan 0
26 August 08 Toronto Defiant 1 – 3 Florida Mayhem Burbank, CA
7:30 pm PST    Details Blizzard Arena
2 Ilios 0
1 Hanamura 2
1 King's Row 3
2 Havana 3
27 August 10 Seoul Dynasty 2 – 1 Toronto Defiant Burbank, CA
1:45 pm PST    Details Blizzard Arena
2 Lijiang Tower 1
2 Volskaya Industries 2
4 Blizzard World 3
0 Junkertown 1
28 August 18 Florida Mayhem 4 – 0 Toronto Defiant Burbank, CA
3:30 pm PST    Details Blizzard Arena
2 Busan 0
4 Hanamura 2
3 Blizzard World 1
6 Route 66 4

References

  1. ↑ O'Brien, Joe (November 28, 2018). "Toronto Defiant finalize roster with the addition of an Overwatch League veteran". Dexerto. Retrieved March 19, 2019.
  2. ↑ Custodio, Yuri (February 16, 2019). "Overwatch League's Toronto Defiant Debut in "Stellar" Fashion". ESTNN. Retrieved August 16, 2019.
  3. ↑ Richardson, Liz (March 11, 2019). "Overwatch League playoff standings after week 4". Dot Esports. Retrieved June 13, 2019.
  4. ↑ Richardson, Liz (March 19, 2019). "SF Shock defeat Seoul Dynasty, Toronto Defiant win coin toss to finalize Overwatch League playoff bracket". Dot Esports. Retrieved June 13, 2019.
  5. ↑ Czar, Michael (March 23, 2019). "Overwatch League Stage 1 Playoff Recap: Fusion and Shock dominate". Daily Esports. Retrieved September 2, 2019.
  6. ↑ Samples, Rachel (April 2, 2019). "Toronto Defiant release strategic coach Don ahead of Overwatch League stage 2". Dot Esports. Retrieved June 13, 2019.
  7. ↑ Tavers, JJ (April 3, 2019). "Toronto Defiant's DPS Stellar retires from Overwatch". AiPT! Comics. Retrieved June 13, 2019.
  8. ↑ Samples, Rachel (April 4, 2019). "Toronto Defiant sign im37 ahead of Overwatch League stage 2". Dot Esports. Retrieved June 13, 2019.
  9. ↑ Grove, David (May 4, 2019). "Overwatch League Recap: Toronto Defiant vs. Vancouver Titans". The Game Haus. Retrieved September 2, 2019.
  10. ↑ Erkey, Eren (May 5, 2019). "Overwatch League Recap: Paris Eternal vs Toronto Defiant". The Game Haus. Retrieved August 24, 2019.
  11. 1 2 Samples, Rachel (May 21, 2019). "Toronto Defiant promote Gods and sharyk to Overwatch League roster". Dot Esports. Retrieved May 21, 2019.
  12. 1 2 Richardson, Liz (May 29, 2019). "Asher retires from professional Overwatch". Dot Esports. Retrieved May 29, 2019.
  13. ↑ Czar, Michael (June 19, 2019). "Kang-jae "envy" Lee traded to the Shanghai Dragons". Daily Esports. Retrieved September 6, 2019.
  14. ↑ Czar, Michael (June 28, 2019). "Toronto Defiant sign Logix and Mangachu". Daily Esports. Retrieved September 6, 2019.
  15. ↑ Linscott, Gillian (July 8, 2019). "Atlanta Homestand Weekend: OWL in Georgia". Hotspawn. Retrieved August 20, 2019.
  16. ↑ Howard, Brandon (August 2, 2019). "Toronto Defiant End 9-Game Losing Streak With Upset Win Over Shanghai Dragons". TheGamer. Retrieved September 7, 2019.
  17. ↑ Heinish, Sascha (August 5, 2019). "Toronto Defiant unable to scrim because of ownership imposed media event". Upcomer. Retrieved September 7, 2019.
  18. ↑ "Toronto Defiant fire head coach Bishop". ESPN. Reuters. August 8, 2019. Retrieved September 7, 2019.
  19. ↑ Chen, Amy (August 19, 2019). "Toronto Defiant Viewing Party Brings Overwatch Fans Together at the CNE". ESTNN. Retrieved September 7, 2019.
  20. ↑ Richardson, Liz (April 3, 2019). "Toronto Defiant's Stellar retires from Overwatch". Dot Esports. Retrieved April 3, 2019.
  21. ↑ Samples, Rachel (April 4, 2019). "Toronto Defiant sign im37 ahead of Overwatch League stage 2". Dot Esports. Retrieved April 4, 2019.
  22. ↑ Richardson, Liz (June 18, 2019). "Shanghai Dragons acquire Envy from Toronto Defiant". Dot Esports. Retrieved June 18, 2019.
  23. ↑ August, Charlotte (June 28, 2019). "Overwatch: Toronto Defiant Signs Logix". ESTNN. Retrieved June 28, 2019.
  24. ↑ Richardson, Liz (June 28, 2019). "Toronto Defiant sign Mangachu as flex DPS". Dot Esports. Retrieved June 28, 2019.
  25. ↑ Heinisch, Sascha (July 15, 2019). "Stellar unretires and joins Boston Uprising". Upcomer. Archived from the original on July 16, 2019. Retrieved July 16, 2019.
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