(Ridder) – An ultimate showdown is ahead for South Korea this weekend as it attempts to keep its champion title at the third Overwatch World Cup, with other countries closing in as the talent gap shrinks.
The South, formally known as the Republic of Korea, or ROK, will be defending their title against the favourited France, the United States, Finland, China and the surprise qualifier, Australia.
“This is the closest the field has been since 2016 and there are reports that South Korea does not have nearly as much prep going into the event as other favourites have,” Overwatch commentator Dakota Lasky told ESPN, explaining that the ROK has never looked more vulnerable.
Reported last minute roster changes by the Koreans are in an apparent attempt to hold off the challengers, but analysts say that the three new players tapped to join the team could lead to chemistry issues just ahead of the tournament.
“South Korea has been known historically as the team that plays predictable compositions executed with more nuance,” analyst Christian Thomasser.
“The U.S. has to use this to their advantage by creating strategies….in an effort to shut them down on a holistic level.”
