2021 Los Angeles Gladiators season

2021 Los Angeles Gladiators season
Head coachDavid "dpei" Pei
General managerBrenda "bsuh" Suh
OwnerStan Kroenke
Josh Kroenke
RegionWest
Results
Record11–5 (.688)
Place
May MeleeDid not qualify
June JoustRegional finals
Summer ShowdownRegional finals
Countdown CupChampions
Season PlayoffsLower round 2
Total Earnings$250,000

The 2021 Los Angeles Gladiators season will be the fourth season of Los Angeles Gladiators's existence in the Overwatch League and their fourth season under head coach David "dpei" Pei.

Preceding offseason

[edit]

Roster changes

[edit]

The Gladiators entered free agency with six free agents, four of which became free agents due to the Gladiators not exercising the option to retain the player for another year.[1]

Acquisitions

[edit]

The Gladiators' first offseason acquisition was Kim "MuZe" Young-hun, a rookie tank player that competed with Paris Eternal's Overwatch Contenders academy team Eternal Academy the previous season, who was signed on November 8, 2020.[2] The next day, they signed Kim "Shu" Jin-seo, a support player that was a "strong presence at the flex support position" with the Guangzhou Charge for the previous two seasons.[3] The Gladiators bolstered their support position on November 12 with the signing of Grant "Moth" Espe, a support player coming off back-to-back Overwatch League championships with the San Francisco Shock and who is considered as one of the best main support players in the world.[4] The team's final acquisition of the offseason was Kim "Skewed" Min-seok, a rookie flex support player from Overwatch Contenders Korea team OZ Gaming who was signed on December 4.[5]

Departures

[edit]

None of the Gladiators' free agents returned, two of which signed with other teams, beginning with tank player Son "OGE" Min-seok signing with the Florida Mayhem on December 11, 2020.[6] Tank player Roni "LHCloudy" Tiihonen signed with Overwatch Contenders team Revival on March 11.[7] Three of the Gladiators free agents announced their retirements in the offseason: damage player Jason "Jaru" White,[8] support player Benjamin "BigGoose" Isohanni,[9] and support player Jonas "Shaz" Suovaara.[8] Tank player Aaron "Bischu" Kim did not sign with a team in the offseason.

Regular season

[edit]

May Melee

[edit]

The Gladiators began their 2021 season on April 16, playing against the San Francisco Shock in the May Melee qualifiers. They lost their season opener against the Shock 1–3 despite taking an early lead after winning the first map.[10] They lost their next game against the Dallas Fuel 1–3, unable to adjust to the Fuel's off-meta team compositions throughout the match.[11]

Final roster

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2021 Los Angeles Gladiators roster
Players Coaches
Role No. Handle Name Nationality
Damage 20 birdring Kim Ji-hyeok South Korea
Damage 18 kevster Persson, Kevin Sweden
Damage 7 MirroR Trịnh, Gia Huy Vietnam
Tank 9 MuZe Kim Young-hun South Korea
Tank 16 SPACE Halpern, Indy United States
Support 64 moth Espe, Grant United States
Support 1 Shu Kim Jin-seo South Korea
Support 66 skewed Kim Min-seok South Korea
Head coach
  • David "dpei" Pei
Legend:
  • (I) Inactive
  • (S) Suspended
  • (2W) Two-way player
  • Substitute player Substitute
  • Injured Injury / Illness
  

Latest roster transaction: December 4, 2020.

Standings

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Pos Team
 Pld W L Pts PCT MW ML MT MD Qualification
1 Dallas Fuel 16 11 5 17 0.688 40 26 3 +14 Advance to season playoffs
2 Los Angeles Gladiators 16 11 5 14 0.688 41 21 0 +20
3 Atlanta Reign 16 11 5 13 0.688 41 21 0 +20
4 San Francisco Shock 16 12 4 12 0.750 43 24 2 +19 Advance to play-ins
5 Houston Outlaws 16 11 5 11 0.688 34 24 3 +10
6 Washington Justice 16 9 7 9 0.563 29 26 2 +3
7 Toronto Defiant 16 9 7 9 0.563 31 31 0 0
8 Paris Eternal 16 8 8 8 0.500 32 32 2 0
9 Boston Uprising 16 7 9 7 0.438 27 31 1 −4
10 Florida Mayhem 16 5 11 6 0.313 26 38 2 −12
11 London Spitfire 16 1 15 1 0.063 12 47 1 −35
12 Vancouver Titans 16 1 15 1 0.063 10 45 0 −35
Source: The Overwatch League
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) winning percentage (including tournaments); 3) regular season wins; 4) regular season map differential

Game log

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Regular season

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2021 game log
May Melee
Qualifier match 1 April 16 Los Angeles Gladiators 1 – 3 San Francisco Shock Online
1:30 pm PDT    Details
2 Ilios 1
3 Eichenwalde 4
1 Watchpoint: Gibraltar 3
1 Lijang Tower 2
Qualifier match 2 April 17 Dallas Fuel 3 – 1 Los Angeles Gladiators Online
3:00 pm PDT    Details
2 Lijiang Tower 1
4 Blizzard World 3
2 Dorado 3
2 Temple of Anubis 1
Qualifier match 3 April 23 Los Angeles Gladiators 3 – 0 London Spitfire Online
1:30 pm PDT    Details
2 Busan 0
3 Havana 1
2 Volskaya Industries 1
Qualifier match 4 April 24 Boston Uprising 0 – 3 Los Angeles Gladiators Online
1:30 pm PDT    Details
1 Oasis 2
2 Watchpoint: Gibraltar 3
1 Hanamura 2

June Joust
Qualifier match 1 May 28 Los Angeles Gladiators 3 – 0 Vancouver Titans Online
1:30 pm PDT    Details
2 Ilios 0
3 Junkertown 2
3 Hanamura 2
Qualifier match 2 May 29 Atlanta Reign 1 – 3 Los Angeles Gladiators Online
3:00 pm PDT    Details
1 Busan 2
3 Rialto 4
1 Volskaya Industries 0
2 Numbani 3
Qualifier match 3 June 04 Boston Uprising 1 – 3 Los Angeles Gladiators Online
12:00 noon PDT    Details
2 Oasis 0
1 Temple of Anubis 2
1 Eichenwalde 2
1 Dorado 2
Qualifier match 4 June 05 Paris Eternal 1 – 3 Los Angeles Gladiators Online
12:00 noon PDT    Details
0 Lijiang Tower 2
3 Hanamura 2
0 Hollywood 3
2 Junkertown 3
Regional finals June 06 Dallas Fuel 3 – 1 Los Angeles Gladiators Online
2:30 pm PDT    Details
2 Oasis 1
3 Hanamura 2
0 Hollywood 1
3 Junkertown 2

Summer Showdown
Qualifier match 1 June 25 Los Angeles Gladiators 3 – 2 San Francisco Shock Online
1:30 pm PDT    Details
2 Ilios 0
3 King's Row 4
1 Junkertown 2
2 Volskaya Industries 1
2 Lijiang Tower 0
Qualifier match 2 June 27 Los Angeles Gladiators 2 – 3 Paris Eternal Online
12:00 noon PDT    Details
2 Oasis 0
2 Eichenwalde 1
2 Route 66 3
1 Temple of Anubis 2
0 Nepal 2
Qualifier match 3 July 09 Los Angeles Gladiators 3 – 0 Toronto Defiant Online
1:30 pm PDT    Details
2 Lijiang Tower 1
5 Temple of Anubis 4
1 Eichenwalde 0
Qualifier match 4 July 10 Washington Justice 3 – 2 Los Angeles Gladiators Online
3:00 pm PDT    Details
2 Nepal 1
2 Hanamura 1
3 Hollywood 4
1 Watchpoint: Gibraltar 2
2 Busan 1
Regional semifinals July 11 Los Angeles Gladiators 3 – 0 Boston Uprising Online
1:30 pm PDT    Details
2 Ilios 0
2 Hanamura 0
4 King's Row 3
Regional finals July 11 Los Angeles Gladiators 2 – 3 Atlanta Reign Online
4:50 pm PDT    Details
0 Lijiang Tower 2
1 Temple of Anubis 0
0 King's Row 1
1 Watchpoint: Gibraltar 0
1 Nepal 2

Countdown Cup
Qualifier match 1 July 31 Atlanta Reign 3 – 2 Los Angeles Gladiators Online
1:30 pm PDT    Details
2 Lijiang Tower 1
1 Blizzard World 2
3 Route 66 2
1 Temple of Anubis 2
2 Oasis 0
Qualifier match 2 August 01 Los Angeles Gladiators 3 – 0 Washington Justice Online
3:00 pm PDT    Details
2 Busan 1
3 Numbani 2
2 Rialto 1
Qualifier match 3 August 13 Florida Mayhem 1 – 3 Los Angeles Gladiators Online
3:00 pm PDT    Details
0 Ilios 2
0 Temple of Anubis 1
3 King's Row 2
2 Rialto 3
Qualifier match 4 August 14 Los Angeles Gladiators 3 – 0 Houston Outlaws Online
1:30 pm PDT    Details
2 Oasis 0
2 Hanamura 0
2 Numbani 1
Regional finals August 15 San Francisco Shock 2 – 3 Los Angeles Gladiators Online
5:15 pm PDT    Details
0 Ilios 2
2 Hanamura 1
3 Blizzard World 2
2 Havana 3
1 Oasis 2
Tournament first round August 19 Los Angeles Gladiators 3 – 2 Chengdu Hunters Online
7:30 pm PDT    Details
0 Ilios 2
2 Temple of Anubis 1
3 King's Row 2
0 Route 66 1
2 Oasis 0
Upper finals August 20 Los Angeles Gladiators 3 – 0 Atlanta Reign Online
6:00 pm PDT    Details
2 Oasis 0
4 Hanamura 2
3 King's Row 0
Grand finals August 21 Chengdu Hunters 3 – 4 Los Angeles Gladiators Online
6:00 pm PDT    Details
2 Oasis 0
0 Temple of Anubis 1
2 Numbani 3
2 Route 66 3
2 Ilios 0
3 King's Row 2
1 Havana 2

2021 season schedule

Postseason

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2021 playoff game log
Season Playoffs
Upper round 1 September 21 Philadelphia Fusion 1 – 3 Los Angeles Gladiators Online
5:30 pm PDT    Details
0 Ilios 2
2 Temple of Anubis 1
2 King's Row 3
1 Havana 3
Upper round 2 September 22 Los Angeles Gladiators 1 – 3 Shanghai Dragons Online
8:30 pm PDT    Details
0 Ilios 2
2 Hanamura 0
0 Numbani 1
0 Havana 1
Lower round 2 September 23 Atlanta Reign 3 – 2 Los Angeles Gladiators Online
4:00 pm PDT    Details
0 Ilios 2
3 Hanamura 2
5 King's Row 4
1 Dorado 2
2 Nepal 0

References

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  1. ^ "2021 Player Contract Status". Overwatch League. October 21, 2020. Retrieved April 21, 2021.
  2. ^ Michael, Cale (November 8, 2020). "Los Angeles Gladiators acquires Muze from Eternal Academy". Dot Esports. Retrieved January 20, 2021.
  3. ^ Howard, Brandon (November 11, 2020). "Los Angeles Gladiators Sign Shu". TheGamer. Retrieved January 17, 2021.
  4. ^ Howard, Brandon (November 13, 2020). "Los Angeles Gladiators Sign Two-time Champion Moth". TheGamer. Retrieved January 20, 2021.
  5. ^ Richardson, Liz (December 4, 2020). "Los Angeles Gladiators adds flex support skewed". Dot Esports. Retrieved January 20, 2021.
  6. ^ Field Level Media (December 11, 2020). "Florida Mayhem sign OGE, SLIME, Checkmate". Reuters. Retrieved January 17, 2021.
  7. ^ Revival [@TheRevivalGG] (March 11, 2021). "Introducing our roster competing in @owpathtopro Contenders Trials" (Tweet). Retrieved March 11, 2021 – via Twitter.
  8. ^ a b "Overwatch League free agency 2021 -- signings, rosters and schedules". ESPN. November 10, 2020. Retrieved January 28, 2021.
  9. ^ Gwilliam, Michael (October 7, 2020). "Overwatch pro BigG00se retires as Gladiators release multiple players". Dexerto. Retrieved January 28, 2021.
  10. ^ Field Level Media. "Shock, Outlaws win Overwatch League openers". Reuters. Retrieved April 19, 2021.
  11. ^ Collins, Sean (April 17, 2021). "'Sp9rk1e,' Dallas Fuel could become 'headache' for opponents after decisive 3-1 win over Gladiators". The Dallas Morning News. Retrieved April 19, 2021.
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