2020 London Spitfire season
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2020}}
{{Infobox OWL season
| logo =
| team = London Spitfire
| year = 2020
| division = North
| region = Asia
| conference = Atlantic
| record = 6–15
| winpct = {{winpct|6|15}}
| region_place = 7th
| league_place = 17th
| arena =
| coach = Hong "Agape" Cheol-yong
| gm = Lee Seung-hwan
| owner = Jack Etienne
| tournament1name = May Melee
| t1playoffs = Quarterfinals
| tournament2name = Summer Showdown
| t2playoffs = Quarterfinals
| tournament3name = Countdown Cup
| t3playoffs = Quarterfinals
| playoffs = Did not qualify
| earnings = $0
}}
The 2020 London Spitfire season was the third season of the London Spitfire's existence in the Overwatch League. The Spitfire planned to host two homestand events in the 2020 season; the first was to be held at The SSE Arena Wembley,{{cite news |last1=Bishop |first1=Sam |title=London Spitfire home matches are in London and Birmingham |url=https://www.gamereactor.eu/london-spitfire-home-matches-are-in-london-and-birmingham/ |accessdate=6 November 2019 |work=GameReactor UK |date=6 November 2019}} while the second was to be at the National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham.{{cite news |last1=Koh |first1=Bobby |author2=Blizzard Entertainment |title=London Spitfire Reveals the NEC Birmingham as venue for second Homestand weekend |url=https://spitfire.overwatchleague.com/en-us/news/london-spitfire-reveals-the-nec-birmingham-as-venue-for-second-homestand-weekend |accessdate=11 December 2019 |work=London Spitfire |date=27 November 2019}} However, all homestand events were canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Preceding offseason
= Organizational changes =
In early October 2019, the Spitfire parted ways with coach Kim "Jfeel" Jeong-min, who had been with the team since London's inception.{{cite news |title=London Spitfire release Birdring, NUS, Guard, coach Jfeel |url=https://www.espn.com/esports/story/_/id/27760450/london-spitfire-release-birdring-nus-guard-coach-jfeel |accessdate=10 October 2019 |work=ESPN |date=3 October 2019}}
London found their new head coach within the organization, promoting assistant coach Hong "Agape" Cheol-yong to the position. Additionally, the team signed former New York Excelsior head coach Ty "Pavane" Hyun-sang, former Florida Mayhem assistant coach Kim "SNT" Sung-hoon, and former O2 Blast assistant coach Lim "Twinkl" Young-bin all as assistant coaches. The changes reunited Agape, Pavane, and SNT, as Apage and Pavane previously coached LuxuryWatch Blue and LuxuryWatch Red together, while SNT played with LuxuryWatch Red at the same time.{{cite news |author1=Scrubasaurus |title=Spitfire add several coaches including Pavane |url=https://www.over.gg/12197/spitfire-add-several-coaches-including-pavane |accessdate=22 October 2019 |work=Over.gg |date=21 October 2019}}
= Roster changes =
| class="wikitable sortable floatright" style="font-size: 95%; text-align:center;"
|+Free agents | |||||
| rowspan="2" | Role || colspan="2" | Player || rowspan="2" | Contract status || rowspan="2" | Date signed || rowspan="2" | 2020 team | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Handle || Name | |||||
| style="background:#fdd;"
| Damage | Birdring | {{sortname|Ji-Hyeok|Kim|nolink=1}} | Free agent | 6 November | Los Angeles Gladiators{{cite news |title=Los Angeles Gladiators add former Spitfire DPS birdring |url=https://www.espn.com/esports/story/_/id/28022319/los-angeles-gladiators-add-former-spitfire-dps-birdring |accessdate=6 November 2019 |work=ESPN |agency=Reuters |date=6 November 2019}} |
| style="background:#fdd;"
| Damage | Guard | {{sortname|Hee-Dong|Lee|nolink=1}} | Free agent | – | – |
| style="background:#fdd;"
| Support | Nus | {{sortname|Jong-Seok|Kim|nolink=1}} | Free agent | – | – |
| class="sortbottom"
|colspan="6"| ;Legend :{{color box|#dfd}} Re-signed/Retained by the Spitfire. :{{color box|#fdd}} Departed from the Spitfire. |
The Spitfire enter the new season with three free agents, one players which they have the option to retain for another year, and five players under contract.{{cite news |last1=Morello |first1=Matt |title=2020 Team Needs and Player Contract Status |url=https://overwatchleague.com/en-us/news/23178914 |accessdate=19 October 2019 |work=Overwatch League |date=30 July 2019}} The OWL's deadline to exercise a team option is 11 November, after which any players not retained will become a free agent. Free agency officially began on 7 October.{{cite news |last1=Richardson |first1=Liz |title=Overwatch League reveals player contract status for entire league |url=https://dotesports.com/overwatch/news/overwatch-league-reveals-player-contract-status-for-entire-league |accessdate=10 October 2019 |work=Dot Esports |date=4 October 2019}}
== Acquisitions ==
The Spitfire's first acquisitions of the offseason were announced on 30 October, when the team traded tank Kim "Fury" Jun-ho to the Philadelphia Fusion in exchange for Fusion University players tank Shin "BERNAR" Se-won and support Kim "Fuze" Tae-hoon.{{cite news |title=Fusion, Fuel, Defiant and more make Overwatch League roster moves |url=https://www.espn.com/esports/story/_/id/27966997/fusion-fuel-defiant-more-make-overwatch-league-roster-moves |accessdate=30 October 2019 |work=ESPN |agency=Reuters |date=30 October 2019}}
London announced eight players on their roster on 23 November. The five new players announced were support players Lee "Highly" Sung-hyeok and Lim "SanGuiNar" Kyu-min, DPS players Lee "Schwi" Dong-Jae and Lim "Glister" Gil-seong, as well as tank player Choi "JMAC" Dae Han. Of the players, only Highly has ever previously played for an OWL team, while the remaining had only experience in Overwatch Contenders.{{cite news |last1=Almughrabi |first1=Zakaria |title=London Spitfire Announces 2020 Roster |url=https://www.hotspawn.com/london-spitfire-announces-2020-roster/ |accessdate=23 November 2019 |work=Hotspawn |date=23 November 2019}} The following month, on 27 December, London announced four more players to round out their 12-man roster in damage players Jung "Although" Hyun-wook and Park "Babel" Sang-jun and support players Kim "Jihun" Ji-hun and Cho "Clestyn" Gun-hee.{{cite news |title=London Spitfire add four for 2020 season |url=https://www.espn.com/esports/story/_/id/28378461/london-spitfire-add-four-2020-season |accessdate=28 December 2019 |work=ESPN |agency=Reuters |date=27 December 2019}}
== Departures ==
The Spitfire elected not to re-sign all three of their free agents, DPS Kim "Birdring" Ji-hyeok, support Kim "NUS" Jong-seok, and alternate DPS Lee "Guard" Hee-dong, heading into the 2020 season.
On 22 October, the Spitfire agreed to transfer tank Hong "Gesture" Jae-hee and DPS Park "Profit" Joon-yeong to the Seoul Dynasty.{{cite news |last1=Richardson |first1=Liz |title=Seoul Dynasty acquire Gesture and Profit from London Spitfire |url=https://dotesports.com/overwatch/news/seoul-dynasty-acquire-gesture-and-profit-from-london-spitfire |accessdate=23 October 2019 |work=Dot Esports |date=22 October 2019}} The team released Choi "Bdosin" Seung-tae and Song "Quatermain" Ji-hoon in mid-November. With the release of Bdosin, no players from the Spitfire's 2018 Grand Finals roster remained with the team.{{cite news |last1=Samples |first1=Rachel |title=London Spitfire release Bdosin, Quatermain ahead of 2020 Overwatch League season |url=https://dotesports.com/overwatch/news/london-spitfire-release-bdosin-quatermain-ahead-of-2020-overwatch-league-season |accessdate=12 November 2019 |work=Dot Esports |date=12 November 2019}}
Roster
{{Esports roster header|team=London Spitfire|season=2020|num=yes|role=yes}}
{{Esports player | num = 1 | handle = Schwi | name = Lee Dong-jae | role = Damage | nat=KOR | prev_team=RunAway}}
{{Esports player | num = 26 | handle = Glister | name = Lim Gil-seong | role = Damage | nat=KOR | prev_team=Gen.G}}
{{Esports player | num = 23 | handle = ALTHOUGH | name = Jung Hyeon-wook | role = Damage | nat=KOR | prev_team=Gen.S}}
{{Esports player | num = 16 | handle = Babel | name = Park Sang-jun | role = Damage | nat=KOR | prev_team=BM Hawk}}
{{Esports player | num = 97 | handle = JMAC | name = Choi Dae-han | role = Tank | nat=KOR | prev_team=LGE.Huya}}
{{Esports player | num = 18 | handle = BERNAR | name = Shin Se-won | role = Tank | nat=KOR | prev_team=Fusion University}}
{{Esports player | num = 30 | handle = Clestyn | name = Cho Gun-hee | role = Tank | nat=KOR | prev_team=Griffin}}
{{Esports player | num = 5 | handle = Jihun | name = Kim Ji-hun | role = Tank | nat=KOR | prev_team=Bubble Burster Gaming}}
{{Esports player | num = 11 | handle = Krillin | name = Jeong Yung-hoon | role = Support | nat=KOR | prev_team=CRusher}}
{{Esports player | num = 10 | handle = Highly | name = Lee Sung-hyeok | role = Support | nat=KOR | prev_team=Seoul Dynasty}}
{{Esports player | num = 14 | handle = SanGuiNar | name = Lim Kyu-min | role = Support | nat=KOR | prev_team=Gen.B}}
{{Esports player | num = 99 | handle = Fuze | name = Kim Tae-hoon | role = Support | nat=KOR | prev_team=Fusion University}}
{{Esports roster footer
| head_coach =
- Hong "Agape" Cheol-yong
| otherlegend = (2W) Two-way player
| roster_url = https://spitfire.overwatchleague.com/en-us/roster
| transaction_date = 27 December 2019
}}
Standings
{{2020 Overwatch League Asia standings}}
Game log
= Regular season =
{{OWL game log start|London Spitfire|2020|wins=6|losses=15}}
{{OWL game log section|London Spitfire|February–April: 3–2|hide=y|
{{Overwatch collapsible box
| match = 1 | date = 8 February | year = 2020 | time = {{24 h to 12 h|20:00}} GMT
| team1 = London Spitfire | team1score = 1
| team2 = New York Excelsior | team2score = 3
| map1 = Lijiang Tower | map1team1score = 2 | map1team2score = 0
| map2 = King's Row | map2team1score = 2 | map2team2score = 3
| map3 = Horizon Lunar Colony | map3team1score = 1 | map3team2score = 2
| map4 = Junkertown | map4team1score = 0 | map4team2score = 3
| location = New York City, NY | stadium = Hammerstein Ballroom | host = New York Excelsior
}}
{{Overwatch collapsible box
| match = 2 | date = 9 February | year = 2020 | time = {{24 h to 12 h|18:00}} GMT
| team1 = London Spitfire | team1score = 0
| team2 = Paris Eternal | team2score = 3
| map1 = Nepal | map1team1score = 0 | map1team2score = 2
| map2 = King's Row | map2team1score = 3 | map2team2score = 4
| map3 = Hanamura | map3team1score = 1 | map3team2score = 2
| location = New York City, NY | stadium = Hammerstein Ballroom | host = New York Excelsior
}}
{{Overwatch collapsible box
| match = 3 | date = 23 February | year = 2020 | time = {{24 h to 12 h|00:00}} GMT
| team1 = London Spitfire | team1score = 3
| team2 = Washington Justice | team2score = 2
| map1 = Oasis | map1team1score = 0 | map1team2score = 2
| map2 = Hanamura | map2team1score = 1 | map2team2score = 2
| map3 = Dorado | map3team1score = 1 | map3team2score = 0
| map4 = Blizzard World | map4team1score = 3 | map4team2score = 0
| map5 = Nepal | map5team1score = 2 | map5team2score = 1
| location = Washington, DC | stadium = The Anthem | host = Washington Justice
}}
{{Overwatch collapsible box
| match = 4 | date = 29 February | year = 2020 | time = {{24 h to 12 h|00:00}} GMT
| team1 = London Spitfire | team1score = 3
| team2 = Houston Outlaws | team2score = 2
| map1 = Busan | map1team1score = 2 | map1team2score = 0
| map2 = Blizzard World | map2team1score = 2 | map2team2score = 1
| map3 = Temple of Anubis | map3team1score = 1 | map3team2score = 2
| map4 = Junkertown | map4team1score = 2 | map4team2score = 3
| map5 = Ilios | map5team1score = 2 | map5team2score = 1
| location = Houston, TX | stadium = Revention Music Center | host = Houston Outlaws
}}
{{Overwatch collapsible box
| match = 5 | date = 1 March | year = 2020 | time = {{24 h to 12 h|22:00}} GMT
| team1 = London Spitfire | team1score = 3
| team2 = Florida Mayhem | team2score = 2
| map1 = Ilios | map1team1score = 1 | map1team2score = 2
| map2 = Eichenwalde | map2team1score = 2 | map2team2score = 1
| map3 = Horizon Lunar Colony | map3team1score = 3 | map3team2score = 4
| map4 = Havana | map4team1score = 3 | map4team2score = 2
| map5 = Oasis | map5team1score = 2 | map5team2score = 0
| location = Houston, TX | stadium = Revention Music Center | host = Houston Outlaws
}}
}}
{{OWL game log section|London Spitfire|May Melee qualifiers: 1–3|hide=y|
{{Overwatch collapsible box | match = 6 | date = 9 May | year = 2020 | time = {{24 h to 12 h|10:00}} UTC | team1 = London Spitfire | team1score = 3 | team2 = Chengdu Hunters | team2score = 0 | location = Online}}
{{Overwatch collapsible box | match = 7 | date = 10 May | year = 2020 | time = {{24 h to 12 h|10:00}} UTC | team1 = London Spitfire | team1score = 1 | team2 = Guangzhou Charge | team2score = 3 | location = Online}}
{{Overwatch collapsible box | match = 8 | date = 16 May | year = 2020 | time = {{24 h to 12 h|10:00}} UTC | team1 = London Spitfire | team1score = 0 | team2 = Shanghai Dragons | team2score = 3 | location = Online}}
{{Overwatch collapsible box | match = 9 | date = 17 May | year = 2020 | time = {{24 h to 12 h|10:00}} UTC | team1 = London Spitfire | team1score = 0 | team2 = Hangzhou Spark | team2score = 3 | location = Online}}
}}
{{OWL game log section|London Spitfire|Summer Showdown qualifiers: 2–2|hide=y|
{{Overwatch collapsible box | match = 10 | date = 13 June | year = 2020 | time = {{24 h to 12 h|08:00}} UTC | team1 = London Spitfire | team1score = 0 | team2 = Shanghai Dragons | team2score = 3 | location = Online}}
{{Overwatch collapsible box | match = 11 | date = 20 June | year = 2020 | time = {{24 h to 12 h|10:00}} UTC | team1 = London Spitfire | team1score = 3 | team2 = Chengdu Hunters | team2score = 0 | location = Online}}
{{Overwatch collapsible box | match = 12 | date = 21 June | year = 2020 | time = {{24 h to 12 h|12:30}} UTC | team1 = London Spitfire | team1score = 1 | team2 = New York Excelsior | team2score = 3 | location = Online}}
{{Overwatch collapsible box | match = 13 | date = 27 June | year = 2020 | time = {{24 h to 12 h|12:00}} UTC | team1 = London Spitfire | team1score = 3 | team2 = Hangzhou Spark | team2score = 0 | location = Online}}
}}
{{OWL game log section|London Spitfire|Countdown Cup qualifiers: 0–3|hide=y|
{{Overwatch collapsible box | match = 14 | date = 18 July | year = 2020 | time = {{24 h to 12 h|10:00}} UTC | team1 = London Spitfire | team1score = 1 | team2 = Guangzhou Charge | team2score = 3 | location = Online}}
{{Overwatch collapsible box | match = 15 | date = 25 July | year = 2020 | time = {{24 h to 12 h|10:00}} UTC | team1 = London Spitfire | team1score = 2 | team2 = Shanghai Dragons | team2score = 3 | location = Online}}
{{Overwatch collapsible box | match = 16 | date = 1 August | year = 2020 | time = {{24 h to 12 h|10:00}} UTC | team1 = London Spitfire | team1score = 0 | team2 = Hangzhou Spark | team2score = 3 | location = Online}}
}}
{{OWL game log section|London Spitfire|August: 0–5|hide=y|
{{Overwatch collapsible box | match = 17 | date = 14 August | year = 2020 | time = {{24 h to 12 h|08:00}} UTC | team1 = London Spitfire | team1score = 0 | team2 = Seoul Dynasty | team2score = 3 | location = Online}}
{{Overwatch collapsible box | match = 18 | date = 15 August | year = 2020 | time = {{24 h to 12 h|10:00}} UTC | team1 = London Spitfire | team1score = 0 | team2 = Shanghai Dragons | team2score = 3 | location = Online}}
{{Overwatch collapsible box | match = 19 | date = 16 August | year = 2020 | time = {{24 h to 12 h|08:00}} UTC | team1 = London Spitfire | team1score = 0 | team2 = Seoul Dynasty | team2score = 3 | location = Online}}
{{Overwatch collapsible box | match = 20 | date = 22 August | year = 2020 | time = {{24 h to 12 h|10:00}} UTC | team1 = London Spitfire | team1score = 1 | team2 = New York Excelsior | team2score = 3 | location = Online}}
{{Overwatch collapsible box | match = 21 | date = 23 August | year = 2020 | time = {{24 h to 12 h|08:00}} UTC | team1 = London Spitfire | team1score = 2 | team2 = Seoul Dynasty | team2score = 3 | location = Online}}
}}
{{OWL game log end}}
= Midseason tournaments =
{{OWL game log start|London Spitfire|2020|midseason tournaments}}
{{OWL game log section|London Spitfire|May Melee: 0–1|hide=y|
{{Overwatch collapsible box | match = Quarterfinals | date = 23 May | year = 2020 | time = {{24 h to 12 h|11:30}} UTC | team1 = London Spitfire | team1score = 2 | team2 = Shanghai Dragons | team2score = 3 | location = Online}}
}}
{{OWL game log section|London Spitfire|Summer Showdown: 0–1|hide=y|
{{Overwatch collapsible box | match = Quarterfinals | date = 4 July | year = 2020 | time = {{24 h to 12 h|10:00}} UTC | team1 = London Spitfire | team1score = 1 | team2 = Seoul Dynasty | team2score = 3 | location = Online}}
}}
{{OWL game log section|London Spitfire|Countdown Cup: 0–1|hide=y|
{{Overwatch collapsible box | match = Quarterfinals | date = 8 August | year = 2020 | time = {{24 h to 12 h|08:00}} UTC | team1 = London Spitfire | team1score = 0 | team2 = Chengdu Hunters | team2score = 3 | location = Online}}
}}
| style="text-align:center;" | Bonus wins awarded: 0
{{OWL game log end}}
= Postseason =
{{OWL game log start|London Spitfire|2020|playoff}}
{{OWL game log section|London Spitfire|Asia Play-ins: 0–1|hide=n|
{{Overwatch collapsible box | match = Round 1 | date = 4 September | year = 2020 | time = {{24 h to 12 h|09:00}} UTC | team1 = London Spitfire | team1score = 1 | team2 = Chengdu Hunters | team2score = 3 | location = Online}}
}}
{{OWL game log end}}
References
{{reflist}}
{{2020 OWL season by team}}
{{London Spitfire}}