2020 New York Excelsior season

2020 New York Excelsior season
2020 New York Excelsior season
Head coach	Jeong "imt" Yong-cheol
General manager	Kim Yo-han
Owner	Jeff Wilpon
Arena(s)	Hammerstein Ballroom
Conference	Atlantic
Division	North
Region	Asia
Results
Record	13–8 (.619)
Place	Asia: 3rd; League: 7th;
May Melee	Semifinals
Summer Showdown	Semifinals
Countdown Cup	Semifinals
Season Playoffs	Asia Lower Finals
Total Earnings	$290,000
	← 2019; New York Excelsior; 2021 →;

The 2020 New York Excelsior season was the third season of New York Excelsior's (NYXL) existence in the Overwatch League and their first under head coach Jeong "imt" Yong-cheol. New York planned to host two homestand weekends in the 2020 season at the Hammerstein Ballroom in the Manhattan Center.^[1] While the first homestand took place, all other homestand events were canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Preceding offseason

Organizational changes

On October 21, 2019, New York parted ways with head coach Ty "Pavane" Hyun-sang, as he joined the London Spitfire as an assistant coach. Pavane had been with the team since its inception and led them to a 56–12 regular season record over his career with the team.^[2] In his replacement, New York promoted assistant coach Jeong "imt" Yong-cheol as their new head coach on November 19.^[3] On December 1, NYXL signed former Seoul Dynasty assistant coach Lee "WhyNot" Ju-hyub as an assistant coach.^[4]

Roster changes

The Excelsior enter the new season with one free agents, one players which they have the option to retain for another year, and seven players under contract.^[5] The OWL's deadline to exercise a team option is November 11, after which any players not retained will become a free agent. Free agency officially began on October 7.^[6]

Acquisitions

NYXL's first offseason acquisition was on February 15, when the team announced the signing of former Guangzhou Charge off-tank Choi "HOTBA" Hong-jun.^[7] The following week, the team promoted off-tank Kim "BiaNcA" Dong-wook from their academy team, XL2 Academy.^[8] On November 26, New York signed support player Kim "Mandu" Chan-hee from Korean Contenders team O2 Blast.^[9] The following week, on December 4, the team signed DPS player Lee "WhoRU" Seung-joon from Fusion University.^[10]

Departures

On October 8, the Excelsior announced that they would not pick up their option to keep DPS Yeon-Oh "Fl0w3r" Hwang on the roster another year.^[11] A week later, the team announced that they would not re-sign off-tank Kim "MekO" Tae Hong, who had been with the team since their inception in 2017.^[12] On December 6, the team announced that DPS player Kim "Pine" Do-hyeon had retired from professional Overwatch and would become a streamer for NYXL.^[13]

Roster

2020 New York Excelsior roster

Players

Coaches

Role	No.	Handle	Name	Nationality
Damage	9	Saebyeolbe (C)	Park Jong-ryeol	South Korea
Damage	10	Libero	Kim Hae-seong	South Korea
Damage	23	WhoRU	Lee Seung-jun	South Korea
Damage	31	Nenne	Jeong Yeon-kwan	South Korea
Damage	1	Haksal	Kim Hyo-jong	South Korea
Tank	7	Mano	Kim Dong-gyu	South Korea
Tank	17	HOTBA	Choi Hong-joon	South Korea
Tank	13	BiaNcA	Kim Dong-wook	South Korea
Support	44	JJoNak	Bang Seong-hyun	South Korea
Support	97	Anamo	Jung Tae-sung	South Korea
Support	2	Mandu (I)	Kim Chan-hee	South Korea

Head coach

Jeong "imt" Yong-cheol

Legend:

(I) Inactive
(S) Suspended
(2W) Two-way player
Substitute
Injury / Illness

Latest roster transaction: June 5, 2020.

Standings

Pos	Con	Team v t e	Pld	W	BW	L	PCT	MW	ML	MT	MD	Qualification
1	PAC	Shanghai Dragons	21	19	8	2	0.905	59	15	1	+44	Advance to playoffs
2	PAC	Guangzhou Charge	21	14	4	7	0.667	44	39	1	+5	Advance to playoffs
3	ATL	New York Excelsior	21	13	3	8	0.619	50	30	2	+20	Advance to play-ins
4	PAC	Hangzhou Spark	21	10	2	11	0.476	36	40	2	−4
5	PAC	Seoul Dynasty	21	9	3	12	0.429	33	40	2	−7
6	PAC	Chengdu Hunters	21	7	1	14	0.333	33	47	1	−14
7	ATL	London Spitfire	21	6	0	15	0.286	27	51	0	−24

Source: The Overwatch League
Rules for classification: 1) Wins plus bonus wins 2) winning percentage (excluding bonus wins); 3) map differential; 4) head-to-head record; 5) head-to-head map differential

Game log

Regular season

2020 game log (Regular season record: 13–8)

February–April: 7–1

1	February 08	London Spitfire	1	–	3	New York Excelsior	New York City, NY
	3:00 pm EST						Hammerstein Ballroom
Hosted by New York Excelsior
		2	Lijiang Tower			0
		2	King's Row			3
		1	Horizon Lunar Colony			2
		0	Junkertown			3

2	February 09	Boston Uprising	0	–	3	New York Excelsior	New York City, NY
	3:00 pm EST						Hammerstein Ballroom
Hosted by New York Excelsior
		0	Oasis			2
		1	Blizzard World			2
		2	Temple of Anubis			3

3	February 22	New York Excelsior	1	–	3	Philadelphia Fusion	Washington, DC
	3:00 pm EST						The Anthem
Hosted by Washington Justice
		1	Busan			2
		0	Horizon Lunar Colony			2
		3	Havana			2
		3	Eichenwalde			4

4	February 23	New York Excelsior	3	–	0	Houston Outlaws	Washington, DC
	3:00 pm EST						The Anthem
Hosted by Washington Justice
		2	Ilios			0
		2	Hanamura			1
		3	Havana			0

5	February 29	New York Excelsior	3	–	0	Florida Mayhem	Houston, TX
	3:00 pm EST						Revention Music Center
Hosted by Houston Outlaws
		2	Ilios			0
		4	King's Row			3
		2	Temple of Anubis			1

6	March 08	New York Excelsior	3	–	1	Washington Justice	Washington, DC
	5:00 pm EDT						The Anthem
Hosted by Washington Justice
		0	Nepal			2
		3	Dorado			2
		3	King's Row			1
		1	Horizon Lunar Colony			0

7	April 25	New York Excelsior	3	–	0	Chengdu Hunters	Online
	10:00 am UTC

8	April 26	New York Excelsior	3	–	0	Guangzhou Charge	Online
	10:30 am UTC

May Melee qualifiers: 2–2

9	May 02	New York Excelsior	2	–	3	Shanghai Dragons	Online
	9:15 am UTC

10	May 03	New York Excelsior	3	–	1	Chengdu Hunters	Online
	10:00 am UTC

11	May 09	New York Excelsior	1	–	3	Guangzhou Charge	Online
	12:00 noon UTC

12	May 16	New York Excelsior	3	–	1	Hangzhou Spark	Online
	12:00 noon UTC

Summer Showdown qualifiers: 2–2

13	June 13	New York Excelsior	3	–	0	Seoul Dynasty	Online
	9:30 am UTC

14	June 20	New York Excelsior	2	–	3	Hangzhou Spark	Online
	12:00 noon UTC

15	June 21	New York Excelsior	3	–	1	London Spitfire	Online
	12:30 pm UTC

16	June 28	New York Excelsior	2	–	3	Guangzhou Charge	Online
	12:00 noon UTC

Countdown Cup qualifiers: 1–2

17	July 18	New York Excelsior	2	–	3	Chengdu Hunters	Online
	12:00 noon UTC

18	July 25	New York Excelsior	3	–	0	Guangzhou Charge	Online
	12:00 noon UTC

19	August 01	New York Excelsior	1	–	3	Shanghai Dragons	Online
	12:00 noon UTC

August: 1–1

20	August 15	New York Excelsior	0	–	3	Seoul Dynasty	Online
	8:00 am UTC

21	August 22	New York Excelsior	3	–	1	London Spitfire	Online
	10:00 am UTC

Midseason tournaments

2020 midseason tournaments game log

May Melee: 1–1

Quarterfinals	May 23	New York Excelsior	3	–	2	Chengdu Hunters	Online
	9:15 am UTC

Semifinals	May 24	New York Excelsior	0	–	3	Shanghai Dragons	Online
	10:00 am UTC

Summer Showdown: 1–1

Quarterfinals	July 04	New York Excelsior	3	–	0	Hangzhou Spark	Online
	12:00 noon UTC

Semifinals	July 05	New York Excelsior	0	–	3	Guangzhou Charge	Online
	10:00 am UTC

Countdown Cup: 1–1

Quarterfinals	August 08	New York Excelsior	3	–	2	Guangzhou Charge	Online
	12:00 noon UTC

Semifinals	August 09	New York Excelsior	0	–	3	Shanghai Dragons	Online
	8:00 am UTC

Bonus wins awarded: 3

Postseason

2020 playoff game log

Asia Play-ins: 1–0

Round 1				First-round bye

Round 2	September 05	New York Excelsior	3	–	2	Chengdu Hunters	Online
	9:00 am UTC

Asia Bracket: 1–2

Upper Round 1	September 06	New York Excelsior	1	–	3	Shanghai Dragons	Online
	9:00 am UTC

Lower Round 1	September 12	New York Excelsior	3	–	0	Guangzhou Charge	Online
	9:00 am UTC

Lower Finals	September 13	New York Excelsior	0	–	3	Seoul Dynasty	Online
	9:00 am UTC

References

^ Newman, Heather (August 20, 2019). "The Overwatch League Travels In 2020, Starting In A Historic New York Ballroom". Forbes. Retrieved October 11, 2019.
^ Field Level Media (October 21, 2019). "Pavane parts with NYXL, joins Spitfire as assistant". Gwinett Prep Sports. Retrieved October 21, 2019.
^ Peres, Pedro (November 19, 2019). "New York Excelsior promote IMT to head coach". Dot Esports. Retrieved November 20, 2019.
^ Scrubasaurus (December 1, 2019). "WhyNot joins Excelsior coaching staff". over.gg. Retrieved December 2, 2019.
^ Morello, Matt (July 30, 2019). "2020 Team Needs and Player Contract Status". Overwatch League. Retrieved October 19, 2019.
^ Richardson, Liz (October 4, 2019). "Overwatch League reveals player contract status for entire league". Dot Esports. Retrieved October 10, 2019.
^ Richardson, Liz (November 15, 2019). "New York Excelsior add HOTBA". Dot Esports. Retrieved November 16, 2019.
^ Samples, Rachel (November 22, 2019). "New York Excelsior promote BiaNcA from XL2 Academy". Dot Esports. Retrieved November 22, 2019.
^ Samples, Rachel (November 26, 2019). "New York Excelsior sign Mandu ahead of 2020 Overwatch League season". Dot Esports. Retrieved December 2, 2019.
^ Richardson, Liz (December 4, 2019). "Whoru joins the New York Excelsior". Dot Esports. Retrieved December 5, 2019.
^ Howard, Brandon (October 10, 2019). "New York Excelsior Release Flow3r". TheGamer. Retrieved October 11, 2019.
^ Richardson, Liz (October 17, 2019). "New York Excelsior part ways with MekO". Dot Esports. Retrieved October 19, 2019.
^ "Top prospect WhoRU signs with Excelsior, Pine retires". ESPN. Reuters. December 6, 2019. Retrieved December 7, 2019.

[1] Newman, Heather (August 20, 2019). "The Overwatch League Travels In 2020, Starting In A Historic New York Ballroom". Forbes. Retrieved October 11, 2019.

[2] Field Level Media (October 21, 2019). "Pavane parts with NYXL, joins Spitfire as assistant". Gwinett Prep Sports. Retrieved October 21, 2019.

[3] Peres, Pedro (November 19, 2019). "New York Excelsior promote IMT to head coach". Dot Esports. Retrieved November 20, 2019.

[4] Scrubasaurus (December 1, 2019). "WhyNot joins Excelsior coaching staff". over.gg. Retrieved December 2, 2019.

[5] Morello, Matt (July 30, 2019). "2020 Team Needs and Player Contract Status". Overwatch League. Retrieved October 19, 2019.

[6] Richardson, Liz (October 4, 2019). "Overwatch League reveals player contract status for entire league". Dot Esports. Retrieved October 10, 2019.

[7] Richardson, Liz (November 15, 2019). "New York Excelsior add HOTBA". Dot Esports. Retrieved November 16, 2019.

[8] Samples, Rachel (November 22, 2019). "New York Excelsior promote BiaNcA from XL2 Academy". Dot Esports. Retrieved November 22, 2019.

[9] Samples, Rachel (November 26, 2019). "New York Excelsior sign Mandu ahead of 2020 Overwatch League season". Dot Esports. Retrieved December 2, 2019.

[10] Richardson, Liz (December 4, 2019). "Whoru joins the New York Excelsior". Dot Esports. Retrieved December 5, 2019.

[11] Howard, Brandon (October 10, 2019). "New York Excelsior Release Flow3r". TheGamer. Retrieved October 11, 2019.

[12] Richardson, Liz (October 17, 2019). "New York Excelsior part ways with MekO". Dot Esports. Retrieved October 19, 2019.

[13] "Top prospect WhoRU signs with Excelsior, Pine retires". ESPN. Reuters. December 6, 2019. Retrieved December 7, 2019.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

[8]

[9]

[10]

[11]

[12]

[13]

v t e New York Excelsior
Founded in 2018 Based in New York City, New York
Franchise	Franchise Seasons Players
Arenas	Hammerstein Ballroom
Ownership	Owner Jeff Wilpon Parent group NYXL
League affiliations	League Overwatch League Division Atlantic North
Conference titles (2)	2018 2019
Affiliate teams	XL2 Academy (OWC)
Retired numbers	9
Seasons	2018 2019 2020 2021
Category Commons