By Sagar V. Mankar Team Falcons showcased exceptional skill and determination to win the inaugural Overwatch Champions Series (OWCS) 2024, held during DreamHack Stockholm from November 22-24. The event, hosted by the ESL FACEIT Group, marked a new chapter in Overwatch esports following the closure of the Overwatch League in 2023.
In a thrilling grand final, Team Falcons defeated Crazy Raccoon 4-1 in a best-of-seven showdown, cementing their dominance in the tournament. Earlier in the day, the Falcons secured a 3-0 victory over Crazy Raccoon in the upper-bracket final. Crazy Raccoon, undeterred, bounced back with a 3-0 win against Toronto Defiant in the lower-bracket final, earning another shot at the championship.
The grand final began with Team Falcons asserting control, winning 2-0 on Oasis and 3-0 on Suravasa. Crazy Raccoon responded with a strong 3-0 performance on Watchpoint: Gibraltar. However, the Falcons regained their momentum with a narrow 3-2 victory on King’s Row and sealed the championship with a decisive win on Esperança.
Hak-yong “Stalk3r” Jeong of South Korea was named the tournament’s MVP for his outstanding performance throughout the finals.
Tournament Structure and Highlights
The OWCS 2024 Finals featured eight top teams competing in a double-elimination bracket. Quarterfinal matches on Friday were best-of-three, while subsequent rounds adopted a best-of-five format. The grand final, held on Sunday, followed a best-of-seven structure.
Team Falcons’ journey to the championship was impressive. They defeated Twisted Minds in the upper quarterfinals, NTMR in the upper semifinals, and Crazy Raccoon in the upper final before their grand final rematch.
Final Standings
- 1. Team Falcons
- 2. Crazy Raccoon
- 3. Toronto Defiant
- 4. NRG Shock
- 5-6. Twisted Minds, NTMR
- 7-8. Spacestation Gaming, ENCE
Viewership
The tournament attracted significant viewership, peaking at 159k concurrent viewers, with an average of over 94k. Total watch hours surpassed 2 million across the 22-hour broadcast, according to Esports Charts.
The prize pool, funded by revenue from in-game purchases, is yet to be finalized. OWCS also introduced two themed tracks, Anthem and Overtime, to celebrate its inaugural season.
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Sources: DreamHack Stockholm, ESL FACEIT Group, Esports Charts.