Overwatch League has made various announcements on the Overwatch Contenders along with news on registration for the Overwatch Open Division on their official website. The announcement includes open signups for the Overwatch Open Division along with news relating to the Contenders League.

The Overwatch Open Division will be held for 4 weeks, starting from January, 2018, and will provide players with the chance to earn a spot in the Contenders. The Open Division will be held in South Korea, China, Europe, North America, Pacific, South America, and Australia regions, just like Contenders, and will accept team registration via their Overwatch Open Division hub until January 7th based on North American region.

The top teams in the Open Division will get the opportunity to proceed to the Contenders Trials, which all players will have to go through if they aim to become Overwatch pros.

Along with the announcement, the list of the teams invited to play in the 1st season of the Overwatch Contenders League was revealed. Each invitee has had outstanding results from the Overwatch APEX League, Premier Series, Pacific Championship, and Contenders NA & EU. These teams will have to decide whether or not to accept the invitations by January 9th.

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▶ Contenders Korea

BlossoM (formerly GC Busan)
Kongdoo Panthera
Lunatic-Hai
Foxes (formerly NC Foxes)
Runaway
WSG Red (formerly LW RED)
X-6 Gaming
Conbox

※ Additionally, Element Mystic, MiG (formerly Afreeca Freecs), Meta Athena, Meta Bellum, MVP Space, and Seven are invited to Korea’s first Contenders Trials.

▶ Contenders China

1246
Legend Young Beyond
LGD Gaming
LinGan esports
Lucky Future
Miracle Team 1
Miraculous Youngster
Vici Gaming

▶ Contenders Europe

123
Bazooka Puppiez
eUnited
GamersOrigin
Singularity
Team Gigantti

▶ Contenders North America

Envision
Faze Clan
FNRGFE
Rogue

※ Additionally, Kungarna and the Detroit Renegades are invited to North America’s first Contenders Trials.

▶Contenders Pacific

ahq e-Sports Club
Ardeont
Blank Esports
Flash Wolves
Hong Kong Attitude
Libalent Supreme
Machi Esports
MEGA Esports

In addition to these teams, Overwatch Academy Teams will be invited into the Contenders. Each League team has the option to fill their roster and participate in the Contenders League. The Overwatch League Teams that will establish their Academy Teams are as follows:

▶ Contenders China: Shanghai Dragons
▶ Contenders Europe: London Spitfire
▶ Contenders North America: Boston Uprising, Florida Mayhem, Houston Outlaws, Los Angeles Gladiators, NYXL, Philadelphia Fusion, San Francisco Shock

Along with this information, the details on the Overwatch Contenders League Season 1 rules were provided on the website. Further details on 2018’s Path to Pro can be read here.

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