Guangzhou Charge vs Shanghai Dragons

The 2021 season of the Overwatch League is finally here and, needless to say, it's impossible not to be hyped for what's to come! To start things off, we have a fairly interesting clash between the Shanghai Dragons and the Guangzhou Charge.

Now, in all fairness, this is far from a premier match-up, but seeing how we're at the very start of the competitive season, nearly *any* kind of clash brings with it an immense amount of intrigue and hype -- even those that are a bit more one-sided in nature, like this one. The Shanghai Dragons are, for all intents and purposes, a shoo-in for the finals. Even writing such a thing feels... strange, primarily because the season could unravel in a myriad of different ways. Still, the game itself didn't change all that much and Shanghai, while probably not the absolute best team in the league (that honor goes to the San Francisco Shock) are darn close to it. They are, by all metrics, absolute beasts and should, by all means, be able to ascend to the very top in record time, much like they did last year.

Still, one thing needs to be said: we're still uncertain of what's the best and most optimal way of playing the game right now. Heck, *no one* can give out any guarantees, and that includes both players and pundits alike. These individuals will compete for the first time in quite a while and upsets are always a possibility — especially at this point of the season. *Everyone* will experiment in an attempt to "figure" things out so expect the unexpected. Regardless, we're betting on Shanghai's experience and sheer mechanical prowess here. These things are what matters most at the start of the season — they are the most crucial elements of competitive play that can easily offset any lack of synergy or a good read on the meta, at least early on.

So, we're giving them our full benefit of the doubt here — they've earned it, after all, given all the amazing things they pulled off back in 2020. And sure, we're many months removed from their last triumph, but they're favored for a reason here. Either way, expect a lot of chaos and a very exciting, skirmish-heavy affair!