What’s got into the Dallas Fuel again? Another day of Overwatch League knockout matches sparked an explosion as the Fuel booked another trip to Hawaii for the June Joust, defeating the Los Angeles Gladiators and Houston Outlaws on Sunday.
It wasn’t as clean as the run that devastated opponents in the May Melee, but this run solidified why the Dallas Fuel remain at the top of the Overwatch world. It’s not just the unique hero selections. It’s not just the coaching staff that orchestrates the fast-paced style that rolled over the Outlaws 3-0.
It’s the small moments, Lee “Fearless” Eui-seok suggested. The Fuel were in jeopardy of going to a fifth map in their 3-1 win over the Gladiators. Los Angeles brought out a Widowmaker and Torbjorn, throwing a wrench in the Fuel’s aggressive nature.
That was so close to working.
“It’s just that one moment where you stayed composed that doesn’t only make a difference in Junkertown, but it’s really what makes the entire difference in any map honestly,” Lee said via an interpreter. “I could only imagine what would have happened if we had lost that map. I can’t say that we would have been able to win the next map.
“So that moment of being focused that brief moment, honestly, is what got us that took it to Hawaii.”
Let's go @DallasFuel! We are heading back to Hawaii to defend our @overwatchleague title. #FuelFighting
— Mike Rufail (@hastr0) June 6, 2021
Lee added that he expected to see Widowmaker on Junkertown. It’s a common, dominant pick for the map and Gia “Huy “MirroR” Trịnh is solid on the sniper. Of course, the Fuel won’t have a sniper of their own until Kim “Pine” Do-hyeon arrives in Dallas.
Dallas was stuck, and running out of options, Lee said. Fortunately for the Fuel, the Gladiators weren’t well-versed on that composition either. There was no need to pull it out of their bag until the Fuel took a commanding 2-0 lead in the series. The Gladiators used Torbjorn and Widowmaker on the third map and kept the series afloat, then ran it again on Junkertown.
“I feel like we’ve never seen them bring out that sort of comp, and especially in Junkertown. I feel like that’s what they decided to go with, because of the win on the third map,” Fuel assistant coach Kim “Yong” Yong-Jin said via an interpreter. “But in the end, it felt like even they didn’t have enough time to practice that comp and were not very used to it, but had to bring it out as the last straw.”
Dallas didn’t need to change its fast-paced style, though Kim “Sp9rk1e” did hop on Doomfist. The Fuel forced their game again and it earned them a second trip to Hawaii, enabling them to defend their May Melee title.
While the Gladiators and San Francisco Shock both fell in the knockout rounds — they were the only North America teams to go undefeated in qualifying matches — Dallas was consistent and overpowering.
The Fuel have a May Melee title rematch against the Shanghai Dragons at 9:30 p.m. Thursday, following the New York Excelsior and Atlanta Reign match on the other side of the bracket.
#GGS
— OW_Rush (Hee-Won Yun) (@rush_coach) June 6, 2021
Once again, Aloha
Dallas’ trip to Hawaii doesn’t just mark the team’s dominance since the franchise rebuilt around the Element Mystic roster. It keeps the Fuel at the top of the standings by giving them a chance to add to their league point total, while other quality teams like the Shock, Gladiators and Outlaws have missed their opportunity for the second time this season.
The Fuel aren’t back. They never left, and don’t plan to falter anytime soon. The Fuel lock in when it’s tournament time, Yong-Jin added.
“I feel like so far,” he said, “that is probably what is reflected upon our team.”
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