The Overwatch League has named Vancouver Titans Vancouver Titans OWL Rank #19 Aspire Luka Rolovic dps MirroR Chris Trịnh dps False Nick Wiseman tank Masaa Petja Kantanen support Aztac Park Jeong-soo (박정수) support DPS player Haksal as their 2019 Rookie of the Year.
Introducing your #OWL2019 Rookie of the Year-- @RunawayHaksal2!
— Overwatch League (@overwatchleague) September 6, 2019
What's your favorite Haksal moment? pic.twitter.com/7gBNikCAKY
Haksal was the team's Brigitte throughout the first three stages. Despite the difficulty in standing out with the character, Haksal managed to shine as the league's best Brigitte player during that time.
When the role lock in Stage 4 put Haksal back onto DPS, he took the opportunity to bring back the Genji that first earned him recognition in APEX back in 2016 and 2017. He soon transitioned to Mei and ended up playing in six of the team's seven Stage 4 matches. He played for the duration of every match he appeared in during the final stage.
The Vancouver Titans were composed entirely of rookies until they signed main tank TiZi at the end of the season. Two of their players, Twilight and JJANU, were named MVP candidates prior to the start of Stage 4. Despite that, Haksal was selected above them as this year's Rookie of the Year.
This is the first time the Overwatch League has awarded the Rookie of the Year award.