Competitive Overwatch is heating up down under, as two major LAN events boasting AUD10k prize pools are on the horizon. As such, we are proud to announce the inaugural over.gg Monthly Oceanic Rankings. Voted on by a panel of some of the best players and casting talent in the region, this project aims to give recognition to the best teams currently competing in ANZ Overwatch, as well as acting as an incentive for up-and-coming rosters.

The rankings are based of the last two months of results from official play in Oceanic Overwatch. For the months of April and May this includes the ESL ANZ April Final and the CyberGamer OCE Circuit, as well as the ESL April Qualifying Cups and the CyberGamer Weekly Cups to a lesser extent. These results are then examined and voted on by the panel, with the average of these votes deciding the top 10 teams. Disbanded rosters will not featured in these rankings, even if they did compete in the allocated time-frame.

It is worth noting the absence of renowned Australian team Blank Esports from the rankings. Blank dominated the scene in matches outside the time-frame of these rankings and are now competing in the Pacific Championship in Taiwan. As the team is currently not competing within Oceanic Overwatch, they are ineligible for these rankings. Should they return to the region, Blank would be eligible to reclaim their position as top dogs.

The panel of experts behind these rankings is as listed below:

BobbyJ - Caster/Community Figure:

BobbyJ is a caster in the Australian scene, part of Australian Gaming TV's talent pool and the host of the 'Weekly Podcast'.

CantuS - Masterminds GC:

CantuS is currently the team captain and support player for Masterminds GC, with past experience on teams such as JAM Gaming.

Face - 4Legs:

Face is a support player and team captain of 4Legs, as well as a member of the over.gg crew.

Genome - Caster/Community Figure:

Genome is the panel's other casting talent and also the host of the podcast series 'Sequencing'.

Grafix - Athletico Esports:

Grafix is the team captain and support player for Athletico Esports.

Project - Scylla Esports:

Project is a 6 foot 8 gaming powerhouse, currently competing as the dps/flex for Scylla Esports.

Smashbrutha - Plot 1:

Rounding out our panel of experts, Smashbrutha captains Plot1 from the support role.

Rankings

1st: Athletico Esports

• 2nd ESL April Monthly
• Currently 5-1 in CyberGamer OCE Circuit
• Qualified for ESL and CyberGamer LAN events
• 1st ESL Cup #3
• 1st CyberGamer Weekly 4/4
• 1st CyberGamer Weekly 18/4

Athletico's strong play in the past two months has reaped its rewards, namely qualification for two LAN events as well as getting picked up by one of Australia's largest esport organisations. The team's 1st placed finish in the third qualification cup gave them favorable seeding in the April Monthly, in which the LAN's final two spots were up for grabs. With Masterminds GC dropping out, Athletico enjoyed a bye in the opening round. Victories over Nemesis and WillWeed secured the team a spot in the monthly's grand-final and thus one of the available LAN spots.

The roster's performance was even more impressive in the CyberGamer Circuit, opening the tournament with a five game win streak, including victories over Plot1, Masterminds and Scylla. Notably, the teams only loss with one week remaining in the tournament's regular season came at the hands of 4Legs, the team that defeated them in the April Monthly grand final. Nevertheless, Athletico's five wins in the CyberGamer tournament has guaranteed them a spot at the LAN in Adelaide and a 2-0 win in the final week of play will guarantee them the first seed.

Athletico will look to translate their success in online play into LAN victories in the coming weeks, as the young squad prepares to play in its first major LAN events.

2nd: Masterminds GC

• Currently 5-1 CyberGamer OCE Circuit
• Qualified for ESL and CyberGamer LAN Events
• 4th ESL Cup #4

The roster of Masterminds GC had similar success to Athletico, with strong play online securing them two LAN spots and the backing of an organisation. Masterminds were originally set to compete in the ESL April Final for a LAN spot, before it was announced that Blank Esports had forfeited their place in the tournament due to their commitment to the Pacific Championship. As Masterminds had placed third in the March Final, they then acquired the second seed in the upcoming event.

Masterminds have also had success in the CyberGamer Circuit, dropping only a single game (to Athletico) with a week remaining in the competition. A victory against Defuse in the final week of play will guarantee the team either the first or second seed in the CyberGamer LAN playoffs.

The full effect of the team's roster change earlier in May remains to be seen, with Degs and TJK withdrawing from the team due to personal commitments. The players that filled these vacancies, Nectar and Soundwaves, have only competed with the team to a limited extent in online play. It also seems likely that team captain and support player CantuS will not make it to Sydney to play in the ESL LAN, due to passport issues. These factors aside, Masterminds will still be an intimidating presence in the upcoming majors.

3rd: 4Legs

• 1st ESL April Monthly
• 3-1 CyberGamer OCE Circuit [3-3 in standings]
• 3rd ESL Cup #4
• Qualified for ESL Lan Event

4Legs found their groove as a roster in April, after an impressive run in the April Monthly to secure third seed at the LAN. Falling to the losers bracket after being beaten by Scylla Esports, 4Legs went on a five game winning streak, defeating Athletico (then Monopoly Club) in the grand final to secure their tournament seeding.

The team failed to qualify for the CyberGamer Circuit, later entering the tournament after Nemesis dropped out. As 4Legs replaced Nemesis, they also adopted the teams 0-2 record at the time, resulting in the team holding a 3-3 record despite only losing one of their four played matches in the tournament. Notable victories against Athletico and Plot 1 in the CyberGamer tournament boosted the team up these rankings. 4Legs only chance to qualify for the playoffs in event is if Plot 1 lose their final game against Scylla Esports.

4Legs will face off against Masterminds GC in their first match at the ESL LAN.

4th: Plot 1

• 3-3 CyberGamer OCE Circuit
• Qualified for ESL LAN Event

Plot 1's best results came outside the timeframe of these rankings, as the team earned its spot in the ESL LAN through the March Final. Considered as one of the two best teams after Blank's departure to Taiwan, Plot 1's play in the Cyber Gamer event has been a mixed bag. Despite dropping matches to Athletico, 4Legs and most recently Masterminds GC, the team has secured victories over lower ranked teams in relatively easy fashion. Currently holding a 3-3 record, a match win in the final week of play will secure the team their second spot at a major Australian LAN, while a loss will see 4Legs take their playoffs spot.

Plot 1 will play Athletico in their first match in the ESL LAN this weekend.

5th: WillWeed

• 4-2 CyberGamer OCE Circuit
• Qualified for CyberGamer LAN event
• 3rd ESL April Monthly
• 2nd ESL Cup #4
• 1st CyberGamer Weekly 2/5
• 1st CyberGamer Weekly 9/5
• 3rd-4th CyberGamer Weekly 23/5

WillWeed just missed out on a spot in the ESL Championship event, placing third in the April Finals after a 3-0 loss to 4Legs. The team has bounced back from this in the CyberGamer Circuit, earning a 4-2 record and a guaranteed spot in the playoffs. WillWeed have also been one of the only top teams to compete in multiple CG Weekly cups, taking first place twice.

A victory or high placement in the CG LAN could potentially move WillWeed into the top 4 of these rankings.

6th: Scylla Esports

• 4th ESL April Monthly
• 2-4 CyberGamer OCE Circut
• 2nd ESL Cup #3

The Squid Squad hasn't been able to find it's groove as of yet, failing to qualify for either of Australia's major LANs. Scylla's two CyberGamer victories came against the bottom-of-the-standings Defuse and the now disbanded Nemesis, with disappointing results against higher ranked teams. Despite this, the team has the chance to build upon their play after a roster change in mid-April and emulate earlier success such as the teams second place finish in the Oceanic Summer Series earlier this year.

7th: Defuse

• CyberGamer OCE Circut 0-5
• 6th ESL April Monthly
• 4th ESL Cup #3 +1st CyberGamer Weekly 23/5

Defuse mark the rankings final active member of the CyberGamer Circuit. With a week remaining in the tournament, Defuse's only victory came in a forfeit win against the inactive team thinking. As a result of the teams struggles, the roster is set to disband after the conclusion of the CyberGamer Professional Season.

Defuse remain eligible for these rankings as they have chosen to play out the final round of the tournament before breaking up. The team's victory over WillWeed in the Weekly Cup on the 23rd of May will act as a tribute to the potential this squad had, despite their struggles against top tier Oceanic competition.

8th: Mutiny

• 2nd CyberGamer Weekly 18/4
• 2nd CyberGamer Weekly 9/5
• 5-6th ESL ANZ Cup #4

Mutiny our the first team on these rankings to have failed to qualify for either the April Final or the CyberGamer Professional Season. They have competed in numerous of the CyberGamer weekly cups, falling in the grand finals twice to Athletico and WillWeed. As Defuse, Thinking and Nemesis are disbanded or set to disband, Mutiny will have a chance to earn a spot in higher tier events in the coming months.

9th: Riotous Esports

• 2nd CyberGamer Weekly 11/4
• 3rd-4th CyberGamer Weekly 2/5

Riotous have had mixed results in their matches in lower division play, falling to WillWeed in the semifinals and ASDF in the grand-finals of CyberGamer Weekly cups. Further high placements in lower division play will be needed for the roster to secure their spot in these rankings.

10th: Rabbithole

• 1st CyberGamer Weekly 25/4
• 2nd CyberGamer Weekly 2/5

Team Rabbithole have had limited fixtures to assess, only competing in two Weekly Cups in the last two months. However, the team has placed highly in both cups they participated in, claiming first place over Team Space and second place after losing to WillWeed in the grand final of the first cup of May. These encouraging results have earned Rabbithole the final place in the inaugural Oceanic Rankings.

Be sure to watch the Oceanic regions top teams compete in the ESL Championship Final this weekend, as well as the upcoming CyberGamer Playoffs.

Thanks go out to the panel, especially Grafix for organizing a large part of this project