The history of the Overwatch League
The Overwatch League (OWL) is a professional esports league for the game Overwatch, developed by Blizzard Entertainment. When making online sports betting at 1xBet, you will see that it is also possible to bet on this instance too.
It was officially announced in 2017 and launched its inaugural season in January 2018. This made it a significant milestone in esports by adopting a city-based franchise model similar to traditional sports leagues like the NBA or NFL. Speaking about those franchises, you are always invited to try some sports betting online at 1xBet platform on them too.
Great teams from all over the world
The league was designed to elevate competitive gaming with a global presence, featuring 12 founding teams from cities across North America, Europe, and Asia. Those highly competitive teams from the Overwatch League, as well as other competitors from different tournaments, are available among the e sport bets from 1xBet too.
These teams included well-known organizations, with 3 examples being:
- the San Francisco Shock;
- the London Spitfire;
- and the New York Excelsior.
Each team represented a specific city, fostering local fan bases and community engagement, which was a novel approach in esports at the time. Some amazing bets on these e sports teams can be made on those 3 aforementioned squads too.
A competition that is constantly growing
The first season of OWL consisted of regular season matches followed by playoffs and culminated in the Grand Finals held in the Barclays Center, Brooklyn, where the London Spitfire emerged as the first champions. The league quickly gained popularity due to 3 main aspects: its high production values, professional player contracts, and a structured schedule reminiscent of traditional sports. Those aspects can also be seen in cricket, and some great cricket betting can be made at the 1xBet website too.
Over the years, OWL expanded rapidly. By 2019, the league grew to 20 teams, adding more cities in Asia and North America, including Seoul Dynasty and Vancouver Titans. This expansion helped solidify OWL’s position as one of the premier esports leagues globally. The league also introduced new formats like mid-season tournaments and All-Star events to increase fan engagement.
In recent years, OWL has continued to evolve with roster changes, new game patches impacting competitive play, and the integration of new Overwatch titles. The league remains a cornerstone of competitive Overwatch, influencing the broader esports industry through its franchise model and professional standards. And now, betting on the OWL can easily be made at 1xBet, where cricket wagers are always available too.