Overwatch League: NYXL Releases Three Players Out Of Four
| Tags: Overwatch
| Author Ophelie Castelot
The New York Excelsior is parting ways with Taesung “Anamo” Jung, Hae-seong “Libero” Kim, and Jong-ryeol “Saebyeolbe” Park.
New York is waking up to some upsetting news for the NYXL fans. The New York Excelsior is parting ways with 3 out of their 4 remaining players: Taesung “Anamo” Jung, Hae-seong “Libero” Kim, and Jong-ryeol “Saebyeolbe” Park.
A complicated year for the NYXL
Yo-han “nuGget” Kim, the General Manager of the New York Excelsior, confided about the hardships the team had to face in 2020. The travels around the world to compete in the Overwatch League homesteads exhausted the players. Then, the Covid-19 put a sudden stop to everything. All homestands were canceled, and all physical sales coming with them. These hardships, combined with the rise of many talents in the Overwatch League, hindered the NYXL’s performance in the League.
The New York Excelsior made a first roster drop back in October, parting ways with Hyojong “Haksal” Kim, Yeon-kwan “Nenne” Jeong, Hong-joon “HOTBA” Choi, Dong-wook “BiaNcA” Kim and Seung-jun “WhoRU” Lee. 10 days later, two more players were leaving the team. Chan-hee “Mandu” Kim joined the Guangzhou Charge, and Dong-gyu “Mano” Kim the Philadelphia Fusion.
Good bye, old friends
Today, the team is saying goodbye to some of their most iconic players: Taesung “Anamo” Jung, Hae-seong “Libero” Kim, and Jong-ryeol “Saebyeolbe” Park.
Despite his nickname, “nobody knows me” in Korean, Anamo didn’t stay unknown for long. He won both the Overwatch League Inaugural Season and the Overwatch World Cup 2018, and reached 3rd place in the Overwatch League 2019 and 2020 Playoffs.
.@Anamo_ow lights up any room he enters and always has your back. On and off-stage, his support role was apparent in everything he has done for NYXL. Thank you for three amazing seasons together. You're forever a part of this family. #EverUpward pic.twitter.com/LL99KnOwz9
— NY Excelsior (@NYExcelsior) November 18, 2020
Libero was with the team even before he had the legal age to join the Overwatch League, back in 2017. He turned 18 on July 12 and contributed to New York’s victory in the Overwatch League Inaugural Season.
Saebyeolbe, or SSB for the fans, was the New York Excelsior’s team captain. He is a real threat to all enemy lines, being able to headshot opponents with a hitscan as well as harassing their backline as Tracer.
.@saebyeolbe is not just a captain—he is a leader. From season one, his bright personality & positive energy brought a smile wherever he went. We thank you for all that you've done for this team, this city, & on stage under the NYXL banner. You're forever our captain. #EverUpward pic.twitter.com/LEt89HoShB
— NY Excelsior (@NYExcelsior) November 18, 2020
JJoNak, the Ana legend, is the sole remaining player in the NYXL roster. Will he stay with the team until the end of the off-season? 2020 is not over yet, anything can happen.
Ophelie is both an esport and journalism lover. She is the former head of the CS:GO section for a major esport website. Ophelie has been analyzing Overwatch ever since its release in 2016.