xQc Throws Down the Gauntlet to Team USA Ahead of Overwatch World Cup
Félix ‘xQc’ Lengyel has issued a challenge to the Team USA Overwatch World Cup team.
As the main tank for Team Canada, xQc wants to face the USA in a show-match before the upcoming patch change for competition introduces a brand-new hero and a new meta.
xQc even suggested the teams put some money on the line for a regional showdown before they reach the real tournament.
I would love to do a showmatch @TeamCanadaOW vs @USAOWWC so we could face "the best at the meta" before a patch rolls in. We could even throw in a prizepool. Sounds fun, right? pic.twitter.com/8DIVGZwL7P
— xQc (@xQc) August 1, 2018
Canada versus the USA already has a national rivalry built-in whenever they face off, but this year there are extra factors to add to the anticipation of this match-up. xQc himself, for example, will face off against main tank rival Austin ‘Muma’ Wilmot, of the Houston Outlaws.
Meanwhile, Los Angeles Gladiators DPS duo Lane ‘Surefour’ Roberts and ‘Hydration’ find themselves on opposite sides of the national divide, as do Houston Outlaws Support duo Christopher ‘Bani’ Benell and Shane ‘Rawkus’ Flaherty.
At the coaching level, Team USA will be led by Dallas Fuel head coach Aaron ‘Aero’ Atkins, while newly-announced Dallas Fuel assistant coach ‘Jayne’ is coaching Team Canada.
Even if a show-match doesn’t take place, USA and Canada are guaranteed to face each other in the USA-based group stage.
xQc has been largely absent from competitive play since his departure from the Dallas Fuel, focusing instead on his popular stream. Aside from a brief outing as a stand-in during Overwatch Contenders Trials, the Overwatch World Cup will be the first time back to competing in a team environment.
Last year, Team Canada reached the finals of the World Cup, where they were defeated by South Korea, though xQc won the fan-voted MVP award.
It’s not yet clear whether xQc will return to the Overwatch League for Season Two. Despite being at the center of a lot of controversy during Season One, xQc remains one of the most talented main tanks in Western Overwatch, and one of the game’s most popular players.
With up to six expansion teams building new rosters, it seems likely that there will be a space for xQc if he wishes, and he’s apparently already had interest expressed by existing teams.