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Overwatch League 2021 playoffs to be held live in Texas and Los Angeles

The Overwatch League will hold live events in Arlington, Texas and Los Angeles for its postseason playoffs

07/20/2021

Provided by Overwatch League The 2019 Overwatch League finals was the last major live event the league was able to hold.

by Bonnie Qu

After over a year away from offline matches, the Overwatch League postseason will consist of two live events: a double-elimination playoff bracket in Arlington, Texas, and grand finals in Los Angeles, California. Fans will be permitted in both venues and tickets for both events will go on sale in August. Further details regarding Overwatch League 2021 playoff tickets will be revealed in August as well.

The Overwatch League postseason will consist of four stages: automatic qualification, play-in qualifiers, playoffs and grand finals. Here’s how it’ll all go down.

Automatic qualification

The three West Region teams with the most League Points at the end of the regular season automatically qualify for the playoff bracket.

The two East Region teams with the most League Points at the end of the regular season automatically qualify for the playoff bracket.

Play-in qualifier games

From September 4-5, teams who did not automatically qualify will compete for remaining playoff spots in online, single-elimination play-ins.

West Region teams seeded fourth through ninth based on League Points will compete with each other. The fourth and fifth seeded teams will receive a bye in the first round. Two teams will make it through to playoffs.

East Region teams seeded third through fifth based on League Points will compete with each other. The third seeded team will receive a bye in the first round. One team will make it through to playoffs.

Playoffs

From September 16-19, the eight remaining teams will compete in a double-elimination playoff bracket. These matches will take place at the Esports Stadium Arlington in Arlington, Texas.

The higher seeded teams from both regions will be able to choose their opponents for the first round of the bracket. At the end of the bracket, the two remaining teams will advance to grand finals.

Overwatch League 2021 playoffs grand finals

On September 25, the final two teams will compete at the Galen Center in Los Angeles, California to determine who will be the champion of the 2021 Overwatch League season and the recipient of a $1.5 million prize.

This makes the Overwatch League one of the first esports leagues to hold live events in North America. A handful of others have hosted offline matches, but the return of live audiences has still been a slow process. The Dallas Fuel recently held a homestand at the Esports Stadium Arlington as well. It was attended by over 1,000 fans.