Things are heating up in the Overwatch League as the Summer Showdown regional tournaments get underway from September 9 to September 11.
The top four teams in the East will participate in an online double-elimination bracket, while the Toronto Defiant is hosting the top eight teams in the West from September 8 to September 11 for the first-ever live event in Canada.
Here are the teams that have qualified from the regions:
Dallas Fuel, San Francisco Shock, Houston Outlaws, Toronto Defiant, London Spitfire, Vancouver Titans, Washington Justice, Florida Mayhem
Shanghai Dragons, Seoul Dynasty, Guangzhou Charge, Philadelphia Fusion
Every tournament is important in the Overwatch system. However, the Summer Showdown holds more weight considering the impending reality of postseason math. This will be the last full tournament of the 2022 season. The next cycle is the Countdown Cup, and those qualifier matches will act as a setup for the playoffs rather than as a standalone bracket.
The teams will have to fight harder to enter each region’s top echelon. With league points and possible post-season success on the line, the Summer Showdown is guaranteed to be cut-throat and entertaining.
Tournament format
The Summer Showdown consists of two entirely separate, regional double-elimination brackets. The format of a double-elimination bracket is essentially one where teams are allowed one loss, which drops them into the lower bracket before they’re fully eliminated from the tournament.
Matches will be similar to the Summer Showdown qualifiers, with the tournament running on the same Overwatch League-specific patch of Overwatch 2 and with the same map pool. The only difference in Summer Showdown comes in the selection of maps and the number of wins required to take the trophy for some of the matches.
The higher seed amongst the teams will get to select the first map in every series. After that, the losing team gets to select the next map in the series, giving them a slight advantage if they play their cards right. All matches will be the usual Overwatch League first-to-three setup. Although, the grand final on September 11 in each region will be the first-to-four series.
Map Pool
The map pool for the Summer Showdown tournament cycle
The map order for all the qualifier matches will be based on control, hybrid, escort, push, and control, with escort and push being used for additional tie-breakers if necessary. Here is the map pool for the Summer Showdown tournament cycle:
- Control: Busan, Ilios, Lijiang Tower, Nepal, Oasis
- Hybrid: Hollywood, Midtown, Paraíso
- Escort: Circuit Royal, Dorado, Junkertown, Watchpoint: Gibraltar
- Push: New Queen Street, Colosseo
Prize Distribution
The Summer Showdown champion of the West Region will take home $75,000 and, possibly, more importantly, a whopping three League Points. The East Region’s champion will earn $50,000 and three league points, as well. The full prize pool can be found below.
| PLACEMENT | PRIZE (USD) |
| WEST REGION | |
| First Place | $75,000 |
| Second Place | $50,000 |
| Third Place | $40,000 |
| Fourth Place | $30,000 |
| Fifth Place | $15,000 |
| Sixth Place | $15,000 |
| EAST REGION | |
| First Place | $50,000 |
| Second Place | $35,000 |
| Third Place | $20,000 |
Summer Showdown schedule
The West Region kicks off the tournament with the match being played between the first-seeded, Dallas Fuel, and Washington Justice at 1 PM CT on September 8.
East Region games will begin at 5 AM CT on September 9 with the Shanghai Dragons going up against the Guangzhou Charge. The Seoul Dynasty and Philadelphia Fusion will battle immediately after.
West Region schedule
September 8
- 1 PM CT: Dallas Fuel vs. Washington Justice
- 2:30 PM CT: London Spitfire vs. Toronto Defiant
- 4 PM CT: San Francisco Shock vs. Vancouver Titans
- 5:30 PM CT: Houston Outlaws vs. Florida Mayhem
September 9
- 1 PM CT: TBD vs. TBD (Upper bracket)
- 2:30 PM CT: TBD vs. TBD (Upper bracket)
- 4 PM CT: TBD vs. TBD (Lower bracket, elimination match)
- 5:30 PM CT: TBD vs. TBD (Lower bracket, elimination match)
September 10
- 1 PM CT: TBD vs. TBD (Lower bracket, elimination match)
- 2:30 PM CT: TBD vs. TBD (Lower bracket, elimination match)
- 4 PM CT: TBD vs. TBD (Upper bracket semifinals)
- 5:30 PM CT: TBD vs. TBD (Lower bracket, elimination match)
September 11
- 1 PM CT: TBD vs. TBD (Lower bracket semifinals)
- 2:30 PM CT: Grand finals
East Region schedule
September 9
- 5am CT: Shanghai Dragons vs. Guangzhou Charge
- 6:30am CT: Seoul Dynasty vs. Philadelphia Fusion
September 10
- 5am CT: TBD vs. TBD (Lower bracket, elimination match)
- 6:30am CT: TBD vs. TBD (Upper bracket semifinals)
September 11
- 5am CT: TBD vs. TBD (Lower bracket finals)
- 6:30am CT: Grand Finals