Let’s do a somewhat quick Overwatch League Stage 3 finals recap in order to go over the immense chaos that transpired last week. The Overwatch League is a fascinating thing, that’s for sure. Even if you’re not into competitive Overwatch, it’s hard not to be impressed with what Blizzard accomplished in such a short time frame. There’s rarely any down time, and the competitive aspect of the game is surprisingly entertaining — perhaps even to a baffling degree. There’s definitely a lot of chaos (visually speaking), but when you’re watching the best players in the world throw down for a huge sack of cash, there’s not a second of play that’s not captivating.

But perhaps the most interesting thing isn’t the number of people who tune in each and every week, but rather the amount of exciting and engaging narratives, each of them unique and alluring in their own right. The biggest storylines revolving around the Overwatch League and its many competing teams are constantly evolving — the scene is rarely at a standstill. And even the biggest Overwatch League losers tend to grab quite a fair bit of the spotlight.

We simply don’t have such a thing over in competitive League of Legends. The status quo is incredibly stable and consistent mainly because it’s a top heavy kind of esport — you always know who’s king and why. In Overwatch, however, unexpected twists and turns are a frequent sight. The meta shifts that occur are also quite monumental and they heavily impact professional play.

This is just one of the many reasons why the game feels relatively fresh week after week.

Who Could Have Seen This Coming?

The sophomore Overwatch League season, however, didn’t give us any huge or unexpected surprise — up to this point. Two teams stood above everyone else: the Vancouver Titans and the San Francisco Shock. They displayed immense mechanical prowess and insane team cohesion any time they stepped foot on stage, and it felt like there was a huge gap between them and the rest of the League. Some teams came close to beating them, but “close” was rarely enough.

It’s hard to explain just how dominant they really were. There’s a good reason they clashed in both the Stage 1 and Stage 2 playoff finals — whenever these two giants faced each other we were blessed with some of the best Overwatch ever. And that’s saying something.

Vancouver won the first engagement, with the Shock securing their first trophy the second time around. Once Stage 3 began, we didn’t see any huge change in the standings. Even though they dropped a couple of games (three in total between the two of them) they were still considered two of the best and most capable teams the Overwatch League had to offer and were rightfully predicted to reach the finals for the third time in a row. After all, this was something we all became accustomed to. It was an expected outcome.

But against all odds, something else occurred. Not only did we get a brand-new stage champion, but the one team that was left standing was the one no one gave much thought coming into the playoffs — the Shanghai Dragons.

And if you just did a spit take no one will blame you.

The Dragons Burn Brighter Than Ever

They dominated over the New York Excelsior, and had an equally dominant showing against the Vancouver Titans. Many people thought the Stage 1 champions would eventually turn the series in their favor (as they have done so many times in the past), but their turnaround never came. They simply didn’t have an answer to Shanghai’s playstyle and their individual prowess.

But even though they took down Vancouver, there was no way they could have a repeat performance and upset San Francisco, right? Well, turns out, they could, and they did.

It was a Best of 7 for the ages. Both teams went back-and-forth from the very get go, with Shanghai walking away with a 4-3 W. We’ve seen both teams shine throughout the series, and their talented players showcased yet again why they deserve to play on the biggest of stages. It was an absolute masterclass on both sides, with the Dragons being ever so slightly stronger.

Minseong “diem” Bae and Jinhyeok “DDing” Yang had a field day when it mattered the most. Their awe-inspiring DPS play completely took the Shock by surprise, and were the key factors in pushing Shanghai over the finish line. Other players carried their fair share of the weight, but whenever Shanghai needed a miracle, their DPS department was up to the task. To say the least.

While we recommend watching the matches in full, the highlights alone are brilliant

In the end, they not only got $200,000 for their troubles, but were also able to complete the most miraculous redemption story in all of esports.

Shanghai’s seismic triumph is more than just an unexpected twist that will long be remembered — it is a great sign of things to come. It not only tells us that even the biggest of failures aren’t permanent, but also that every single team stands a chance at attaining greatness. Such a thing comes at a price, but it is a reality within reach. No one in their right mind could have foreseen this most recent twist.

If there was ever a team that was supposedly destined to be mediocre, it has to Shanghai. Now sure, they made ample changes between the first and second seasons, but they were still deemed inferior to many of their peers. The fact that they went from last place (and a historic 0W-40L record) to winning a stage playoffs against such tough opposition is a testament to not only their inherent skill but also their resilience and grit.

And what an insane gauntlet the Dragons faced. New York Excelsior, the Vancouver Titans, and last but not least the San Francisco Shock. If there was ever a “hard mode” this has to be it. Three of the most insanely stacked Overwatch teams right now, and they all fell prey to Shanghai Dragons. Let that sink in for a while.

What an insane twist. Heck, “insane” doesn’t even cut it. The Dragons beat two of the best GOATS teams in the world, while playing their own game. They didn’t want to adhere to any preconceived meta — they had other, much grander plans. And against all odds (and three insane teams one after another), it paid off.

Where Do We Go From Here?

And so we are left to wonder. What will happen next? How will this impact the overall standings, and will they be able to maintain such a high level of play? This is the first time the organization (and their current players) ever tasted success (this much success, at least). Will it motivate them? Will they come back even stronger and look to cement themselves as the best Overwatch team in the world? The status quo has been turned on its head and anything is possible going forward, at least in theory. There are so many exciting questions that make the upcoming Stage 4 an absolute must watch.

The Overwatch League Stage 4 begins next week, and you can watch the action unfold on Twitch as well as the official Overwatch League website.