British Hurricane Explained

British Hurricane
Founded:2018
League:Overwatch Contenders
Division:Atlantic
Region:Europe
History:British Hurricane
2018–present
City:London, United Kingdom
Colours:Dark blue, light blue, white
Owner:Jack Etienne
Gm:Ysabel "Noukky" Müller
Affiliations:London Spitfire
Blank Label1:Regional titles
Blank Label2:Interregional titles
Disbanded:2021

British Hurricane was a British esports team for the video game Overwatch competing in Overwatch Contenders (OWC) and an academy team for the London Spitfire of the Overwatch League (OWL). The team was based in London, United Kingdom and played in the Europe region of OWC. Since inception, Hurricane won two regional and one interregional championships. In December 2021, the team announced that they would not be competing in future Contenders seasons.

Franchise history

On 15 February 2018, the London Spitfire formally announced that their academy team for Overwatch Contenders Europe would be called the British Hurricane and revealed their all-European 2018 Season 1 squad.[1] Cloud9 owner Jack Etienne worked with Code Red Esports owner Paul "ReDeYe" Chaloner and popular Overwatch YouTuber Tom "Stylosa" Stewart on helping them target the British demographic for their roster.[2]

In their first season, the Hurricane took home the 2018 Season 1 European championship after defeating Team Gigantti 4–3 in the European Overwatch Contenders Grand Finals. Following, the team defeated North America Contenders Champions Fusion University in the 2018 Atlantic Showdown by a score of 3–1.[3] Hurricane struggled in 2018 Season 2 – only amassing one win – and was dropped down to Contenders Trials for Season 3, where they finished atop the rankings and joined Contenders 2018 Season 3.[4] They were able to qualify for the Season 3 playoffs but fell to Team Gigantti in the quarterfinals.[5]

British Hurricane had a dominant performance in 2019 Season 1, as the team went a perfect 7–0 in the European region, and made it to the Europe Grand Finals for the second time in two years.[6] However, they fell to the German-based team Angry Titans in the finals by a score of 1–4.[7] Due to their performance in Season 1, the team qualified for the 2019 Atlantic Showdown – a double-elimination interregional tournament. After defeating Lowkey Esports in Round 1 and losing to Team Envy in the bottom-half bracket, the team was eliminated by ATL Academy by a score of 0–3, placing 5th in the tournament.[8]

On 17 December 2021, Cloud9 announced that British Hurricane would cease operations at the end of 2021.[9]

Seasons overview

YearSeasonRegionOWC regular seasonRegional playoffsInterregional events
FinishWinsLossesWin %
British Hurricane
2018 1 Europe 1st 4 1 Winners Atlantic Showdown – Winners
2 Europe 5th 1 4 None held
3 Europe 3rd 3 2 Quarterfinals
2019 1 Europe 1st 7 0 Runners-up Atlantic Showdown – Lower Round 1
2 Europe 4th 3 4 Semifinals Did not qualify
2020 1 Europe 1st 12 0 Winners None held
Regular season record 30 11
Playoff record 9 3

OWL buyouts and promotions

All Overwatch Contenders players are eligible to be promoted by their affiliated Overwatch League team or signed to any other Overwatch League during specified non-blackout periods.[10]

2018

2021

Notes and References

  1. News: Meet Spitfire’s all-European Contenders team: British Hurricane. Marshall. Cass. 15 February 2018. Heroes Never Die. 10 July 2018.
  2. News: Duwe . Scott . London Spitfire has revealed its Overwatch Contenders team, British Hurricane . . 15 February 2019 . 23 July 2019.
  3. News: Scott-Jones . Richard . British Hurricane are Overwatch Contenders Atlantic champions . . 15 May 2018 . 23 July 2019.
  4. News: Feng . Evie . Catch up on Contenders, the best Overwatch matches you probably missed . . 30 October 2018 . 23 July 2019.
  5. News: Cooney . Bill . Former Overwatch League pro shows off impressive Winston strategy . Dexerto . 9 January 2019 . 23 July 2019.
  6. News: Padilla . Brandon . Contenders Catch-Up: Playoffs Edition . The Game Haus . 1 May 2019 . 23 July 2019.
  7. News: Richardson . Liz . Angry Titans are Overwatch Contenders Europe’s 2019 season one champions . . 3 May 2019 . 23 July 2019.
  8. News: Liang Jing-hao . Takeaways from the 2019 Overwatch Atlantic Showdown . . 5 June 2019 . 23 July 2019.
  9. News: British Hurricane to Cease Operations at the End of 2021 . 3 January 2021 . Cloud9 . 17 December 2021.
  10. News: Olmstead . Sydney . Blizzard Reveals Information About Overwatch League Offseason . VGR . 14 June 2018 . 19 July 2019.
  11. News: Viana . Bhernardo . Guangzhou Charge signs an international roster for its debut in the Overwatch League . . 23 November 2018 . 23 July 2019.
  12. News: Czarnowski . Michael . Paris Eternal sign Vestola as new starting off-tank . . 2 June 2021 . 28 July 2021.
  13. Spitfire . London Spitfire . 1469004150977478656 . “A connecting flight is now arriving in the hangar - stand clear! From our @Hurricane squad, welcome @AdmiralRaptr to the London Spitfire! #AcesHigh . December 9, 2021 . December 9, 2021.