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Today, we're taking a look at the latest Overwatch esports news. Since taking over official operations for Overwatch, Nexon has also shown a strong interest in its esports scene. Its earlier plans to invest in grassroots Overwatch esports raised hopes that Korea would finally have a grassroots tournament of its own. Then, on November 9, Nexon announced OWGS (Overwatch Grassroot Series), a tournament for teenagers and university students. Here's a closer look at OWGS!

Let's get started.





Contents

• What Is OWGS?

• Registration Period and Rewards

• Tournament Schedule and Prize Money

• Closing Thoughts



What Is OWGS?

Image source: Official OWGS website

Name	OWGS (Overwatch Grassroots Series)
Tournament Divisions	OWCS Youth (Middle and High School Students) / OWGS Campus (University Students)

OWGS stands for Overwatch Grassroots Series. It is a grassroots tournament focused on amateur players and the community, forming a foundation for Overwatch esports in Korea. Rather than professionals, it primarily draws middle and high school students, as well as university students, making it an interschool competition too. The tournament has two divisions: Youth and Campus. Broadcast details have not yet been announced, but SOOP looks like the likely platform.



Image source: FACEIT

OWGS is similar in concept to FACEIT League, a lower-tier grassroots competition held in Europe and the Americas. There is one key difference, however: FACEIT League serves as a lower-tier league for OWCS NA and EMEA, giving teams a chance to qualify for their main events, while OWGS offers no direct qualification route to professional OWCS KR or the Asia main event and is strictly an amateur competition for students and schools. Even so, it offers students a stage to showcase their skills and potentially take a step toward a professional career.

Registration Period and Rewards

Image source: Official OWGS website

Registration Period	November 4 – November 15
Participation Rewards	Youth: D.Va Spray Campus: Tracer Spray Both Divisions: 10,000 won in Nexon Cash, Zero-Gravity Research Spray Main Event Qualification: Esports Loot Box

Registration opened on November 4 and runs through November 15. Schools can enter teams of 5–8 players through the official OWGS website. Participating teams and those that qualify for the main event will receive generous in-game rewards. The deadline is approaching, so interested students who have not yet signed up should register soon.

Tournament Schedule and Prize Money

Image source: Official OWGS website

The total prize pool is 18 million won, split evenly between Youth and Campus at 9 million won per division. Each winning team will receive 5 million won. In the Youth division, however, the prize will reportedly go toward a school development fund rather than to individual players. Every student at the winning school will also receive snacks from a food truck.

Closing Thoughts

Image source: Official OWGS website

That wraps up our look at OWGS, Korea's grassroots interschool Overwatch tournament. I've long felt that Korean Overwatch esports needs a lower-tier league or grassroots competition, so the launch of OWGS is especially welcome news. If you're interested in competing, follow the link below and consider entering OWGS. As for me, I plan to attend once tickets for the in-person event go on sale!

I'm 게임하늘. Thanks for reading!

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