Team CC

Origins as VPGAME and the Invictus Gaming Era

The franchise began in 2016 with the establishment of two separate Overwatch teams by the Chinese organization vpgame. These teams were named VPGAME.ZZ and VPGAME.ONE. Their existence was relatively brief before a major organizational change. On July 9, 2016, the esports club Invictus Gaming announced it had acquired both vpgame teams. As part of the acquisition, VPGAME.ZZ was rebranded to iG.Fire and VPGAME.ONE became iG.Ice.

Both new Invictus Gaming squads entered China's primary competitive circuit, the Overwatch Premier Series. iG.Fire qualified for the 2016 APAC Premier tournament. There, the team secured a first-round victory against Team Skadi's Gift in the double-elimination group stages. However, iG.Fire's run was halted by consecutive losses to the Korean team Lunatic-Hai and the European team Rogue, resulting in elimination. iG.Ice found success in the 2017 Spring Overwatch Premier Series, advancing past the group stages. Their tournament journey ended in the quarterfinals with a loss to the team Lucky Future.

NetEase CC Acquisition and Consolidation into Team CC

The next chapter for the franchise began on August 4, 2017, when NetEase CC, a live video streaming platform based in Guangzhou, acquired the Overwatch teams from Invictus Gaming. Rather than maintaining two separate rosters, NetEase CC consolidated iG.Fire and iG.Ice into a single, unified team named Team CC. This new entity continued to compete in domestic tournaments like the 2017 Summer Overwatch Premier Series while awaiting the formal launch of a new league structure.

The team's purpose and identity were confirmed on January 10, 2018. The Shanghai Dragons, one of the inaugural franchises of the newly formed Overwatch League, publicly revealed that Team CC would serve as their official academy team. This meant Team CC would compete in Overwatch Contenders China, the official developmental league, acting as a direct feeder system and proving ground for players aspiring to reach the Shanghai Dragons' OWL roster.

Early Contenders Seasons and Playoff Consistency

Team CC immediately proved to be a formidable force in the China region of Overwatch Contenders. In their very first season in 2018, the team posted a 3-2 record during the group stages, securing a playoff berth. They defeated Legend Young Beyond in the quarterfinals but were stopped in the semifinals by LGD Gaming with a 1-3 scoreline. This began a streak of playoff qualifications.

The team qualified for the playoffs again in 2018 Season 2, though their run ended with a quarterfinal loss to The One Winner. In the final season of 2018, Team CC made the playoffs for a third consecutive time. They secured a quarterfinal victory over Big Time Regal Gaming but once again fell at the semifinal stage, this time to Flag Gaming. This pattern of deep runs without a title continued into 2019 Season 1, where a fourth straight playoff appearance ended with a quarterfinal defeat to Bilibili Gaming, the academy team of the OWL's Hangzhou Spark.

The Road to a Domestic Championship

The 2019 Season 2 campaign showed significant progress. Team CC finished first in their group, earning a direct path to the China regional finals. There, they faced LGE.Huya, the academy team of the Chengdu Hunters. Despite their strong season, Team CC fell in the finals match, finishing as regional runners-up. This notable achievement had a direct impact on the coaching staff, as head coach Moon Byung-chul was promoted to become the head coach of the parent Shanghai Dragons following the season's conclusion.

Team CC's breakthrough finally arrived in 2020 Season 1. The team dominated the group stage, nearly doubling the point total of the next highest seed. In the playoff bracket, they suffered a loss to Flag Gaming in the upper bracket semifinals. Forced into the lower bracket, Team CC mounted an impressive run, winning consecutive matches to fight their way back to the Grand Finals. In the championship match, they delivered a commanding 3-0 victory to claim their first Overwatch Contenders China title.

Interregional Triumph at The Gauntlet Asia

Building on their domestic championship, Team CC continued their strong form in 2020 Season 2. The team again reached the playoffs and advanced to the Grand Finals, though they finished as runners-up this time. Their consistent high-level performance across the 2020 season earned them a coveted spot in The Gauntlet Asia, a special tournament featuring the top Overwatch Contenders teams from across the Asia-Pacific regions.

At The Gauntlet, Team CC successfully progressed through the group stages to reach the double-elimination knockout stage. In the knockout bracket, the team demonstrated their regional strength by advancing to the Grand Finals. There, they faced the Korean contender Gen.G. Team CC secured a decisive 4-1 victory, claiming the interregional championship. This victory marked the peak of the organization's competitive achievements, proving they could succeed against the best talent from beyond China.

A Prolific Talent Pipeline to the Overwatch League

The primary function of an academy team is player development, and Team CC excelled in this role. A steady stream of players earned promotions or signings to Overwatch League teams, primarily benefiting their affiliate, the Shanghai Dragons. The first promotion occurred on October 31, 2017, when support player Chen 'Fiveking' Zhaoyu was signed by the Shanghai Dragons, even before Team CC's formal academy designation.

The pipeline expanded significantly in 2018. On November 28, tank player Ma 'LateYoung' Tian-bin and support player Kong 'Kyo' Chun-ting were both signed by the new expansion franchise, the Chengdu Hunters. The Hunters returned to Team CC in early 2019, signing tank player Wei 'jiqiren' Yansong on January 16. The most notable promotion came on January 19, 2020, when Lee 'Fearless' Eui-seok, a key tank player from their championship roster, was promoted to the Shanghai Dragons.

The exodus of talent continued through late 2020 and 2021. On November 16, 2020, tank player Jia 'LiGe' Chengjie was signed by the Hangzhou Spark. Just days later, on November 27, 2020, the Chengdu Hunters returned again to sign tank player Qui 'GA9A' Jiaxin and support player Cao 'Faraway1987' Jiale. Finally, in November 2021, support player Wu 'Haoyoqian' Gengtuo joined the Hangzhou Spark and tank player Ham 'SOMEONE' Jeong-wan was signed by the Florida Mayhem, marking some of the final player movements before the team's end.

Disbandment and Legacy

Following its championship-winning 2020 season and the subsequent promotion of its core talent, Team CC's activity diminished. The organization officially disbanded in late 2021. Its dissolution marked the end of a five-year journey that had seen the franchise operate under three different ownership groups and two distinct brand identities.

The legacy of Team CC is defined by its dual success. Competitively, it evolved from a consistent playoff contender into a champion, securing both a domestic Contenders title and a prestigious interregional trophy. Operationally, it fulfilled its academy mandate with distinction, developing and transferring numerous players to the Overwatch League, thereby strengthening not only the Shanghai Dragons but also several other OWL franchises. The promotion of head coach Moon to the OWL further underscored the organization's role as a comprehensive development program for the highest level of Overwatch esports.