South Korea may have dominated the Overwatch World Cup once again, but that doesn't mean other teams didn't showcase some up-and-coming talent throughout all World Cup stages. Players from China, the United Kingdom and Australia -- all regions that don't have much representation in Overwatch League -- have proven that they can handle the lights, crowds and pressure of Overwatch's biggest competition.
Cameron "Fusions" Bosworth, who is signed to the Boston Uprising, and Xu "guxue" Qiulin, who may be in line to join the Hangzhou roster, are just two examples of surprising talent that got their first taste of the big stage at BlizzCon a couple weeks ago.
They aren't the only ones who have grinded through Contenders with their eyes set on the big leagues though -- here are six players from the World Cup who should have made enough of an impression to join the Overwatch League.
Huang "Leave" Xin
It's clear from upsets over Finland and Canada that China brought the heat at BlizzCon. In fact, the Chinese roster is made up of some of the best Overwatch talent in China and the majority of their squad deserves a shot in the Overwatch League.
Leave, playing along with Xu "guxue" Qiulin and Zheng "Shy" Yangjie, was a beast during matches against both Finland and Canada. What's even more impressive is that Leave left Overwatch to play PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds competitively -- only coming back a short time ago to dominate the competition in the World Cup. That's real talent.
Even though he may not compare to someone like Jae-hyeok "Carpe" Lee just yet, Leave was able to outshine proven talent like Lane "Surefour" Roberts in head-to-head DPS matchups. Leave was too young to play in first season of Overwatch League, but he'd be perfect for one of the league's academy teams heading into Season 2.
Sean Taiyo "ta1yo" Henderson
Having played in last year's tournament, Ta1yo was no stranger to the World Cup. Japan missed out on BlizzCon by placing fourth in the Incheon qualifier, but that doesn't mean that Ta1yo's skill level was any less impressive. He's more flexible than other Japanese players, has a considerable amount of LAN experience and speaks fluent English -- making him a great candidate for a North American team.
He showcased fantastic DPS ability during two wild Pacific Contender seasons. Unfortunately, due to a roster mishap by GG Esports Academy, Ta1yo is left without a Contenders team heading into Season 3. Even if he doesn't make it to Overwatch League just yet, he'd be a great addition to a North American Contenders team.
William "Crimzo" Hernandez
Crimzo, alongside the versatile Liam "Mangachu" Campbell, shined as Zenyatta and Ana against France. It was a tough fight -- but his nano boosts with Brady "Agilities" Girardi's Doomfist and point-holding transcendence plays showed off fantastic coordination and timing with the rest of the squad.
This was Crimzo's first time on the World Cup stage and he didn't let the opportunity go to waste -- he played just as well as his any player already in the Overwatch League. This isn't the first time Crimzo has showcased amazing talent either, as his play on Team Envy in both seasons of North American Contenders has been nothing but impressive. This latest performance only solidifies his case for a spot in the Overwatch League.
Finley "Kyb" Adisi
Kyb has been a dominant player on every team he's been on -- from Those Guys to Renegades, Lazer Kittenz or the British Hurricane. His performance on the World Cup stage, with a dominating win over the U.S., was the cherry on top of a delicious Overwatch sundae.
His flexible playstyle included Tracer, Roadhog, Brigitte, Hanzo, McCree and a number of other heroes during UK's two matches. That level of talent could fill a void on a number of Overwatch League franchises heading into Season 2. Here's hoping we don't have to wait until Season 3 to see that happen.
Ashley "Trill" Powell
Despite horrible internet connections in Australia, Trill has been a fantastic tank for sometime now. His Wrecking Ball is considered one of the best in the world, and he was able to come out on top after going toe-to-toe with South Korea's Pan-seung "Fate" Koo on multiple occasions.
Trill, who just signed with Sydney Drop Bears for Contenders Season 3, proved his worth yet again on the World Cup stage -- even if Australia fell to South Korea in the quarterfinals. His Winston caused a lot of trouble for South Korea's Bang "JJonak" Sung-hyeon and Jae-hyeok "Carpe" Lee. Once he gets additional LAN experience and a more cohesive unit around him, he could be a considerable threat in the Overwatch League.
Renan "alemão" Moretto
Brazil didn't make it all the way to BlizzCon this year, but alemão played some stunning Lucio during the qualifying stage in Los Angeles. Players from both Canada and the United States took notice, saying he could be top tier talent if given the opportunity.
Alemão played for Brasil Gaming House in both seasons of South American Contenders where he helped lead the team to two first place finishes. But, like Australian players, Alemão is separated from the North American scene by subpar Brazilian internet and expensive travel costs. He has the talent, and is fluent in English, but it'll be a tough for him to get noticed without playing for an academy team first.