Chengdu Hunters were a Chinese professional Overwatch esports team based in Chengdu, China. The Hunters competed in the Overwatch League (OWL) as a member of the league's East region. The team was owned by Huya, Inc., a Chinese interactive broadcast platform and was operated by Royal Never Give Up (RNG) throughout the 2019 and 2020 OWL seasons. The Hunters also formerly had partnership with Overwatch Contenders the team LGE.Huya to act as the team's academy team. Founded in 2018, Chengdu Hunters began play as one of eight expansion teams in 2019 and was one of four professional Overwatch teams in China. Since inception, the Hunters had qualified for the season playoffs once, in 2021. The team disbanded in 2023.
Hunters walking on stage in 2019
The Overwatch League (OWL) was a professional esports league for the video game Overwatch, produced by its developer, Blizzard Entertainment. From 2018 to 2023, the Overwatch League followed the model of other traditional North American professional sporting leagues by using a set of permanent, city-based teams backed by separate ownership groups. The league used the regular season and playoffs format rather than promotion and relegation used commonly in other esports and non-North American leagues, with players on the roster being assured a minimum annual salary, benefits, and a portion of winnings and revenue-sharing based on team performance.
The esports training facilities for the Dallas Fuel
New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft was one of the first businesspeople approached to own an Overwatch League team.
Blizzard Arena hosted nearly every Overwatch League match from 2018 to 2019.
The London Spitfire won the 2018 Grand Finals.