Just before the fifth season of the Overwatch League began, the league renamed their Rookie of the Year award to honor Kim “Alarm” Kyeong-bo. The former Philadelphia Fusion flex support and Rookie of the Year died in Nov. 2021. This means that the first Overwatch 2 Rookie of the Year award will honor Alarm the same way the OWL positivity award honors Dennis “INTERNETHULK” Hawelka.
Kyeongbo “Alarm” Kim was an inspiration to many, his impact as a player, teammate, and friend will never be forgotten.
To honor his legacy, we are introducing the Alarm Rookie of the Year Award pic.twitter.com/9Zz2TxUjKv
— Overwatch League (@overwatchleague) May 5, 2022
Alarm’s rookie performance sets the standard
Alarm made moves in the lower tiers of Overwatch, making himself a top prospect for any league team to pick up. After playing in three APEX seasons in Korea, he made an early move to North America. It paid off, as he joined Fusion University and eventually became the best player on the roster. Fusion University’s consistent finishes at the top of NA Contenders were often off the play of Alarm on his signature Zenyatta and Ana.
After a long time in Contenders, he reached the main Philadelphia Fusion roster and immediately improved it. In the 2020 season, he helped the Fusion reach the finals of both the Summer Showdown and Countdown Cup. Much like his time in NA Contenders, he was both one of the best and most consistent on the roster. As a rookie, he set flex support numbers comparable to the best in the league for 2020. The team finished second in the regular season, finishing fourth in the season playoffs. His performances and importance to the Fusion led him to win Rookie of the Year.
In 2021, the Fusion couldn’t reach the same highs as they did the year before. Alarm continued his consistency and play, but the roster finished ninth in the regular season. After losing to the San Francisco Shock in a close series, the Fusion’s 2021 season ended. Alarm and the Fusion were returning for Overwatch 2 to take them back to the top. However, the Overwatch League world was shocked when the Fusion announced that Alarm died on November 7, 2021.
His play lives on through Rookie of the Year
Much like the Dennis Hawelka award the league gives out yearly, this change links Alarm to the award. Like how Hawelka represented positivity in Overwatch, Alarm represents how the best rookies can change a roster.
The first-ever Rookie of the Year for Overwatch 2 will lift up a trophy that represents the best rookie in Overwatch League history.
