Overwatch League Pro Ivy Retires
New York Excelsior’s South Korean flex DPS Lee “Ivy” Seung-hyun has officially retired from professional Overwatch play, the organization announced today via Twitter.
The now-former pro Overwatch League player began his career in 2017 and played in teams such as O2 Blast, Toronto Defiant, and Philadelphia Fusion before landing on the Excelsior in December of 2020.
“Today, we say goodbye to Ivy as he retires from the Overwatch League,” the Excelsior wrote in its Twitter post. “He has been a great teammate and we’re grateful for his contributions in this new era for NYXL. We wish him all the best on his next adventure.”
Today, we say goodbye to @owivy2 as he retires from the @overwatchleague. He has been a great teammate and we're grateful for his contributions in this new era for NYXL. We wish him all the best on his next adventure. #EverUpward pic.twitter.com/x2zvXVtowG
— NYXL (@NYXL) July 16, 2021
At 22 years old, Ivy was a part of the Philadelphia Fusion roster that reached the playoffs in the 2020 OWL season and finished fourth after losing to the Seoul Dynasty. Ivy was known for his play as Genji, Mei, Hanzo, Reaper and Tracer. The decision to part ways with the NYXL and retire comes in the middle of the season, with the team's five points good for sixth place in the East standings.
Ivy has yet to state his future plans.
Some Overwatch League fans were saddened by his decision to retire as he was one of the best players to use Mei last year with the Philadelphia Fusion. He ultimately failed to bring the success he found there to his play with the Excelsior.
As for the NYXL, it currently has no league matches scheduled this week and will return to play July 31 and Aug. 1, when It will face the Los Angeles Valiant and the Shanghai Dragons, respectively.