When the Overwatch Champions Series announced its slate of partnered organizations in early 2025, even the most adventurous fans didn’t expect that Team Liquid would be among them. 

It’s been more than seven years since the organization fielded an Overwatch roster. Back then, they competed against the likes of Immortals and FaZe Clan in the earliest iteration of Overwatch Contenders. In its return, Team Liquid has put its faith in a mix of North America’s rising stars and seasoned Overwatch League champions. 

Overwatch fans new and old are now becoming acquainted with Team Liquid through their flashy plays and consistent results, but there’s more to the roster than stats and highlights. We spoke to the players and staff to get to know them outside of the server. What are they like outside of their fight to keep North America relevant in the global Overwatch scene? Where are they from? What do they like to eat? What motivates them to play? What’s their sign?

Let’s find out! 

Rupal Zaman (Support) 

Though he has an impressive resume, it’s hard to find a better highlight for Rupal than the fact that he hoisted an Overwatch League trophy alongside the Florida Mayhem in 2023. Add that to his inclusion in Team USA for the Overwatch World Cup, as well as a full year of OWCS competition as part of Toronto Defiant, and it’s obvious why he’s one of North America’s most highly-regarded support players. 

• Age: 22  
• Hometown: Rochester, Minnesota (US) 
• Astrological sign: Virgo
• Favorite food: Flounder
• Funniest teammate: Knife 
• Favorite/most fun Perk: Ascendance (Zenyatta)

Do you have a favorite Overwatch map? If so, why? 

No.

What are your goals this season? 

To be a role model for my teammates.

If you had to 1v1 another player in your role from another team, who would it be and why? 

SirMajed because he's my friend. 

Which team would you be most excited to face at an international LAN event? 

Team Falcons.

What motivates you to keep competing in professional Overwatch? 

Overwatch is fun! 

Diego “Vega” Moran (Support) 

Another recruit from the former Toronto Defiant OWCS roster, Vega is a rising star who first made his name in the Overwatch Collegiate and Contenders scenes. He may be a young player, but he isn’t shy about standing tall in the face of veteran talent when his team needs results.   

• Age: 18 
• Hometown: Fort Worth, Texas (US) 
• Astrological sign: Gemini
• Favorite food: Cantaloupe 
• Funniest teammate: Rupal 
• Favorite/most fun Perk: Zenyatta perk that lets you fly (Ascendance)

Do you have a favorite Overwatch map? If so, why? 

Midtown. Usually Illiari and Brig are the best and snipers also aren't that good there.

What are your goals this season? 

Win an international major and get people to recognize that I’m a top international support.

If you had to 1v1 another player in your role from another team, who would it be and why? 

Ch0r0ng because he's just a better version of me right now and I’d want to get more experience.

Which team would you be most excited to face at an international LAN event?

I'd like to rematch against Once Again or Zeta Division since the Toronto Defiant played them in the Esports World Cup. 

What motivates you to keep competing in professional Overwatch? 

I want to end my career knowing I was the best in the world at something at some point in time.

Boston “Infekted” Fine (Tank)

At the age when most teenagers decide to start playing video games, Infekted was already terrorizing Overwatch’s ranked ladder with his stellar tank play. At age 15, he was one of the youngest players to ever participate in Overwatch Contenders, and his notoriety has only grown with time.

• Age: 18
• Hometown: La Grange Park, Illinois 
• Astrological sign: Aquarius
• Favorite food: Macaroni and cheese  
• Funniest teammate: Knife 
• Favorite/most fun Perk: Hang Time (Wrecking Ball Major)

Do you have a favorite Overwatch map? If so, why? 

Lijiang Tower because it's good for Wrecking Ball and there’s a variety of comps you can play.

What are your goals this season? 

Proving I'm the best tank player in the West.

If you had to 1v1 another player in your role from another team, who would it be and why? 

Junbin because he is the best tank player in the world.

Which team would you be most excited to face at an international LAN event? 

SSG (SpaceStation Gaming) or NTMR because I want to beat one of the teams from our region in front of a crowd.

What motivates you to keep competing in professional Overwatch?

It's been my dream since I was 12 years old.

Elliot “TR33” Chu (DPS) 

TR33 is another young talent who’s been balancing the books and the competition. At 13, he was the youngest player to ever debut in Contenders, and earned his GED at the age of 15 so he could participate in the Overwatch Collegiate scene. He was picked up by NRG Shock at the tail end of last year’s OWCS season, but will be plying his trade for Team Liquid in 2025.

• Age: 17
• Hometown: Gaithersburg, Maryland (US) 
• Astrological sign: Taurus
• Favorite food: Steak 
• Funniest teammate: Knife
• Favorite/most fun Perk: Excavation Exhilaration (Venture) 

Do you have a favorite Overwatch map? If so, why? 

Lijiang Tower because it has a lot of variety.

What are your goals this season? 

Beat multiple Korean teams consistently.

If you had to 1v1 another player in your role from another team, who would it be and why?

Lip because he's the best.

Which team would you be most excited to face at an international LAN event? 

SSG or NTMR.

What motivates you to keep competing in professional Overwatch? 

I don't want a 9-5! 😭😭😭

Lee “Knife” Sunwoo (DPS)

Team Liquid’s only import player is as sharp as his name suggests. Coming from legacy teams like O2 Blast and Talon Esports, Knife had a short run in the Overwatch League with the Paris Eternal, then rose back through the OWCS ecosystem to end up with Liquid. He’s also the most entertaining player on the roster, according to most of his teammates’ responses.

• Age: 20
• Hometown: Dangjin, South Korea
• Astrological sign: Cancer
• Favorite food: Kimchi
• Funniest teammate: Infekted 
• Favorite/most fun Perk: Genji's Dragonblade Lifesteal

Do you have a favorite Overwatch map? If so, why? 

It's fun to play Watchpoint Gibraltar and I like playing Tracer on Control Center (Lijiang Tower). 

What are your goals this season? 

The goal is to meet Crazy Raccoon and win. 

If you had to 1v1 another player in your role from another team, who would it be and why? 

LIP because he's the best player. 

Which team would you be most excited to face at an international LAN event? 

Crazy Raccoon or T1. 

What motivates you to keep competing in professional Overwatch? 

It's possible thanks to the continuous support from the fans!

Danny Mychakov

Liquid’s clutch analyst and assistant coach began his Overwatch career when he was only 14. Since then, he’s spent time with the Atlanta Reign and Washington Justice in the Overwatch League before joining the Toronto Defiant to TL pipeline. According to his Liquipedia entry, he’s somehow only won $13 from his efforts over the years. This almost certainly isn’t accurate, but on the off chance it is, here’s hoping 2025 at least doubles that.

• Age: 22
• Hometown: Toronto, Canada
• Astrological sign: Aquarius 
• Favorite food: Steak 
• Funniest teammate: Knife. He’s quiet, but when he talks he makes funny jokes.  
• Favorite/most fun Perk: The Zen floating one (Ascendance) is very funny. 

Do you have a favorite Overwatch map? If so, why?

I like Lijiang Tower. It’s an OG and you can play all the maps. 

What are your goals this season?

Making all three of the LAN events. 

If you had to 1v1 another player in your role from another team, who would it be and why? 

I’m a coach, but I want to face off against Crusty in the bans.

Which team would you be most excited to face at an international LAN event? 

For sure Crazy Raccoon, to get revenge. I lost every match to them last year...

What motivates you to keep competing in professional Overwatch? 

All the great relationships and friends I've met along the way!

Cas “Casores” van Andel 

One of the most recognizable names in Western Overwatch, Casores was an analyst and coach for the San Francisco Shock, where he won an Overwatch League title in 2020 before taking up the head coach mantle for the Toronto Defiant. He’s known for his deep analysis and ability to keep players centered in tough matchups. And as shown in his answers, he also isn’t shy about throwing down the gauntlet against other coaches when professional trash talk is required.  

• Age: 27
• Hometown: Heiloo, Netherlands 
• Astrological sign: Cancer
• Favorite food: Curry or pizza
• Funniest teammate: TR33
• Favorite/most fun Perk: Mauga being two people on the point rather than just one (Two Hearts) 

Do you have a favorite Overwatch map? If so, why? 

Watchpoint Gibraltar. It's different from other maps and rewards objective play and set plays. 

What are your goals this season?

Improving as a team and creating a stable environment where people can grow.

If you had to 1v1 another player in your role from another team, who would it be and why?

I could take Unter in the 1v1. 

Which team would you be most excited to face at an international LAN event? 

Crazy Raccoon. We couldn't beat them last year, so let's see if we got a better shot this time around. 

What motivates you to keep competing in professional Overwatch? 

The players I work with and the adrenaline from winning and losing.