Meet OWL* Anchor Chris Puckett

Veteran esports commentator Chris Puckett talks about the season (so far) and why anchoring OWL* is the best job in the world.

My name is Chris Puckett and I have the best job in the world. I’m an esports veteran known for my work as a producer, play-by-play commentator, and current anchor of the Overwatch League. After working out of Major League Gaming’s headquarters in New York City for 11 years, I was offered a position on one of the largest, most exciting projects I’ve been a part of in my 15 years in esports: Overwatch League.

Overwatch is Blizzard Entertainment’s newest and biggest video game title, and Overwatch League (OWL) features the absolute best of the game’s 35 million players. Overwatch was built from the ground up with competition in mind, taking the best features of previous first-person shooters and other popular strategic games. Each match pits two teams against each other, with six players from each team on the field at any given time.

It’s a fast-paced game with a focus on teamwork and strategy, appealing to players of all different skill sets and playstyles. Not only do we see players with incredible accuracy and reaction times, the pros competing in the Overwatch League are some of the most intelligent competitors in esports and are paid accordingly. All players are guaranteed health benefits and a minimum salary of $50,000, with some stars earning upwards of $150,000 at the age of 18.

OWL is a truly global league, with 113 professional players from 19 countries competing in the inaugural season for over $3.5 million dollars. Twelve new teams were created with backing from some of the biggest names in traditional sports and media, including New England Patriots* owner Robert Kraft and NFL* stars Michael Strahan and Marshawn Lynch.

Each of these twelve new teams has a home city that they represent, from New York to London to Shanghai. Already we’ve seen rivalries develop between regions, with some of the most exciting matches even coming from interstate adversaries.

One of the most talked-about matches of the season so far was the “Battle for Los Angeles”, pitting the LA Valiant against the LA Gladiators. Though the history of these two teams is as young as the league, fans have already chosen sides with fierce passion and the local crowd was split down the middle, divided into factions of green and purple. The match itself was an instant classic as the Gladiators raced to a 2-game lead before the Los Angeles Valiant flipped the table and stormed back to win 3-2, powered by an insane performance from star player Brady "Agilities" Girardi. Valiant took the win, delighted fans, and staked their claim to the League’s home city of Los Angeles.

For matches like that, I get the best seat in the house for it all, anchoring the desk four days a week in a similar fashion to NFL* desk anchors Chris Berman and Rich Eisen. It’s my job to familiarize our audience with the players and teams, showcasing highlights from the games and working with a panel of experts to break down the strategies for our wider audience.

Even though I’ve worked in this field for 15 years, at my core I’m still a fan. Every single broadcast there’s at least one play that has me jumping out of my seat, cheering along with the crowd. But the best part of my job is telling the stories of the people behind the big moments, and for the pros in the Overwatch League this is more than just a game.

What stands out to me are human stories: the players from Shanghai with tears in their eyes as they buckled under the immense pressure of their huge, demanding fanbase. An interview with Nomy as he tearfully described the sacrifices made by his single mother; once desperate to make his esports dreams a reality, now proud to support his mom and sister in Mexico.

It’s only been three weeks so far and already these players are turning viewers into diehard fans and creating legacies to last for years. If you’re late to the game and want to catch up to the action, you can tune into this week’s live matches kicking off on Wednesday at 4pm PT -- or watch any of the previous matches for free -- at www.OverwatchLeague.com.

Opinions expressed are solely my own and do not express the views or opinions of Intel, Activision Blizzard, Overwatch League, or other associated parties.

*Other names and brands may be claimed as the property of others.