Park "Saebyeolbe" Jong-yeol runs through his opponents at a blistering pace, leaving a twisted and marred landscape in his wake, but does so with his own personal twist: he seems to enjoy it. He’s either a video game sadist or just flourishes in a state of youthful exuberance. It’s almost a task to find a frowning Saebyeolbe; he is just a naturally down-to-earth and overall happy guy. Saebyeolbe makes up just a cog in the machine that is the stacked DPS roster for the Overwatch League franchize, the New York Excelsior. Don’t let the happy-go-lucky facade fool you—Saebyeolbe is incredibly talented.

One instance during OGN’s Overwatch APEX Season 2 comes to mind.

In delight shrouded in sarcastic apathy, OGN commentators MonteCristo and Doa basked in the squall that was Saebyeolbe piloting Roadhog. “Ahh, well there is another one … ”. Hook after hook, Saebyeolbe decimated KongDoo Panthera before even capturing Point A on Route 66, “ … he just kills all the supports I guess. Yeah, kill the tank as well. Just kill the Genji too.” Right as you thought the eye of the storm was overhead, Saebyeolbe weaseled his way into finding another hook. MonteCristo began his next sentence with just one word: “Impressive … ” halting the caster mid-thought, Saebyeolbe rounded the corner immediately after Point A and snatched the enemy Reinhardt only microseconds after putting his shield down. “What the hell!? Alright, that was pretty good, Saebyeolbe.”

It was this performance, this violent whirlwind of talent that secured LW Blue’s semifinal spot during APEX Season 2. If my memory serves me, it was this performance on Roadhog, a hero he had played before but was not known for, that earned him the title “Godbe.” He slowly rose from his seat, his ever-present smile equipped, and embraced his nearest teammate. He was elated and wore his emotions on his sleeve,  like he always does.

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“What is the point to living if we don’t enjoy it?” - Park "Saebyeolbe" Jong-yeol

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After making a name for himself in South Korea as one of the best, he was gifted the opportunity to represent his country at the Overwatch World Cup. The Anaheim Convention Center was the stage and Saebyeolbe the conductor. From his chair he conducted the sea of adoring fans, their cheers echoed through the halls like a torrential typhoon of amazement. It didn’t take long for his name to be plastered across western message boards and websites alike, his acclaim continued to grow.

“When I was in the plane, I remember the beautiful scenery outside the window.” Saebyeolbe recounts as his team, the New York Excelsior, returned back state side to participate in the inaugural season of the long-awaited Overwatch League. “However I’m still pretty scared to ride the airplane.” While he reminisced, I wanted to further explore that mindset and touch on his origin. Like many of his peers, Saebyeolbe began his competitive gaming career in another FPS title, Counter-Strike 1.6. If he didn’t play with his old Counter-Strike 1.6 team, team AutoCrash, would things be the same? Would he have played Overwatch professionally? How much did his past in the FPS genre shape his progaming career? His response was serious, contrasting his usual bubbly demeanor, “I would still be the same person and player today even if I didn’t have those previous experiences.”

Staying in the past, further exploring the history of what makes a great DPS player, I stumbled across something that stood out. Saebyeolbe worked a normal job before he made a living playing Overwatch. Was this the source of the unrelenting happiness, the ability to make the most out of any given circumstance? “Yes, because of my previous work experiences, I learned how to keep composure and stay calm.” Having to tend to customers and work alongside your superiors builds character. It was those arduous times that constructed the Saebyeolbe we know and love today.

“Joining LuxuryWatch was a bit of a lucky accident for me.” While we dabbled in the past, he recalled just how he joined the LuxuryWatch organization. “I only had one tryout before giving up; however, they still wanted me to join. I’m really thankful for Fl0w3r.” Saebyeolbe began his Overwatch journey on a small amateur team called team AIM. Then, he transferred to become a part of the CONBOX organization for a short time. He even tried out for KongDoo during this time, but right when Saebyeolbe was about to quit and give up his dreams, he took the test for LuxuryWatch. He extrapolates on this answer in an interview with GameCoach Global: “To be honest, I didn’t do really well in the test. I was really nervous to play against professionals and I gave up in the middle. I said ‘I’m sorry, I don’t think I can make it’, but Fl0w3r recommended me and thanks to that I could get into this team.”

Hearing Fl0w3r’s reaction to winning their first tournament, IEM Gyeonggi, was inspirational. I had to know: what did it mean to Saebyeolbe to win that event? “That was the first championship in my professional gaming career, so it meant a lot to me.” The victory at IEM Gyeonggi stands alone as an achievement, but to sweeten the deal, Saebyeolbe and his team defeated Lunatic-Hai in the Grand Final, 3-1. “A few years ago I was a fan of other pro gamers, so it’s an incredible feeling to have fans that cheer for me now.” Progamers are tantalized by dreams of running down the stage and hoisting a trophy in the air for all to see. For Saebyeolbe, this was no different, “It’s a dream come true.” Sometimes that dream comes at a cost. During his travels to the US, Saebyeolbe got very and ill and made a point to address how it affected his time to interact with the fans. “I was really sick for a while so I couldn’t stream. Sorry everyone!” Now that Saebyeolbe is on the mend, I’m sure we will be seeing more of his bright smile very soon.

As the tide of Saebyeolbe’s mind's eye washes in, it resurfaces more vibrant memories. The last recent event we’ve seen him reign victorious at was the Overwatch World Cup 2017.

“But Saebyeolbe takes down Adam and Sinatraa!” The Anaheim Convention Center immediately went from roaring cheers to a hushed disappointment. Commentators ZP and hexagrams explain just what exactly happened. “What a hero play from the Tracer from South Korea! Could this be a draw - it is! South Korea defends!” It was Hanamura, the USA had taken South Korea to a double-overtime scenario. As the kills started to rack up for both teams, South Korea’s numbers dwindled, but of the back of Saebyeolbe’s brilliant use of his Pulse Bomb, South Korea defended Point A and drew the map. This sparked debate and challenged previous opinions on who was the better Tracer, Saebyeolbe or the western wonderboy, Sinatraa? And after some cheeky back and forths, the two players had what seemed to be a friendly rivalry. “I really love playing with and against Sinatraa!” He reassured me there was no bad blood between the two. “We also became pretty good friends recently.” He started to smile and began dancing in his chair “Gucci gang Gucci gang!”

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“If people remember me as a player who always enjoyed playing, I will be very happy.” - Park "Saebyeolbe" Jong-yeol

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Just like the tide, Saebyeolbe will always continue to persist. His skill displayed much like a martial artist’s, where his art is simply an extension of himself; a smiling tempest, ready to wash over the Overwatch League. The world lies in Saebyeolbe’s smile, but the warmth it exudes masks a fiery competitor ready to strike at a moments notice. The overcast skies succinctly foreshadows what is soon to come. Saebyeolbe and the rest of the New York Excelsior have a monumental task ahead of them, he represents the “empire state” and yet hails from the “mecca” of South Korea. “I’m not too sure how that name was created. What I know is I really love our in-game skins, and I will try my best to make New York the empire of esports.”

Like a king, he watches the ocean, his kingdom ebb and flow as it brushes against the soft golden sand of Southern California. Saebyeolbe has come incredibly far. From being a professional bowler for four years, to taking that drive and determination into video games and esports. In the face of moving away from all that he knows, his family, his friends, all to chase his dreams. He smiles, because “What is the point to living if we don’t enjoy it?”

Joseph “Volamel” Franco has followed esports since the MLG’s of 2006. He started out primarily following Starcraft 2, Halo 3, and Super Smash Bros. Melee. He has transitioned from viewer to journalist and writes freelance primarily about Overwatch and League of Legends. If you would like to know more or follow his thoughts on esports you can follow him at @Volamel.

Images courtesy of Blizzard Entertainment and OGN.