It will be a sad day in professional Overwatch when Joona “Fragi” Laine will no longer play on stage. Unfortunately, that may be the case sooner than many fans were hoping for after the Charge announced that Fragi would not be on the roster heading into the 2020 season of the Overwatch League. Maybe it’s just wishful thinking by a person, who grew to love the game of Overwatch through the way players like Fragi conducted themselves on and off the stage, grasping at any chance they can see him play again. Maybe it’s just naive optimism but I still believe Fragi deserves a roster spot.
It’s hard to picture Fragi not being on a team next season - a larger than life icon of the community, the real life embodiment of Reinhardt with a passionate fan base that desperately wishes to see him on stage again. Throughout his professional career, Fragi has been known for his extremely aggressive, fearless and inspiring Reinhardt play as well as his charming, powerful demeanor.
It’s unclear the direction Fragi’s career will head moving forward. He has expressed interest in coaching and was the assistant coach for Team Finland during the 2019 Overwatch World Cup. I’m sure that he can succeed in coaching once his playing days are over but I don’t want to admit that may be sooner than later. Fragi deserves a team next year. He deserves a chance to prove himself on stage once again. No matter what happens, though, Fragi will remain an icon of the game and one adored by passionate fans who want nothing more than to see him succeed in whatever he does. Thank you, Fragi. For everything.
