Underdog Oblivion wins ALGS in Sapporo as a skeptical spectator becomes a fan

Polygon reports a writer who had been indifferent to esports attended the Apex Legends Global Series Championship in Sapporo, Japan and left converted after watching the closing day. The Sapporo Dome was split between an ALGS Fan Zone and the main stage, with fans buying merch and waving team banners while nearly 15,000 people filled the stands on Championship day.

The author went primarily to see Philip “ImperialHal” Dosen, the in-game leader of Team Falcons; 12 hours before the event his controller was banned because of macros that couldn't be disabled and concerns its wireless features could be hacked, and he declined interviews to focus on competition.

Team Falcons led the first two days and Dosen even predicted a seven-match win, and his controller was unbanned before the final day. Falcons dominated early on Championship day but suffered early eliminations in matches three and seven; Dosen later stated, "We all fucked it up." Canadian underdog Oblivion — an unsigned trio that included a recently retired player and the first champion coached by a woman — clinched the title, the first team to win after advancing from the Last-Chance Qualifiers.

Key Topics

Sports, Algs, Apex Legends, Sapporo Dome, Team Falcons, Oblivion