The ALGS Split 2 Playoffs are ready to kick off in style, with the best Apex Legends teams in the world converging on London’s Copper Box Arena this week. Ahead of the intense competition, Hannah Marie sat down with Alliance’s UK player, Oscar ‘Yuki’ Jiang, to discuss the team’s preparation ahead of the LAN, the most threatening teams in their competition, and how the UK can improve its status as a hub for FPS talent.
Alliance performed exceedingly well in the Split 1 Playoffs, finishing in the top 5 & gifting the audience several competition-defining moments. After winning the Apex EMEA Regional Finals and finishing Split 2 at the top of the leaderboard, they’re ready to take on anything – even a 1v1 rematch with the ‘CEO of Apex’, the ALGS Split 1 Playoffs winner, TSM‘s ImperialHal.
Welcome to the Red Bull Gaming Sphere!
Hannah Marie: We are here, because obviously, the Split 2 Playoffs are just around the corner. You (Alliance) had a pretty good result during Split 1, even overcoming having a sub instead of your usual third. How has your scrim experience been so far, both as a team, but also as an EMEA region?
Yuki: Recently, we haven’t really seen many European teams performing. I don’t really remember any names out there that have been top five. I would have loved to see them doing well, but no one has really stood out, except from us. We’ve been doing very well.
When I say very well, I mean that our daily average (at the end of a week there is always a daily average that comes out) is usually second best… one, two, three, or four.
Yes, you are usually in the top five, or top three!
However, speaking about other European teams, we haven’t really seen them in the top five in terms of their weekly average.
We shouldn’t completely measure performance on a weekly average. Not everyone plays on every scrim day, so averages could be wrong. But generally, when we have played and have seen the results, we’ve not really seen other European teams up there [at the top].
I really hoped Vexed would be up there, or KCP would be up there [at the top of scrims leaderboards], but I haven’t really seen them.
What do you think about UK org Vexed and their position coming into Split 2 Playoffs? They did very well during the regular split – you guys [Alliance] did sweep it out from under them during the regional finals and take the win overall – do you think they are going to have a better time in the Split 2 Playoffs compared to Split 1?
Split 1 Playoffs they were still a fairly new team, and I believe that at least one or two on the team didn’t have any LAN experience. It does get to you sometimes. Sometimes you’re not quite ready for that big stage with the big lights.
You have to build up to it, right?
Yeah, you definitely need experience in that field. Sometimes young players especially don’t get that opportunity to go up there and be on the big stage. I don’t know if it was nerves that got to them, but I guess in Playoffs number one they didn’t do very well. However, I think they are more prepared for the Split 2 Playoffs.
In the regional finals we saw they did very well – I’d argue that they even did better than us in the regional finals! So in terms of them seeking revenge on us – I don’t think that is a thing. I think if they just play the way they did [in the regional finals], they will have very good results.
I don’t think they have anything to worry about. They’re on the right track. They are definitely formidable opponents going into the Split 2 Playoffs.
Good for them! It’s great watching their journey. They definitely had more of an underdog quality during Split 1, so it will be exciting to watch how it is going to be for the Split 2 Playoffs.
Another thing that I have noticed in your scrims is that a few times, Alliance has had contests at Thermal. It seems to be a little bit of a trend – your contests – as I remember during Split 1 Playoffs there was a long, ongoing contest with Flora, which went on for a good two days, all the way through groups! Is contesting during scrims particularly useful ahead of LANs?
Contesting in scrims is useful, but it’s not useful in the way that you think it is.
Generally, people think that you contest in scrims so that when you contest at a LAN, you will win. It’s not guaranteed, and it’s not certain.
When you start contesting, it is often 50/50. When you do practise contests, you want to nudge that to 70/30 in your favour. It can never be 100% that you win and you have perfected it. If your competitors land on all purple armour, it’s over, you’re dead.
But there are small things that you can change to push a contest in your favour.
In terms of Thermal contests [in Split 1], Flora did not give up. They kept giving smoke. Flora were a challenge. All the scrim contests, and all the practice we did, let us master the most we can do. We made it 70/30.
So, in this sense, I believe that practising contests in scrims is useful.
However, these practices are more so for getting teams away from your spot. It’s more so to show, “this is our spot, and if you don’t leave, we are going to fight”.
A good example is LNW [in scrims] – we land there all the time. They came there a few times, but they knew that we wouldn’t leave. So they left!
So, if that doesn’t work, we are fully prepared to fight. I think that’s why practising contests is quite important.
“You definitely need balls to play on our team. If everyone is safe and together, it doesn’t really work that much. You need one player that believes that he can take on the world.”
Yuki
We have covered the contests during Split 1, and the contests you have experienced during scrims, but now let’s take it to when you have dropped, and you are in the game.
There are some teams that are new from Split 1, from different regions, that play a hard edge style – the example that comes to mind for me is Furia. They weren’t present during Split 1 Playoffs, but they will be here for the Split 2 Playoffs.
They are notorious for playing quite an aggressive edge game. How do you think this will change the dynamic during Split 2?
I think the same question can be asked for Split 1, but sadly, Furia didn’t make it. You never know when they will make it.
When it comes to aggressive edge teams, there are very few of us. Furia is one of them, and I believe we have a similar play style and rotation. We land in the same spot, and we fight edge as well.
Having Furia in Split 2… I’ve talked about this before: they are more of a nuisance. They land in our spot, and we want our spot back. Split 1, they didn’t make it, Split 2, they’re looking much better in terms of scrim results.
They will definitely put up a challenge, but I think we will be alright. You know why? Because there is no team who has ever contested us that has made finals. So, you’ve got to be very careful. Choose who you pick a fight with.
I do think they will make it , as they are doing pretty well, they’re in the right headspace, and they’re working hard together. We’ll see what happens.
Going back to the regional finals, it was a bit of a marathon. A good nine games. Obviously, you guys were able to take the match point final. Does this give the team a boost? There have been comments floating around that Alliance is so consistent, but match point finals are more difficult for them to clutch.
Would you agree with that? Does winning the match point regional finals help the team’s mentality?
I think the answer would be yes – of course it gives us a boost. But I think even if we didn’t win the regional finals, I would still believe we can win the Split 2 Playoffs. It didn’t give us as much of a boost as it did confirmation that we can do it – like reassurance.
I don’t think we needed to win in order to perform.
However, when it comes to match point… I believe that match point is for entertainment purposes only.
You have to get to 50 points first, then get a win. If a team wins the first two games, they still are not at 50 points. They can play average for the rest of the games, but they still will not win. If a team does average throughout all the games, then they get a win, they will win overall.
It’s more the order of winning. If you win later, it is good for you. If you win early, it is not.
It’s difficult to balance – is there a different strategy to approaching those match point finals?
That’s a good question. I believe every team has their own methods. For us, we just play like normal until we get match point. I actually think most teams play like normal until reaching match point – they do what they know. Then, at match point, they might play it more safe and head to god spots or end zones, not really seeking out kills (because they don’t need to).
But even so, some wins on match point have lots of kills – they just play their game, and do what they do best. So, match point is kind of… maybe a little bit lucky.
Actually, at the end of Split 1 Playoffs, I had a similar comment coming from Raven, the TSM coach. He did say, that he feels like a lot of the time, in match point finals, there are two winners. There are the ones who actually technically won in the format, then there are the ones who racked up the most points.
Yeah. I think I can agree with that.
So, one thing that Alliance is really well-recognised for is flexibility regarding Legend picks. Sometimes, you have surprised people with picks such as Rampart.
The meta is shifting a little right now, as there were some nerfs and buffs in the latest patch update, so can we expect Alliance to be one of those teams who plays around with the picks during Split 2, or do you have a solid idea of what you will be playing with?
We have a solid idea of what we are going to be playing with for LAN. However, before LAN, in scrims, we are probably the team that has gone through the most Legends.
It has to be done, it has to be experimented with. You can’t just put your eggs all in one basket, in case, for example, if there is a sudden update and everyone starts changing Legends – we have to be ready.
Online, it is ok to be switching and trying out different Legends. On LAN, you can’t be switching around as much.
Sometimes you’re not used to it. It often takes one day, or maybe one game, to get used to it, so you can’t afford it at LAN.
This is why I’ve been switching around so much in scrims – trying everything. Being an edge team, we get to experiment a little bit more, whereas, if you’re a zone team, you need Wattson.
I think if we have the opportunity to switch out and try other Legends, because we’re an edge team, I think we will take it. If it’s a bad choice, then we learn something from it! It’s great to be able to change up Legends.
“Furia will definitely put up a challenge, but I think we will be alright. You know why? Because there is no team who has ever contested us that has made finals. So, you’ve got to be very careful. Choose who you pick a fight with.”
Yuki
Obviously, we had the new Legend come out recently as well – Ballistic. Has that been used very much by pro teams, or do you think he is more for the casual players?
I don’t remember anyone using Ballistic to be honest. The only memory I have of Ballistic, is when I accidentally chose him one time in scrims.
How did it go?!
Terrible. He was not good! Or maybe I was just not good, maybe he is a great Legend.
We didn’t win with him though.
I think it’s because Ballistic is not really a team Legend. He’s not really helped the team much. He’s more solo – everything for himself. I suppose his ultimate is a little bit team-ish, but his utility is just to make himself better, in a way. He’s very difficult to play around in a team environment.
I don’t think he will be chosen even once during LAN… unless a team has already qualified through brackets, they might whip him out, but he definitely won’t be a useable Legend in this meta.
It’s always a shame, because my favourite has always been Lifeline. Seeing a Lifeline at LAN…
I’ll keep notes!
I would be kind of concerned if I saw a Lifeline at a LAN! But I can dream.
Shifting from the EMEA region, the APAC-North and APAC-South teams have been starting to show up a little bit more. They have had some really interesting games during scrims, and they might not have been at the top for SPlit 1, but there were definitely some notable performances.
Naked have been performing well at scrims, and also in APAC-South, MDY White have qualified for LAN for the first time – I don’t know if you saw the clip of them finding out that they qualified, but it is so heartwarming. It made me want to cry.
So there are a few new teams coming in, and obviously, you have the classic Fnatic, Crazy Raccoon, Northeption, etc. Do you think they are going to show up more during Split 2 Playoffs?
APAC-North and South have never really showed up before. I do remember Fnatic doing well, but other than that, they haven’t shown up much. But, I really believe that this split, they are going to show up.
In scrims, they have been doing well. In scrims, it always seems to be the same teams on top. LG (Luminosity Gaming) has been doing good, Nocturn has been doing good, you mentioned Naked, and they’re doing very good, and I’ve seen Fnatic up there, and you also have Northeption…
Even MDY White have been having good days as well. They’re a very young team. I believe they’re based in China. I haven’t seen the video of them celebrating, but I can imagine how happy they were.
I played with them in ranked before, so I know them a little bit. I’m very excited to see them as well.
We also have to remember DreamFire – they could also potentially have their full roster at LAN now, which has never happened before. I think the East and South of the world will spice things up at this LAN, fo sure.
And I love to see it!
I think this split will be the most back and forth, I’m talking more like a rollercoaster. You won’t really know who’s the winner, you know? I think it will be very close.
Who else is really good? Who have we missed out?
I think Moist did pretty well…
Moist are going crazy!
I remember first seeing them when they were still Team Burger, and being so excited for them – there was everyone at LAN with their jerseys, and there they were sitting there in t-shirts and jogging bottoms! I’m pretty sure that in Raleigh (2021-2022 season) people made jerseys to give to them! It was so sweet!
And it just had a burger on it!
It was so good! That’s what makes me love Apex – it’s so fun, and the people are so lovely!
Obviously, they have come a long way from getting some handmade burger jerseys to being on Moist and being right at the top of APAC-South, it’s pretty exciting to see what they’re going to do!
Yeah – Moist and Onic as well. Most of the teams that are in this Playoffs worked really hard for it, and did very well. They all deserve to be there.
It’s going to be interesting to see who can win – I think a lot of teams can win this one!
It is going to be tough. There are all of these young players coming out now, a whole new experience… they’re ready!
Talking about younger players, isn’t your third, Effect, quite young as well?
He just turned 18!
So he obviously wasn’t at the last LAN. You had Mande fill in, which obviously gave us some great moments, like King Mande standing up on the desk – it was fantastic.
But, I think a lot of people are really excited to see what Effect is going to do at a LAN. Young talent is so exciting! Going back to Split 1, we had players such as Zaine (who had only just turned 18 at the time) pulling off a spectacular 3v1 and becoming the star of the show for a day!
How do you think Effect is going to do?
There’s something special about young players. I don’t know what it is. I just feel like the younger you are – 18 – you are at the prime age to just learn everything. It’s like you absorb knowledge more easily. You learn quick.
That’s the advantage of being so young. You learn things quicker. The older people, and by that I mean me and Hakis, we have experience. We know most things about what goes on. But the younger you are… you absorb quicker. The older you are, you master what you have.
With Effect, I think he brings a spin to the team. He brings the ingredients – when you sprinkle some special powder into the seasoning. He brings that to the team.
He is always making some plays that we have never seen before. He is always doing some things that you’re not always supposed to do, but it works out for him! He would go in, me and Hakis would be holding up the fort, and we will come back and say “I just killed a whole team here guys, don’t worry about it” – and we are just like, “alright then, no problem, you do you”, you know?
Sometimes, even though Effect sometimes makes mistakes – as we all do – sometimes it’s just like… go and make them.
Sometimes me and Hakis say, just go ahead, limit-test yourself, see where you are at, and that makes him a better player. You can’t hold a boy like Effect on a leash. You gotta just let him go, let them do their thing.
Is it quite a good dynamic, then, having you and Hakis with more experience, and having such a young, fresh, and more risk taking player?
You definitely need balls to play on our team. If everyone is safe and together, it doesn’t really work that much. You need one player that believes that he can take on the world.
I’m sure that individually, we all do, but Effect just does not care – he goes in and just tries to make the play. If it’s a good play, we can follow up in the game.
I think I would rather choose a play that is more ambitious and risk taking than one who is always playing it safe. Effect is the perfect choice as a third.
I haven’t even seen him before! I’m really excited to see him as well!
Especially in the EMEA region, everyone is so spread out! You have got players from all over. It’s quite a big moment for a lot of these teams going to the Split 2 Playoffs – you don’t get that chance as much to spend time physically there! It’s really nice to see, especially seeing the bond between players, regardless of the amount of time they have spent physically together. That team dynamic really shines through.
Bringing it back to the EMEA region, one thing that you have probably noticed is that the UK has the largest representation in terms of players, they take up 18% of the players in the EMEA region for Apex. However, the UK isn’t really recognised as a hub for Apex Legends, or the place to be. The focus, for a long time, has been shifted to North America, which is a shame, as there is so much international talent.
What do you think needs to happen to get that recognition for the UK as a good hub for Apex Legends talent?
I was thinking about this question, and I really thought hard. This was the question that I was a little bit stuck at.
I came to the conclusion on why the UK is not seen as much, and what we could possibly do for it to get recognition, is that we need bigger streamers.
I think that UK streamers – and we do have streamers – but in terms of big UK Apex streamers, we only have Shiv – and he doesn’t even play pro, he only does content. It’[s very hard for organisations, especially third-party organisations, to host UK events or even European events when we don’t have the audience to help them.
In every organisation, and every tournament, when somebody hosts, they hope to get some noise or recognition. It is hard to host when not many UK streamers have a big audience. There is an unfair exchange of value there. That is why, I think, UK players will struggle a bit more, but that is more down to themselves.
I think I have seen more female UK streamers for Apex than people who compete in Challengers Circuit or Pro League. Hopefully, with the women’s scene being boosted a bit this year, that can help resolve it. Even streamers like Pretty Bond Girl, for example. She is all levels of cracked, and she also streams – honestly, I have watched her stream more than I have watched EMEA and UK streamers for Apex Pro League. So, I think that is a really good point, encouraging that visibility.
Do you think that having the LAN in the UK will help with that, and help UK players get out there in the scene?
I think so, yeah. Definitely.
I don’t think it will bring in as many viewers, as most viewers are from Asia and America.
Actually, I forgot to mention one of the biggest reasons why the UK or Europe doesn’t have the biggest recognition – the language barriers.
You have to include France, Germany, Spain, and a lot of the players – even casual players – don’t speak the language of certain streams, so it’s hard to get them all together in that sense. That was the other point I wanted to add on.
“I like to believe that the three LANs being based in the UK does help teams who have difficulties getting visas – it gives them some more time! That way, we can really showcase our LAN with the best teams there.”
Yuki
That makes a lot of sense – North America has some of the biggest traction in Apex and FPS games, and obviously North America is a huge region that just speaks one language predominantly. I can understand why that would make it easier to connect those audiences.
I’m definitely hoping that more traction rolls off the back of the LANs here this year. There is a lot of talent, and there is only one team that is all-UK talent, and that is Jlingz.
I haven’t mentioned them yet, but they are very interesting in themselves! They are almost a completely new team from Split 1, the only one who has remained is Naghz, and he is joined by the two players from IG, Jmw and Noiises.
Do you think they could be a little threatening? Naghz performed well in Split 1, and Jmw has won a LAN as a sub! He definitely has a lot of knowledge. Where do they sit in the dynamic ahead of LAN?
I think they are a finals team. They will make finals. They have everything that they need. There is no one weak player on their team. The dynamic is good, their roles are good, so I think they will make finals.
I don’t know how they will do in finals, I can’t say that they are a top five team, but only because there are already five very good teams that we know a lot of who have proved themselves from their results.
Anything can happen at LAN.
You never know, Jlingz could come first. You asked for my opinion of them, and that is definitely that they are a finals team. They have every ingredient to cook.
You have an interesting perspective having worked with the person who is now their coach – Alex, ‘Coldjyn’. I know he was involved in a few decisions made by Alliance during Split 1, because he is a blabbermouth – bless. But he is very smart and very analytical-minded.
Do you think he is going to add an element of adaptability to Jlingz? Coldjyn is quite quick to re-analyse certain situations.
Coldjyn being an addition to Jlingz – I think it only benefits them. If they had a choice of having him or not having him, having him is definitely the better option. He will definitely provide insights and reassurance.
Jmw is insane. Usually, a man like him doesn’t need any help. But it is good to have someone like Coldjyn to go “yes I agree”, or be a third view on things – extra perspective. I think Coldjyn is very good in that he provides that. He does come in and say what he thinks. It’s really good to have that.
It really would be nice to see some of these EMEA teams coming up and having a better time at Split 2 Playoffs. In Split 1, we were missing Fire Beavers and Aurora. At the time of Split 1, they were right up there at the top of the region.
They could throw a spanner in the works maybe? I know that Fire Beavers, for sure, can come out of the woodwork (pun intended, beavers!) and cause a few issues. What can you tell us about their play style? They’re definitely an interesting team.
I think that Fire Beavers are one of the – I want to say one of the best fighting teams, but then I remember that when we do 3v3s, I think we are around 8-1, or 6-1, on wins?
So they’re one of the best fighting teams, but you’re the best?
I thought that they would be very very good, but, maybe they’re just testing things and warming up.
Maybe for other teams they will be more of a problem?
Maybe, but it doesn’t change my opinion on them. Actually, no. They almost beat us! That’s why they are good!
Fire Beavers and Aurora have quite similar play styles, and I feel like they are very strong. If there was no plan and they were just told to kill the team ahead, they would just get it done. They are very strong in that regard. Very good mechanically, and they have been scary for a long time. Fire Beavers are one of those teams where they might just do very well. How did they do during Split 1?
They were on top in the regional finals, but were not at the Split 1 Playoffs due to visa issues.
That’s right, so regionals, they did well – and Aurora. I expect them to do well.
I’m hoping they do well, it was a shame they didn’t get to prove themselves internationally after the Split 1 regular split.
Yeah, and I think in a way, I like to believe that the three LANs being based in the UK does help teams who have difficulties getting visas – it gives them some more time! That way, we can really showcase our LAN with the best teams there.
When teams play with subs, they’re often not used to that. If everyone can bring their full rosters, it’s going to be the best LAN ever.
I really hope you’re right – LAN is a whole different experience, and you can’t compare it to the regular split.
So, my final question for you is: TSM are obviously returning to try and defend their title, and they did very well in the Split 1 Playoffs. However, they had a tougher time in Split 2, in the regular split. They have done a lot better in international scrims. Do you think they are going to be just as formidable this time?
I think TSM is still one of the best teams in the world. They will remain to be for as long as that roster is their roster.
I think they had a little dip. I’d say that little dip was more so them not quite being ready to get back into things. After a big win, you chill a little bit. Even if your mental doesn’t chill, naturally, you let your guard down a bit.
I think that dip was completely normal. Every single team in the world of Apex who have won a big tournament has a little dip after.
They have 100% got past that dip now. We all knew they would get out of that dip – we never doubted them.
I think TSM is definitely a potential winner for LAN.
Do you hope not to get in another 1v1 with the CEO (ImperialHal) again at the Split 2 Playoffs?
I hope to!
I want to go again, back to back!
The first one in Split 1 was a little [very] ambiguous. The first one was too unclear. You had half of people saying “yeah, but Hal didn’t have any bullets”, and half saying “well, that’s his own problem”.
I want a cleaner 1v1.
“You can’t hold a boy like [Alliance player] Effect on a leash. You gotta just let him go, let them do their thing.”
Yuki
Take his title – a new CEO.
Playing games, you live for these moments, and I want more of them. I want more 1v1s where whoever wins takes that game. It was crazy.
I remember after that, when I was cheering with Hakis and Mande, I was shaking. The blood runs through you, and it’s really high adrenaline. People don’t really see that, but your mouse is shaking. We needed to win that to qualify, so it was a very big moment for me. I want to see it again.
I love clutch plays – they are the best.
You can’t not love it – definitely all the best for you guys at LAN. I feel like you guys definitely deserve to win it, I was really rooting for you guys last time!
So, who are you rooting for? Top three, any order.
This isn’t fair.
I have to say I am rooting for Jlingz a little bit, I do think they are a fantastic team, and it would be lovely to see Jmw back on top. In terms of other teams, I would love to see an APAC-North or South team pull through, possibly a team like Moist. I think Moist is a great team for the scene in general.
I’m not going to lie, I would also like to see Pioneers do better at this LAN – Gnaske broke all our hearts in Split 1, he definitely took it hard…. I’m giving more of a top five here.
It would also be great to see Vexed do well – their coach Loopy is such a gem, and he deserves to be up there.
But, I have been rooting for Alliance ever since I saw Hakis’s dog on stream! I can get with that.
Fingers crossed, and regardless, it’s going to be a great LAN! Thank you so much for being so great to interview!
Thank you!
The author would like to extend an additional thank you to the Red Bull Gaming Sphere for kindly offering their Creator Studio as a location for this interview!
Hannah is a writer specialising in the esports, gaming, and technology sectors. Working for companies such as Lionscreed Esports, Esports Insider, and SideQuest Hub she has developed a love for wider esports and Apex Legends, although it may never surpass her drive to passionately beat her friends in every game of Mariokart. You may have seen her at various esports and gaming events, including ESI London, EGX, Discover: Esports and many League of Legends watch parties.
