Birmingham’s 2023 ALGS Championship Bracket Stage provided some of the most contentious, passionate, and unbelievable action seen in Apex Legends, with Pulverex gifting the Resorts World Arena the viewing experience of a lifetime.
The first elimination bracket commenced on Friday, exposing every crack in team strategy under pressure. After struggling to establish a rhythm, UK team JLingz Esports crashed out of the tournament earlier than expected. Efforts to replicate their Split 2 Playoffs miracle wins in the Bracket Stage fell flat, and the home squad accepted their fate.
Fellow EMEA region team GoNext came incredibly close to qualifying for Saturday’s second elimination bracket, with a dominating last game pushing them past almost half of the leaderboard. However, after being forced to settle for second place in the game, their overall points were not enough for them to advance.
While FC Destroy winning over GoNext pushed the EMEA team out of the competition, it ensured that Pulverex was able to qualify for the next round.
Aurora’s team drama dominates conversation throughout Friday’s elimination bracket
Following visa issues at the start of the ALGS Championship, EMEA team Aurora’s problems were far from over.
After arranging substitutes and fighting for their starting roster’s visas, Aurora had five players present at the tournament. However, due to a surprising turn of events, the team competed in Friday’s elimination bracket as a duo.
Aurora displayed an underwhelming performance during the Group Stage, with the team’s two original players clearly struggling to integrate substitute Entropiq player Uxako into their dynamic and strategy.
Despite their regular third player having received their visa, they were not allowed to fulfil the role they fought so hard to play due to EA rules and regulations. Meanwhile, due to events unfolding during the Group Stage, Uxako expressed that he no longer wanted to play on the team.
In a last-ditch attempt to boost their performance, an Aurora player requested that Uxako lie to EA staff, saying that he was unwell and couldn’t play, as this would qualify them to bring in their emergency substitute instead.
This decision launched the team into a tornado of controversy. Both Uxako and 9impulse released statements on the issue, and despite much debate throughout the day, the general consensus among the community was that EA needed to provide more support and clarity on visa and substitute rules and regulations.
Saturday’s Brackets cause widespread upset, with Pulverex achieving the most impressive win in the competition stage
The highlight of the Bracket Stage undoubtedly belonged to APAC-North team Pulverex. After making their mark on the Apex Legends scene at the 2022 Championship in Raleigh competing as a duo, the team are back in the spotlight.
In the most competitive Elimination Bracket in recent ALGS history, Game 8 saw half of the teams on the brink of qualification for the final. With determination beyond description, Ftyan wiped the map as a solo to the utter disbelief of every person in attendance.
However, a moment must be taken to respect the sacrifice made by their fellow APAC-North competitors, FC Destroy. After FC Destroy became the saviour of Pulverex on Friday, securing their position in the second Elimination Bracket, Pulverex defined FC Destroy’s exit.
In an act of poetic tragedy, FC Destroy went from the saviours of Pulverex to their subjects.
Split 2 Champions DarkZero – originally favourites to win the Championship – fall short, while Sentinels’s Rkn announces his new journey into fatherhood on his exit from the competition
Saturday’s shocking events were never-ending as the final Bracket concluded, with former favourites to win the Championship and winners of London’s Split 2 Playoffs DarkZero eliminated. The North American team dominated the Group Stage, further increasing the disbelief in the Resorts World Arena as their domination turned to defeat.
Joining DarkZero in exiting the competition was Sentinels. In a tweet following their exit, player Rkn announced that next month, he is due to become a father for the first time.
Reflecting on the day, he expressed his original intention to announce this new journey into fatherhood during the Grand Finals. Despite this plan not reaching fruition, the Apex Legends community have already showered the player with support.
Overall, the ALGS Championship Bracket Stage provided a rollercoaster of emotion, with the highs and lows of esports defining careers. The Grand Finals begin today at 4pm BST (September 10th 2023).
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.
