ImperialHal Talks ALGS Open Teams: "If You Deserve It, Then You'll Show It"

160 teams have descended on the New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, all with the hopes of securing the top share of the $1 million prize pool. But, with so many teams taking a shot at the LAN, the range of experience is pretty vast — something that Team Falcons' Phillip "ImperialHal" Dosen is acutely aware of. 

"I feel like 160 teams is kind of a waste of time," ImperialHal said. "You know, there's a very big difference between the finals lobby compared to, you know, the 160th team. There's some teams here that haven't even played pro league before."

The Year 5 Open is a massive undertaking for the ALGS, marking the biggest LAN in the game's history. On day one alone, 160 teams were split into eight groups of 20 teams, each of which playing a series of six games. The top ten teams from each stage advanced onto the Winners Round 2, while the bottom ten from each moved to the Elimination Round 1. The format continues, with winners advancing and losers facing elimination. 

But for pros like ImperialHal, facing off against less-accomplished teams can feel more like a chore than a challenge. "I feel like the first two or three days are kind of a waste of time. But at the same time, it's not a big deal. Like, it's not going to kill us or anything," he said. "We give everyone an opportunity to show their skill. If you deserve it, then you'll show it. And if you don't, then we'll see you later. But, I don't really mind it. It's like a one-time thing."

Including ImperialHal, Team Falcons' roster consists of some of the most prolific Apex Legends players around. For them, it's easy to see how an experience like a LAN can be a hugely valuable experience for fresh players. "There's a lot of players here that haven't even been to LAN before. I feel like it's more of a LAN learning experience. Y'know, to understand what LAN is. A lot of these people, like I said, it's their first time. They're nervous and stuff like that. So they've got to get used to it.

 And they're also playing on a different setup. It's way different compared to playing at home. So I feel like it's not a learning experience to play against the best, it's more so a learning experience for themselves with how the setting is. We played at home against these other teams. So, you know, obviously they're learning against us. But it's very hard for them to learn so quickly. There's a big difference."

The ALGS Open is taking place May 1-4, 2025. Fans can catch the action via the official Apex Legends Twitch and YouTube or via FACEIT Watch channels.