An unexpected announcement from the Apex Legends competitive scene blindsided us all today! The so-called CEO of Apex Legends, Phillip ‘ImperialHal’ Dosen, has decided to part ways with TSM. ImperialHal has been competing under the TSM banner for more than five years, earning numerous accolades to cement him as one of the best competitors to touch the game.
This marks the end of an era for TSM’s Apex Legends journey. And I know, you’re probably thinking – Why is ImperialHal leaving TSM? Did their recent 17th position LAN performance have something to do with this decision? Well, let’s find out from the horse’s mouth.
Why is ImperialHal leaving TSM?
I was just generally scrolling through Twitter (now called X) looking at random memes, the Apex pro scene banter, and Season 21 Alter clips when I stumbled upon TSM’s tweet that left my mouth agape. Yes, ImperialHal is leaving TSM after a scintillating five-year run with more than $700,000 in earnings.
Talking about the reason for leaving TSM in a lengthy 10-minute video shared on Twitter, it appears like ImperialHal wanted a change of scenery. There is no bad-blood between him and his teammates or the organization. He didn’t leave TSM because of issues in contract negotiations either.
His contract with TSM expired prior to the recent ALGS LAN event in Los Angeles, and he decided to explore options outside of their current roster. In his Twitch stream, he further elaborated on this saying that his decision came down to who he wanted to play with.
Who is ImperialHal going to play with?
So, this bring us to the most important question of all — which team is ImperialHal joining and who are going to be his new teammates?
Moments after the TSM Farewell video went live, ImperialHal updated his fans about his future plans in a separate X post. ImperialHal will be teaming with Zer0 and Genburten from the current DarkZero roster for the remainder of ALGS Year 4. I know, it does sound unbelieve but it’s happening.
And you know what, ImperialHal will not be the in-game leader (IGL) of the team. As per a separate post, the reigns of the team will be in the hands of Zer0.
ImperialHal went live on Twitch a couple hours later and when asked whether he is joining DarkZero, he said, “When it comes to an org chat, it’s TBD (to be decided).” Well, this sort of confirms that ImperialHal, along with Zer0 and Genburten, will be joining a new esports organization.
End of an era for Apex Legends Competitive
This is TSM and DZ shaking hands, putting their rivalry to the grave. So, this might be the end of an era for the two powerhouses of the Apex Legends competitive scene. However, the rivalry of the powerhouses ending has birthed a new super team that might take it all; Only time will tell. Zer0 IGL’ing ImperialHal is something I’m eagerly looking forward to.
Let me zoom out a little here, though. TSM ImperialHal, that is something we are no longer going to hear in the future. I have been playing Apex Legends for more than four years and TSM was the first pro team I truly looked up to.
Albralelie, ImperialHal, and Reps were the first pro players to impress me with their skills and make me want to grind the game and improve. So yeah, the farewell video made me emotional and teary-eyed. DarkZero is, however, one of the most successful teams in the history of Apex Legends competitive (ALGS), and with Hal on board with the Aussie duo, the sky is the limit and the heavens may have some amazing plans in store for them.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who are TSM Reps and Verhulst going to play with?
At the time of writing, Reps and Verhulst haven’t commented on their plans for the future. So, we can’t be sure if the duo will be sticking together or joining different teams, parting ways with TSM after their coach Raven and IGL ImperialHal.
Who is the IGL of DZ Apex Legends – Hal or Zer0?
In an official reply to an X post, ImperialHal has confirmed that Zer0 will be the IGL of the team.
