The Apex Legends Global Series Split 1 Playoffs just wrapped in Los Angeles, with an unexpected victor being crowned. In a twist of fate that nobody anticipated, Japan’s REJECT WINNITY secured the top spot, with DarkZero – one of the fan-favourite sides to win – sitting in second place. It was a monumental moment for REJECT – there was a $300,000 prize waiting for the team, which has now become the first APAC North squad to win at this level in the ALGS.
For the longest time, the likes of DarkZero and TSM have dominated the ALGS. Last season, TSM won the 2023 Championship and the Split 1 Playoffs, while DZ secured the grandest prize at both the Split 2 Playoffs and 2022’s Championship. This is REJECT’s first major win in Apex Legends esports, propelling the all-South Korean team into the competitive spotlight.
Legends for a Reason
It wasn’t even all that close a finish, with REJECT securing 86 points in the final stage versus DarkZero’s 69 points. Fnatic trailed some way off in third place with 60 points. In a stark and shocking result, TSM sat at the bottom of the scoreboard in the finals, boasting just 30 points overall. Last year, the North American organisation won more than $1 million in the ALGS – it just goes to show how quickly things can change, despite the team boasting some of the best Apex players in the world.
REJECT, which is made up of Obly, KaronPe, and SangJoon, put up a stunning performance, making some decisions that might have seemed bizarre at first blush. For instance, during the final stage, REJECT was the only team to run a Wattson, leaning into a mix of both offensive and defensive play. That ultimately allowed for excellent zone control, as highlighted in this clip:
This could have caused a paradigm shift, or it could have been a case of the stars epically aligning for REJECT. Now that the Split 1 Playoffs have wrapped, we look to the next stage of the season, which will culminate in the Split 2 Playoffs in August. It’s not yet confirmed where this tournament will take place.
If you’re hungry for more, check out everything you need to know about Apex Legends’ Season 21 update.
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