Five major storylines heading into the 2026 ALGS Championship

Yr 5 of the Apex Legends International Collection (ALGS) has been a season marked by groups dominating areas and gamers shattering data within the scene.

With the ALGS Championship 2026 across the nook, followers are wanting to see who might be topped this season’s champion in Sapporo, Japan, subsequent week.

Esports Insider covers the most important groups that outlined ALGS Yr 5, a lot of which is able to see their storylines finish within the upcoming crowning occasion, operating from January fifteenth to 18th.

Out of the 40 groups which have certified for the event, Alliance stands as one of many favourites to win all of it based mostly on its efficiency all through the season. The group has topped the Championship Points rankings on account of its prime placements in Yr 5.

Alliance’s strongest show by far comes from the EMEA Professional Leagues, inserting first in each splits to qualify for the ALGS 2026 Championship. The organisation additionally positioned second on the ALGS 2025 Open, taking house $150,000 (~£111,639) in prize pool funds.

The 2025 Championship noticed Alliance ending runner-up as GoNext Esports snatched the champion title from its grasp within the Finals, a disappointing outcome contemplating its dominance all year long.

Whereas Alliance has rampaged by EMEA, Gen.G Esports has been making a reputation for itself within the APAC South area as a prime contender to win the ALGS Championship. 

That is because of the spectacular particular person efficiency of its gamers, with a few of them breaking numerous ALGS records in the course of the Break up 2 Professional League. Gen.G Esports can also be the second-highest ranked within the Championship Factors standings for Yr 5, falling simply behind Alliance. 

2025 has formed as much as be a major 12 months for the organisation, placing it on the radar of many followers and rival groups alike regardless of being comparatively new to the scene. This lies in stark distinction to how Gen.G Esports initially entered Apex Legends in 2019, releasing its roster after just a few months. 

Aurora Gaming concluded 2025 with the signing of the previous Natus Vincere (NAVI) roster, which contains two gamers who gained the 2025 ALGS Championship. 

Following the excessive of the 2025 ALGS Championship victory, the gamers confronted quite a few challenges in Yr 5. The duo positioned twenty eighth within the ALGS 2025 Open and seventeenth within the Midseason Playoffs while representing NAVI. 

Regardless of this, the group certified for the World Championship after inserting twenty first within the Championship Level rankings. 

Consequently, all eyes might be on whether or not Jose ‘Uxako‘ Llosa and Filipe ‘Hiarka‘ Morgado can as soon as once more take house the trophy house as they did earlier with GoNext Esports, alongside Aurora Gaming’s third member, Anton ‘Slab’ Eklundh.

Within the historical past of ALGS, no group has hoisted the trophy twice within the World Championship; nonetheless, Year 5 may change that. 

The crowning occasion in Sapporo, Japan, will characteristic several champion organisations from previous years competing, primarily TSM and GoNext Esports. 

Following its 2025 Championship win, GoNext Esports parted methods with its roster to enter the following season with a brand new trio. The group had a tough begin, because it completed 137th on the 2025 Open, but it surely turned issues round 5 months later by inserting runner-up in the EMEA Split 2 Pro League. 

Then again, the 2023 champion, TSM, completed seventh within the Americas Break up 1 Professional League, marking its greatest efficiency of Yr 5. The organisation barely certified for the 2026 Championship, rating twenty seventh out of the highest 30 groups within the Championship Factors rankings.

Contemplating the inconsistent performances this 12 months and the departure of Championship-winning gamers, TSM and Go Subsequent Esports aren’t thought of front-runners. Nevertheless, the upcoming event presents a chance for both of them to probably turn into the primary two-time ALGS champion. one among them to probably turn into the primary two-time ALGS champions. 

40 groups have certified for the 2026 ALGS Championship, which means followers will get to observe 120 of the world’s greatest Apex Legends gamers compete, starting from esports icons to rising stars. 

One of many largest names attending the event is Phillip ‘ImperialHal’ Dosen, a former world champion and prodigy, competing with Staff Falcons. He displayed a robust aggressive efficiency in Yr 5, serving to his group win each the 2025 Open and Americas Break up 1 Professional League. 

Evan ‘Verhulst’ Verhulst, a family title within the Apex Legends esports scene, can also be one other spotlight participant to observe within the 2026 Championship. He might be taking part below Crazy Thieves’ banner, the union between 100 Thieves and Loopy Raccoon, as he goals to safe his second ALGS Championship title. 

Along with this, a wide range of gamers have stood out all year long, however Miron ‘Impact’ Novikov from Alliance has confirmed to be a reduce above the remaining. According to data published by the official Apex Legends esports account, he leads the 2025 season as the highest fragger with 410 eliminations to his title.