Yr 5 of the Apex Legends World Sequence (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 will likely be topped this season’s champion in Sapporo, Japan, subsequent week.
Esports Insider covers the largest groups that outlined ALGS Yr 5, a lot of which is able to see their storylines finish within the upcoming crowning occasion, working from January fifteenth to 18th.
Alliance Dominates in EMEA
Out of the 40 groups which have certified for the match, Alliance stands as one of many favourites to win all of it primarily based on its efficiency all through the season. The workforce has topped the Championship Factors rankings because 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 residence $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 end result contemplating its dominance all year long.
The Rise of Gen.G Esports
Whereas Alliance has rampaged by way of 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 as a result of spectacular particular person efficiency of its gamers, with a few of them breaking quite a few ALGS data through the Cut 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 big yr 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’s Second?
Aurora Gaming concluded 2025 with the signing of the previous Natus Vincere (NAVI) roster, which contains two gamers who received 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 whereas representing NAVI.
Regardless of this, the workforce certified for the World Championship after inserting twenty first within the Championship Level rankings.
Consequently, all eyes will likely be on whether or not Jose ‘Uxako‘ Llosa and Filipe ‘Hiarka‘ Morgado can as soon as once more take residence the trophy residence as they did earlier with GoNext Esports, alongside Aurora Gaming’s third member, Anton ‘Slab’ Eklundh.
Will Yr 5 See a Two-Time Champion?
Within the historical past of ALGS, no workforce has hoisted the trophy twice within the World Championship; nevertheless, Yr 5 may change that.
Following its 2025 Championship win, GoNext Esports parted methods with its roster to enter the following season with a brand new trio. The workforce 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 within the EMEA Cut up 2 Professional League.
However, the 2023 champion, TSM, completed seventh within the Americas Cut 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 yr and the departure of Championship-winning gamers, TSM and Go Subsequent Esports aren’t thought of front-runners. Nonetheless, the upcoming match presents a chance for both of them to doubtlessly change into the primary two-time ALGS champion. certainly one of them to doubtlessly change into the primary two-time ALGS champions.
Gamers to Look Out For
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 greatest names attending the match is Phillip ‘ImperialHal’ Dosen, a former world champion and prodigy, competing with Staff Falcons. He displayed a powerful aggressive efficiency in Yr 5, serving to his workforce win each the 2025 Open and Americas Cut up 1 Professional League.
Evan ‘Verhulst’ Verhulst, a family identify within the Apex Legends esports scene, can also be one other spotlight participant to observe within the 2026 Championship. He will likely be taking part below Loopy 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 lower above the remaining. In accordance with information printed by the official Apex Legends esports account, he leads the 2025 season as the highest fragger with 410 eliminations to his identify.
