Staff Liquid’s Rhys ‘Zer0’ Perry is likely one of the gamers to observe on the ALGS 12 months 5 Championship.
He received the title in 2022 with DarkZero and acquired within the high 10 of just about each LAN occasion within the historical past of the ALGS. Zer0 signing with Staff Falcons in 2024 was alleged to deliver to life a star-studded roster alongside the ‘CEO of Apex’ Phillip ‘ImperialHal’ Dosen, however issues began to falter.
Regardless of recording 2nd place on the 2024 Esports World Cup, third place eventually 12 months’s Championship and a 1st place on the 2025 ALGS Open, tensions rapidly rose inside the staff. This culminated in a disappointing ALGS: 2025 Midseason Playoffs run, ending sixth.
“I really feel fairly lucky, I’ve been with some nice orgs in my profession,” Zer0 advised Esports Insider Italy throughout an interview in Sapporo.
“Once I was moving into esports, I all the time needed to develop into a part of an org I grew up watching. Staff Liquid, TSM, G2, C9 (Cloud9), groups I watched virtually 24/7 throughout LCS. It was good with Staff Falcons for essentially the most half till the buyout facet of issues. With Staff Liquid, all the pieces has been nice from the second I met the workers in LA: everybody’s fairly good and welcoming.”
Zer0’s Strategy to the Finals
Zer0’s teammates — Nicholas ‘Sikezz’ Odom and Nicholas ‘Fuhhnq’ Wall — are two very completely different gamers. However the staff has already discovered success, qualifying for the 2026 ALGS Championship because of the seventh-place end of then-orgless staff ZZ within the international rankings. This included ending second within the ALGS Cut up 2 Americas Professional League, forward of third-place Staff Falcons.
“I’ve performed with Sikezz earlier than, and he’s one in every of my higher associates in Apex. I’ve identified him for a very long time,” mentioned the participant.
“Fuhhnq has personally stopped me from successful two LANs, so he owes me one. I’m excited to play with him as a result of he’s actually reaching his full potential, particularly by way of boot camp.”
On the day earlier than the beginning of the competitors, Zer0’s confidence in his squad, now below the Staff Liquid banner, was absolute.
“Staff-wise, our strongest factors are positively synergy and character match: each of my teammates are nice for his or her roles, and they’re enjoying exceptionally effectively,” he acknowledged.
“In teamfighting, we’re within the high three of the sport, and we’re additionally excellent confidence-wise. Newer gamers get actually nervous in LAN, so we simply run them down and win as a result of they play scared.”
“I positively must smoke Falcons. Additionally Loopy Thieves… and Alliance,” famous Zer0. “Regardless of their drop on the Esports World Cup, they’re nonetheless essentially the most constant staff round, ending second or first at virtually each LAN.”
Zer0’s Answer for Apex’s Esports Issues
When requested concerning the state of the sport, each in esports and on the informal facet, Staff Liquid’s IGL highlighted what he believes each different professional participant in Sapporo will point out.
“The reply each single professional gives you is that we want higher ROI (return on funding), like a pores and skin programme, staff skins or crowdfunding for LAN,” he mentioned.
“EA did crowdfunding for On-line Champs 4 years in the past and doubled the prize pool, saying it could have continued to do it. They by no means did, and organisations are struggling to make cash off their groups until they’re very profitable or well-liked. It’s fairly tough sustaining a staff on the org facet. The quantity gamers receives a commission on this sport in comparison with different titles is tough simply due to the dearth of org assist from EA.”
Nevertheless, he did point out that the sport is in a wholesome place.
Zer0 acknowledged: “The previous few seasons have spiked the playerbase massively, and if the sport was going to die, it could have been on season 6 or 7, when it solely peaked at 30.000 viewers on Twitch.
“Everybody all the time thinks it’s going to die, however it’s not going to die anytime quickly. The playerbase is ok, though the rank system is fairly unhealthy now for each professional gamers and casuals; it may use some tuning.”
The ALGS Championship 2026 Begins
Going down on the Daiwa Home Premist Dome in Sapporo, the occasion will begin with a gaggle part the place every group (product of 10 groups) will face off to determine a winners and a losers bracket.
After three days of matches, 20 groups will likely be eradicated, and the ultimate 20 will battle it out for the trophy in a match level remaining.
The proprietary format will give the world title to the staff that first reaches 50 factors by way of their placement in a collection of video games after which will get the victory royale afterwards. Followers can catch all of the motion on Twitch and YouTube, the place the brand new anthem by Japanese rapper OZworld simply debuted.
