ImperialHal reached the mountaintop with TSM in 2023, securing an Apex Legends Global Series Championship title. However, a historic five-year run with the organization is officially ending.
In the Year 4 ALGS regular season split 1, TSM finished 13th place, arguably lower than most fans expected. Then, at the Year 4 Split 1Playoffs LAN event that ended on May 5, TSM finished in 17th, marking another disappointing performance. Those results played a significant role in ImperialHal deciding to make a change.
“To put it as bluntly as possible, it had nothing to do with money, it had nothing to do with contracts, it had nothing to do with TSM management, ImperialHal said. “It felt like there was a change needed.”
As for what’s next, ImperialHal confirmed that he will be teaming up with Zer0 and Genburten on Dark Zero in place of eSikezz, who will now be a free agent. It was also revealed that Zer0 will be the in-game leader for the new squad. After a first-place finish in the regular season and placing second at the Year 4 Split 1Playoffs, Dark Zero will be one of the favorites in Split 2, which is scheduled to start on June 1.
“I understand that people will be like it’s one bad LAN there’s no reason to be so sporadic and make a huge move,” ImperialHal added. “But I feel like a majority of my decisions when it came to my career like who to pick up and who to join has been pretty spot on ever since the beginning because all I want to do is win.”
Imperial leaves behind a legacy that will be hard to top at TSM. With the organization, the decorated pro built up an impressive trophy cabinet, including wins at the 2019 X Games and 2019 Preseason Invitational and multiple playoff triumphs. TSM has yet to confirm who will be stepping in for ImperialHal to flank alongside Reps and Verhulst.
