ImperialHal on Verhulst breakup: Not IGL-ing “has given me an understanding of how Evan felt”

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As a seasoned gamer with decades of gaming experience under my belt, I can’t help but feel a twinge of nostalgia as I witness ImperialHal’s journey from TSM to Team Falcons. The Apex Legends scene has been abuzz with this shift, and it’s not hard to see why.

As a passionate Apex Legends fan, I can’t help but feel the tremors after a game-altering decision: Philip “ImperialHal” Dosen, who ruled the scene under TSM for five years and claimed the World Championship title, chose to step down from his reigning roster and join forces with two of my longstanding rivals – fellow pros from DarkZero – on Team Falcons.

His leaving TSM took the community by surprise and had an impact on his friendship and previous teammate, “Verhulst” Verhulst, who had been with him for three years.

The interaction between Verhulst and Hal transformed into a very public disagreement when Verhulst stated that Hal made him feel “unhappy” at times. Although Verhulst’s competitive spirit played a significant role in their Champs win, his feelings would frequently escalate, leading to tension.

In his debut performance wearing the Falcons uniform, ImperialHal shared with GGRecon that the transition was essential. Parting ways with the IGL role has made him reflect deeply and gain a newfound “appreciation” for the dynamics of the team he formerly led.

ImperialHal opens up about needing Falcons switch

Without a doubt, TSM was unquestionably the finest team globally and the most exceptional team in Apex Legends history. They consistently proved their worth by enduring the test of time and claiming numerous victories across their five-year reign, winning several championships along the way.

Instead, it was a conflict in personalities and an eventual collapse that led to their downfall. ImperialHal confided in me about his feelings during the final days of that time period.

He started by saying, “I value honesty and I don’t see it making much of a difference, but I feel it’s important to share that my leadership style with past team members wasn’t always optimal. Some of them held grudges against me due to this.”

At one point, it became too much for Evan Verhulst to manage my presence, which significantly impacted his gaming performance.

Previously, Verhulst expressed his feelings about playing Ranked matches with Hal as “unbearable,” often trying to steer clear of situations that might escalate tensions. A heated exchange occurred during the 2023 World Championship, where Evan declared he was willing to resort to physical confrontation with Hal for bringing up past errors, only to later celebrate their victory by lifting the trophy together just a few hours later.

“Obviously, there were times when I tried to talk to him about it,” Hal continued.

“I attempted to alter my personality, but it seemed unattainable. I even discussed this with him, and he responded that all was well, though it clearly wasn’t.”

Simultaneously, I wasn’t able to alter my fundamental self, as there are multiple factors contributing to my success. However, being who I am initially helped pave the way for my achievements.

To be frank, I ended up teaming up with two members from DarkZero, creating what felt like an unstoppable force. But, little did I know, things were about to shake up pretty drastically for me in this new alliance.

ImperialHal on compassion for Verhulst after TSM split

Currently, the role of the main performer has shifted from ImperialHal, as he has relinquished his position, and now Rhys “Zer0” Perry stands as the foremost entertainer.

Instead of pondering how Hal would adapt to no longer being the decision-maker after years of guiding TSM to success, it seems that a break from wearing the captain’s armband has led him to reconsider and reflect on his past decisions.

“He expressed that it’s a new viewpoint for him, as he is now on the receiving end rather than the one providing it.”

“Obviously I can I can give it to Zero too, but I try to hold back. It’s his team. He’s the IGL.”

Currently, Hal is analogous to Zer0 as Verhulst was to Hal. He shared with me that this comparison deepened his empathy towards grasping why the TSM separation unfolded as it did.

“I find myself viewing things from a new angle now, and it’s helping me empathize with Evan,” I shared, almost on the verge of expressing my growing respect for him.

“At that moment, I got why he was emotional. However, stepping back seemed impossible for me as it felt like we weren’t addressing the issues. But if I didn’t step back, he would retreat. Therefore, I found myself stuck between a rock and a hard place.”

Regardless of the criticism directed towards him regarding his leadership style and treatment of Verhulst, Hal remains firm in his conviction that he would not alter the way he behaved during the past year if given the chance to do it over again.

He stated, “Even if, hypothetically speaking, we team up once more and I take on the IGL role again, I would continue to act in the same manner.”

“Leadership is often something people can’t fully grasp until they experience it themselves. That’s why only those who lead teams tend to behave in such a way.”

All eyes are now on ImperialHal and Zer0 to see how they meander the new roles and responsibilities, as the so-called super team has the talent to dominate for years to come, but questions about cohesion will never be far away.

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2024-08-30 19:43