Pro Apex Legends Player Snip3down Allegedly Removed as Captain of ALGS Team
The Apex Legends professional player known as Snip3down recently made a startling revelation on Nov. 5. He claimed that a mysterious “vote” had taken place without his knowledge, resulting in his removal as captain of his ALGS (Apex Legends Global Series) team. This unexpected turn of events seems to have cost him his spot in the prestigious pro league.
A Brief Background
Snip3down had been signed to FaZe Clan since Oct. 26, 2022, and had competed in both the ALGS 2023 Split Two Playoffs and the subsequent ALGS 2023 Championship representing the organization. However, on Nov. 29, he hinted at an issue with his team in a tweet, describing it as “an extremely hectic and unfortunate day.” The following day, he posted again, expressing his search for a new team without explaining the sudden need for a change.
Loss of Captaincy and Pro League Spot
Snip3down’s revelation about the vote came on Dec. 5. He claimed that he had just confirmed with EA (Electronic Arts) on that same day that he had, in fact, lost his pro league spot. His teammate Slurpee had suffered the same fate. According to Snip3down, this mysterious vote reportedly came into effect on Oct. 18, although he only became aware of it in December. Screenshots of an email dated Oct. 16, 2023, from the ALGS staff or admin supported Snip3down’s claim that the ALGS rulebook stated his spot should have been retained in the case of a team split.
The ALGS Rulebook and Roster Changes
According to the ALGS rulebook, any roster changes involving the team captain must be approved by a majority vote from the team members, with the team captain having the deciding vote in the event of a tie. This suggests that at least two out of the four listed members of the FaZe team would have needed to vote for Snip3down’s removal as captain. The vote would have been conducted by two players separately emailing ALGS League Operations with a request to change the captain.
The Fallout and Unanswered Questions
In a Discord message screenshot, Snip3down shared that Phony and Frexs had become the new holders of the team spot, with Phony taking over as team captain. Snip3down and Slurpee were no longer listed as team members. The confusion and lack of communication between the players, FaZe, and ALGS organizational staff have raised questions about the undisclosed power held by partnered teams like FaZe under the EA Year 4 partner team program.
Despite Phonyhead and Frexs expressing their search for a new team, their social media biographies still showed them as pro players for FaZe. This uncertainty leaves the exact composition of the FaZe roster unknown. The possibility of FaZe having additional leverage due to their partnership with EA has been hinted at by TSM player manager minustempo, raising further concerns about rulebook adherence and transparency within the ALGS.
Evaluating EA’s Role and Unanswered Questions
These events have prompted numerous questions for EA to address. Are partnered teams allowed to make roster changes that deviate from the ALGS rulebook guidelines? Have the processes of conducting a captaincy vote been altered? Will Snip3down and Phonyhead need to re-qualify for the pro league through the Preseason Qualifier?
The Unfortunate Consequences for Snip3down
Regardless of the behind-the-scenes dynamics and potential discrepancies in teammate accounts, Snip3down finds himself unfairly stripped of the pro league spot he had rightfully earned. Now, he faces an uphill battle to reclaim his position in the professional Apex Legends scene.