The pursuit of low ping: one player's 6,000-mile journey to the ALGS Championship

"It means a lot for the African orgs and the players to compete at this high level, and for this much money," says Matthew 'DaStwika' Ries. DaStwika plays Apex Legends for South African organisation ATK, and often has to remind people that the EMEA Super Region encompasses more than just Europe. "There are teams that are not based in Europe trying to compete for the ALGS Championship."

Teams from the Middle East and Africa (which make up the ME and A of EMEA respectively) don't often make the headlines, but solid performances from Fenerbahçe Esports and a much-improved showing on day two from ATK have turned some heads away from the European teams that so often dominate proceedings.

Despite being the highest-seeded African team in the ALGS Championship, ATK's road here hasn't been easy. DaStwika's internet connection at home in Durban has been poor since moving house in March this year, so his organisation was willing to fly him to Cape Town, which has much better internet infrastructure, for the big tournament. Flying to Turkey was also considered before coronavirus cases in the country rose. And then the UK opened its borders.

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