Apex Genesis, a young team in the North American Dota 2 scene, has made a resounding statement by qualifying for an international LAN tournament. Its owner, Eagle2120, an independent sponsor and Dota 2 enthusiast, shared the story behind the team's creation, the challenges of competing against major organisations, and his thoughts on the current state of North American Dota 2, including sharp criticism of BuLba, a prominent coach in the region.
The Foundation of Apex Genesis
Eagle2120 began his esports journey as the owner of a team in the semi-professional NADCL, a league organised by ppd. This experience proved to be a pivotal inspiration:
"I thoroughly enjoyed participating in NADCL. It motivated me to reach out to professional players, fund coaching sessions, and use them to brainstorm ideas on how I could support the North American scene. That’s how Apex Genesis was born."
Competing Against Major Organisations
Eagle2120’s financial resources pale in comparison to those of larger organisations, making it particularly challenging to secure players and resources.
"I could only afford minimal housing subsidies, and each month, I had to figure out ways to keep the team going. Competing with organisations like Leviatán, Infinity, Hokori, and others was out of the question. We had to find players willing to dedicate themselves to the dream."
Despite these constraints, the team managed to unite and demonstrate their strength, achieving significant milestones on the competitive stage.
Victory at FISSURE PLAYGROUND 2025
The team’s efforts culminated in a victory during the American qualifiers for FISSURE PLAYGROUND Belgrade 2025. Apex Genesis defeated notable opponents, including M80 (a roster featuring K1, the former carry of beastcoast). The team showcased innovative strategies, such as employing a jungle Venomancer, which became the decisive factor in the finals.
"This is why I love NA Dota: it’s full of risk and creativity. In the bo5 match for a LAN spot, we went with a jungle Venomancer, and the team didn’t hesitate for a moment. We won. And then we did it again. This team is something special."
Criticism of BuLba and Issues in NA Dota
Eagle2120 also addressed the challenges facing North American Dota, placing some of the blame on BuLba.
"BuLba has been a barrier to emerging talent, misleading players with false hopes of reaching Tier 1. At worst, his actions and poor leadership have undermined NA Dota, setting the region back by years. Even with Shopify Rebellion’s resources and near-constant bootcamps, you barely scraped past us in the last qualifiers. Now I’m eagerly waiting for the moment we block your path to a LAN, just like Nouns Esports did."