Ready to make his mark: Digvibezz on making the BLGS Regional Finals

The BLGS, as well as filling the gap between the ALGS Split 2 Playoffs and the ALGS Championship, has also given Challenger Circuit teams the chance to go head to head with the games best. Two Challenger Circuit teams, Godz Among Men and Purple Slushee made the top 20 and qualified for the BLGS Regional Finals. esports.gg spoke to Gavin "Digvibezz" Maxwell of Godz Among Men ahead of the BLGS Regional Finals this Sunday.

Sundays competition presents a huge opportunity for Digvibezz. The 18-year-old has been agonisingly close to reaching top tier ALGS competition on several occasions. This includes falling just one point shy of Pro League qualification in 2023.

But now, by the skin of their teeth, Godz Among Men have a chance to face off against some of the best Apex Legends teams and go for a share of the $100k prize pool.

After falling just short so many times, how did it feel when Digvibezz found out Godz Among Men had qualified for the Regional Finals?

"It felt great, honestly. Finally being in an event with 18 other Pro League teams, and being one of just two [Challenger Circuit] teams means so much. It's a reminder to me that even with the regular season over, I can still do well in BLGS. It was a little close in the end, but we pulled through, so hell yeah!"

What has been the difference this time, to put Dig's team over the top and into the Regional Finals?

"I think this time, it was just a matter of having that level of experience of being in other finals and so many finals beforehand that it pushed us over the top because we knew exactly what we had to do."

Godz Among Men was a reunion between Artsy and Digvibezz, who competed together in 2023 - the same season they were just a point short of Pro League.

"I used to play with Artsy. We almost made Pro League in Year 3 together, and then he coached Oversleepers for Year Four. This time we've added Moto, and Moto just doesn't give a p*ss. He's the average controller fragger - he just runs in there! So when you have teammates that are comfortable and have the experience then it makes it a lot easier."

Digvibezz is one of the few that has consistently put time into the ranked game mode over the last few seasons. He has streamed incredibly consistently, missing just ten days in 2024 so far. That is a total stream time of over 2000 hours in 2024, and counting.

Dig explains he has been aiming for a consistent top 50 finish on the Ranked leaderboard, a grind which he feels is paying off. To invest so much time into anything is no small thing, so how does Digvibezz stay motivated to keep grinding Apex Legends?

"[Grinding the game] makes so much of a difference. I'm going to try and start watching more Pro League VODs to get back to my normal grind of just trying to improve overall.

"Ever since we came so close to qualifying for Pro League in Year Three it just hasn't been the same, I've been so motivated. I just want to get there. I at least want to see one split of Pro League, if not make a LAN. Aiming for that has kept me motivated, and I know I can do it."

Digvibezz has been able to go against teams that he is hoping to join in the Pro League thanks to the BLGS. Not since before the Pro League was introduced have teams of all skill levels competed together in EA ran tournaments. For Digvibezz and Godz Among Men, the BLGS has been a huge opportunity for them to test themselves.

"It's definitely a change, that's for sure, because I'm used to fighting mostly the CC goobers. So we'll fight a team, they'll fall over. But then some of these teams we are fighting, it's like oh sh*t they're shooting back! These guys know how to fight!

"And then when you end up winning against them, it's the best feeling. Like, damn, I just slammed a pro team. It's honestly been a great experience. I think it's definitely helped with improvement a lot as well, because I'm fighting people who are way more coordinated and have been doing this forever."

The BLGS has been an interesting viewing experience, and certainly has provided some shocks. It has long been asserted that the Challenger Circuit format is a gauntlet, and seeing LAN qualified teams fall in early BLGS rounds proves that consistent success in Apex is hard to achieve.

Does seeing top level teams fall short in the BLGS show that the gap between Tier 1 and Tier 2 isn't that big in the Americas region?

"Honestly, I still do think the gap exists. I don't want to sound cocky, but I almost want to say it's more of a skill gap between the lower and higher tier two teams. Especially with a lot of experienced Tier 2 players having moved up to Pro League or moved on from competing.

"So there's this new gap in between tier two where people just don't have the experience and that's why they fell so short in the BLGS."

Digvibezz explains that it was Rocket League that first peaked his interest in competitive video games, watching the RLCS. The Apex Legends Preseason Invitational in Poland was Dig's introduction to competitive Apex Legends. After a small break from the game, Dig discovered TSM's, now Team Falcons, ImperialHal and has been an avid viewer ever since.

"I think Hal as definitely my main inspiration for comp. I was just a console player back then, but I wanted to get into comp because of how fun it looked to play.

"Besides Hal, I saw HisWattson go from just having fun in pubs and being a ranked player, to being picked up by FURIA and almost winning the ALGS Champs in Raleigh. That was so inspirational to me, honestly. Seeing HisWattson do that gave me a new wave of passon.

"I used to talk to him sometimes, he's just a really chill guy. Seeing him go from just being a chill streamer to the top of the ALGS. That just made me think, I can absolutely do this. That's what led me to start competing in ALGS Year 3.

"We made one finals in the Preseason Qualifiers, and I thoight okay, alright, lets keep this going. Fast forward through Split 1 and we were just a single point from Pro League. I was disappointed, but I told myself I gotta keep going. I can't give up now. If I can get just one point off in my first official split, I definitely got this."

Digvibezz still watches ImperialHal stream often to this day, and still looks up to him as an inspiration. From just being a member of his community to competing against him for a share of $100k is quite the journey. But, when Dig goes up against Team Falcons and Hal this weekend, what has he learned from his idol that he will be putting into practice?

"One thing I've learned from Hal, and I don't want this to sound negative, but I understand Hals passion for the game and why he gets mad, upset and yells at his teammates. However, I also understand their perspective that not everyone performs well under that pressure. So, I'll always try to keep a level mind and just make sure I am always respecting my teammates boundaries. I definitely think that is something I've learned."

Being just 18 years-old Digvibezz's competitive career has come entirely while he was still in full-time education. He announced just last week that he has graduated. For every young gamer, earning the support of your family can be a challenge. What does Dig's Mom think of his gaming pursuits?

"They're fine with it, I think! My Mom watches my shorts every once in a while. She'll bring it up to me, and she'll watch some of my YouTube videos, like one of my montages, and she'll say something like "oh that's an interesting song choice you used", but yeah I think she is fine with it!"

However, Dig was so caught up in funding out Godz Among Men had qualified, he actually hadn't told his Mom about the BLGS when he spoke to esports.gg.

"Maybe [they be watching on Sunday]. I'll have to tell them! I haven't actually told them yet... I was just so excited I guess I forgot too!"

When she actually knows he is playing, Dig's Mom has watched him in big tournament previously.

"I know they definitely hear me, that's for damn sure, because I'm always fricking screaming!"

One of the standout things about Digvibezz is the size of his community. Despite never having qualified for the Pro League, Dig has grown a sizable community.

"Honestly it's great man I started streaming as a joke to my friends all the way back on Mixer and then I eventually moved over to Twitch and I didn't have any intention for it to go this far. We're almost at 10,000 [followers] now and it's been only a few years.

"It's amazing so many people stop by to talk, it just means the world to me honestly."

Digvibezz is also very quick to acknowledge those who've helped him along his journey, most notably NiceWigg.

"I definitely want to say someone that's been a huge part of my community for sure is Wigg. He's raided me quite a few times, and everyone who stops by always sticks around for a bit. Wigg's chat are always so nice, and genuinely Wigg has always had something nice to say about my gameplay. I don't really know what to say he's just too good of a guy!

"Everyone else in my community too is always super nice. No one's ever really annoying. Everyone's super supportive and I love everyone to death."

While Dig's 39 average viewers across the year may seem modest, it comfortably puts him within the top 5% of Twitch Viewership and is a hugely impressive achievement. What advice would he give to those who aim to grow their own following in the gaming sphere?

"The one thing I definitely think I did wrong at the beginning was just streaming every day all day doing nothing but streaming. I think prioritizing streaming and at the same time putting out other content on YouTube or TikTok is ideal.

"I used to not do that, and I missed out on so many good moments, funny clips that I could've put on other platforms that might've done crazy numbers. But now I'm starting to realize that it's definitely good to spread your brand rather than just focus on streaming only. Because streaming only will only get you so far."

Digvibezz, having just graduated, is now planning to spend the next year pursuing gaming and content full-time before exploring going to College.

Being one of just two non Pro League teams in this Sunday's BLGS Americas Regional Finals lobby, the pressure is certainly not on Godz Among Men. No one really expected them to qualify, making the tournament a bit of a free-hit.

They also have a tough battle ahead, with no POI Draft in action. They are expecting to have to contest Stallions on E-District, and may face pressure from NRG on Worlds Edge too. Bigger, more established teams all have their distinguishable drops. Something that Dig, Artsy and Moto do not have at this level.

With that in mind, what is Digvibezz's expectations for the tournament and what would constitute a good result?

"Definitely not 20th that's for damn sure! I just really don't want to come last, but I'm honestly fine with anything above that. At the beginning of the BLGS, I didn't think we were going to make it this far. We got knocked out in the Semi-Finals twice and it wasn't looking that great for us when top 16 was the cut off. Making the finals of the third qualifier showed us we could still pull it off.

"So honestly, being really honest, I'm already happy with where we are. We made it into the top 20, we made the finals. That is the best thing for me, so anything else is a bonus essentially!"

Digvibezz and his team, Godz Among Men will compete for a share of $100k in the Americas BLGS Regional Finals on Sunday. Gameplay gets underway at 3 p.m. PT, and will be streamed on PlayApex.

Stay tuned to esports.gg for full coverage of the ALGS, BLGS and all things Apex Legends.