The Six Major for August 2020 isn’t the same as any other big Rainbow Six tournament. However, there’s still plenty to play for online, as three of Australia’s best Siege teams fight to gain points for the Six Invitational in February 2021.
With the Six Major being pushed online for August 2020, things are looking very different in the Siege ecosystem. It’s been a spanner in the works for a scene that was looking to massively expand and overhaul their competitive system in 2020.
However, the event hasn’t been canned. Arguably, it’s more important than ever for teams to prove they are the best in their region to have a hope of making the Six Invitational. On top of that, the potential for upsets are huge.
The Six Major August 2020 for Oceania is being held this weekend, with the top three teams from the Six Masters held earlier this year getting a chance to get those much-desired SI Points.
Wildcard, obviously, enter the Six Major as heavy favorites. They went through all of Six Masters only dropping one map to LFO. They look like, by far, the most dominant force in Australian Siege in the absence of Fnatic — who missed out on a Major berth in APAC North in their first season abroad.
Given they dispatched their opposition — either Okami or Pittsburgh Knights — pretty handily in the regular season just a couple of months ago, there’s an air of confidence about Wildcard. However, coach Bharath “Fluxx” Sukesh says the team is focused on just becoming the best possible versions of themselves.
“I think our playstyle is a lot more consistent than ones other teams try to force,” he told Snowball.
“I think only a few teams play Siege the way it’s meant to be played, and properly understand the meta. We try to set ourselves up the same way we would as if we were playing at the big events. I think the biggest thing for us is that we all just want to put our head down to win.”
At this time of year, Wildcard would be used to playing internationally. It was just a smidge under 12 months ago since they took the world by storm at the Season 10 Pro League finals, almost snubbing eventual winners Natus Vincere. The lack of international competition hits hard, especially so in Oceania where practice against world-class opposition comes few and far between.
Not long now until all the action starts!🔥
— Rainbow 6 ANZ (@Rainbow6ANZ) August 6, 2020
Who do you think will move onto the final?🤔
🔴6PM AEST – @OkamiLFO vs @KnightsGG
📺 https://t.co/3S42zV8TZQ pic.twitter.com/JrRwVPxpGS
The Major was a chance to show their improvement, at least on the international stage, since bowing out early in the Six Invitational back in February. The new-look Wildcard — since then at least — will have to wait some time before they get that opportunity though.
“Having made roster changes earlier this year, it’s tough to say how we would perform had we made it to the Major [in person].
“We’d just want to prove that we’re a team that deserves to be there and can hold our weight at the top level, and that our performance at SI doesn’t accurately represent us as a team.”
“Sadly we don’t get to play any LANs this time because of COVID, and so we can’t play any South Asian or APAC North teams. It’s unfortunate because I think the current online majors takes away the hype of an actual major, but it is what it is.”
Bharath “Fluxx” Sukesh
Despite the circumstances, Wildcard are forever looking forward to the next match. With a bye ahead of them thanks to their Six Masters triumph, they get to sit back on Thursday to watch who they’ll face off against in the final.
“I expect Okami to win their match against the Knights, they’ve shown to improve over the course of the season, and they didn’t make it easy for us in the Six Masters final,” Fluxx admitted.
The Six Major Oceania August 2020 kicks off tonight with Okami taking on the Knights from 6pm AEST.
