Andrew Czysz Jr.
2023-10-30 11:48:27
Let's begin by looking at the comprehensive schedule for the Six Atlanta Major. Then we will investigate the Top 5 highest-rated teams. Play In (Phase 1) On October 31 and November 1, BLAST R6 Esports begins the Six Atlanta Major with the Play-In phase, aka the Group Stage. BLAST R6 has revealed the lineup, and those teams are listed below:Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Siege Esports ushers in their 2nd Stage of the 2023-24 competitive year under BLAST.tv's leadership, through BLAST R6 Esports. After a successful 1st Stage culminating in Copenhagen, Denmark this past spring, Blast.TV and Ubisoft aim to glue even more eyes to their product during the Six Atlanta Major, which starts tomorrow and runs until November 12th.
First, Group A contains Ninjas in Pyjamas, Sandbox Gaming, Crest Gaming, and Geekay Esports.
Second, Group B holds Cyclops Gaming, LOS, Talon Esports, and Bleed Esports.
Third, Group C includes Darkzero, G2, Fury, and Knights.
Finally, Group D possesses Wolves, SpaceStation Gaming, Alpha Atheirs, and Team Bliss.
A comprehensive schedule of the Play In can be found here:
During Phase 1, the sixteen teams battle across two days in a GSL group format. Best of 1 and Best of 3 elimination matches will be included. The top two teams from each group will move forward into Phase 2 of the Six Atlanta Major.
If you notice, many newcomers are on this roster of play-in teams. This is thanks to the expansive Global Circuit system Ubisoft and Blast.TV has been focusing on implementing since their partnership started.
Representing the Brazil League, we have w7m Esports and FaZe Clan.
Hailing from the Europe League are BDS and Virtus. pro.
Japan League holds SCARZ, while South Korea brings in Dplus.
Finally, North American teams include M80 and the Soniqs.
All of these teams have done considerably well in their regions in order to have their spots locked in for the Playoffs, and not be stuck in the Play In phase.
Here is a look at how the playoff bracket will work:
Playoffs will follow a Swiss tournament format with Best of 1 and Best of 3 elimination matches for five days. After each match, teams move on to play teams with a similar win/loss ratio, until only 8 remain.
Finals (Phase 3)
Between the days of November 10 and November 12, Phase 3 of the Six Atlanta Major will be occurring.
Rounding out the schedule is the Finals. The format will be Best of 3 single elimination, while the Grand Final is Best of 5.
The bracket is listed below:
This phase happens to be one R6 Esports fans are most familiar with. What makes an event like the Six Atlanta Major special is the ability for fans to pile in an arena and spectate. Last May, fans were welcomed in to view the Six Copenhagen Major finals in Denmark. The number of eyeballs on that product portrayed a huge level of success for Ubisoft and BLAST. According to Esportscharts.com, there was a 79% increase in watch hours for the Copenhagen Major than for November 2022's Jonkoping Major. Based on this metric, there is high optimism that BLAST R6 Esports can draw a field house of eyes on their product once again at the Gas South Arena in Atlanta, Georgia this November. Now that we have discussed the schedule for the Six Atlanta Major, it is time to pinpoint the Top 5 highest-rated teams heading into the event. These rankings are based on points earned from two Regional League Stages, Copenhagen Major, and Qualification for the Six Atlanta Major. #5 Virtus.pro (Europe League)
Beginning with Virtus.pro, they are the highest-ranked European team by points, heading into the Six Atlanta Major.
Virtus.pro (VP), is a well-established Russian esports organization famous for being in Counter-Strike: Global Offense (CSGO), and Dota 2, founded on May 16, 2020.
In the 2023-24 season thus far, Virtus gained 480 confirmed points.
In Regional Leagues, 150 points were awarded for placing 1st overall in both stages. They beat G2 Esports 2-1 in Stage One, and BDS 2-1 in Stage Two. Copenhagen granted the Russian org with 105 points for placing 9th. Rounding out the point total, Virtus is capped at 75 points, plus any more based on placement during the Six Atlanta Major.
After being absent from the R6 Esports scene during the 2022-23 competitive season before Blast arrived, Virtus.pro looks to make a splash in the Six Atlanta Major. Observing their performance throughout the season, they can make a decent run in the playoffs.
#4 SCARZ (Japan League)
Coming in at number 4, we have the highest-ranked Japan League team and another newcomer, SCARZ.
SCARZ is a Japanese esports organization that is fielding teams for a slew of games including Call of Duty, Counter-Strike, and Dota 2. They were founded on June 24, 2018.
During the 2023-24 season, SCARZ has earned a total of 515 confirmed points.
For Regionals, SCARZ won both stages and got 300 points total. They won against Northeption 3-1 and Cyclops Gaming 3-0. Next, SCARZ eclipsed 140 points from the Copenhagen Major for placing 7th. Lastly, the 75 points for Six Atlanta Major qualifying are accounted for. However, the number fluctuates based on the results of the event.
Much like Virtus, SCARZ is a newcomer in the pool of teams for BLAST R6 Esports in 2023. They aim to represent the Japan League to perfection by showing out at the Six Atlanta Major come playoff time.
#3 Susquehanna Soniqs (North American League)
At the midway point, we have the Susquehanna Soniqs, the highest-ranked North American team before the Six Atlanta Major.
Susquehanna Soniqs is an American esports organization that has been in the R6 competitive scene for the last couple of years. Their R6 team was officially founded on March 13, 2019.
Backtracking to the 2022-23 competitive season, the Soniqs amounted to a total of 845 points, finishing 12th overall in the standings as the 5th-ranked NA team. In retrospect, it was a solid season for this up-and-coming squad.
Transitioning to the current 2023-24 competitive season, Susquehanna has obtained 525 confirmed points.
In the first stage of NA Regional Leagues, the Soniqs did not earn any points as they lost to Oxygen Esports 2-0 and placed 6th overall. In the second stage though, Susquehanna ran the table, placed 1st, and was awarded 150 points after beating M80 by a score of 2-1.
A Last Chance Qualifier granted the Soniqs with 100 extra points which prompted their arrival at Copenhagen.
From there, Copenhagen was a huge success for this North American team. They placed 3rd after losing to Brazilian juggernaut w7m Esports 2-0. Soniqs cashed out with 200 points.
Finishing the point total, and qualifying for the Six Atlanta Major gave Susquehanna 75 points, with the possibility of more based on placement.
After a modest 2022 campaign, the Soniqs want to make more noise in 2023 and go on another deep Major run in hopes of qualifying for the 2024 Six Invitational
#2 FaZe Clan (Brazil League)
At the number 2 spot, we have the infamous, FaZe Clan, the second-highest-ranked Brazilian team, heading into the Six Atlanta Major.
FaZe Clan is an American and Brazilian esports organization. They have been in the competitive esports scene since 2011 when they assembled their first Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 roster. Since then, they have branched out to other games. On January 18, 2018, they joined R6 Esports.
Flashbacking to the 2022-23 competitive season, FaZe placed 11th overall with 915 total points and was the 3rd highest-ranked Brazilian team. Doing well in Religional League stages, Berlin and Jonkoping Majors, FaZe Clan were able to qualify for the 2023 Six Invitational. However, they placed 14th after losing to reigning champion G2 Esports in the Group Stage.
After a successful 2022 campaign, FaZe has accumulated 575 confirmed points.
In stage 1 of the Brazilian Regional League play, FaZe Clan defeated Team Liquid by a score of 2-0, earning 150 points. Stage 2 saw FaZe take down w7m Esports by a score of 2-1 and obtain another 150 points.
For Copenhagen, FaZe advanced to the playoffs and placed 4th after losing 2-0 to Team Liquid in the Semifinals. About 200 points were gained.
Lastly, the Six Atlanta Major qualification prompted 75 additional points plus more depending on where FaZe falls in the final rankings.
Overall, FaZe has looked exceptional over the last year and a half with nearly 1,000 total points in 2022 accompanied by a Six Invitational appearance, and a fabulous 2023 campaign thus far. This Brazilian squad seeks to place high in Atlanta to punch their ticket back to the Six Invitational for 2024.
#1 w7m Esports (Brazil League)
Finishing off the ranking, we have the Brazilian powerhouse, w7m Esports. They are the highest-ranked overall team so far in the 2023-24 BLAST R6 season.
W7M Esports formerly known as W7M Gaming, is a Brazilian esports organization owned by the W7M Investments Group. The team was created on March 15, 2017, and joined R6 Esports on May 20, 2020.
Looking back on the 2022 competitive season for R6 Esports once more, w7m owned everything in their path. They finished with a whopping 1,240 points and made a deep run during the 2023 Six Invitational. The run amounted to a Grand Finals appearance against G2 Esports. G2 Esports, led by Fabian Hallsten, legendary Rainbow Six player/coach, defeated w7m 3-1. Even in the agony of defeat at the highest level, w7m was tremendous throughout last season.
Transitioning to the present, w7m has not pumped the breaks, to say the least. Thus far in the 2023-24 competitive season for BLAST R6, w7m has a total of 670 confirmed points.
Stage 1 of the Regional League saw w7m placing 3rd after suffering defeat at the hands of LOS by a score of 2-0. This granted 150 points. In Stage 2, another 150 points came as a result of losing to Faze Clan 2-1.
Moving to the Copenhagen Major, w7m gravitated 300 points after placing 1st by beating Team Liquid by a score of 3-0.
Finally, 75 points have been awarded as w7m is in the Six Atlanta Major playoffs. The number can go up depending on placement.
Taking w7m's impressive resume from 2022 and 2023, they have the tools to make a deep run in Atlanta. Additionally, another Six Invitational appearance is on the horizon and w7m will be looking to win it all come 2024.
These were 5 of the highest-ranked teams heading into the Six Atlanta Major. This will be the second Major under the BLAST R6 regime run by Blast.TV and Ubisoft. There's an abundance of greatness across the board. It will be intriguing to watch who will arise from the pack, reign victorious in Atlanta, and set themselves up with a guaranteed ticket to the 2024 Six Invitational this February.
More information on the event can be found here
