After being postponed from its original date in February 2021, the Rainbow Six Invitational will be returning in May 2021. It will replace the first Six Major of the year, with the $3 million prize pool set to stay.
- French travel restrictions initially forced Ubisoft to postpone the Six Invitational
- Exact dates and location are yet to be announced
- $3 million prize pool set to remain
Rainbow Six Invitational to return in May 2021
The Six Invitational is the peak of all Rainbow Six competition. Each year, the world’s best descend into one place to fight for Sledge’s Hammer. However, in 2021, the competition is going to be different to previously.
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The Six Invitational was pushed back from its regular dates in February to May 2021. This will impact the start of the 2021 season and the first Six Major, however, Ubisoft are dedicated to putting on the biggest event of the year — even if it’s a bit late.
Exact dates and locations are yet to be confirmed. Paris was set to host the Six Invitational in 2021, but it was pushed back due to travel restrictions. These changes could mean the Siege world championships could move back to Montreal, where it has been played since 2016.
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The same 20 teams who qualified for the original event will return to the stage as Ubisoft looks to put on its first international LAN in over 12 months. This includes Wildcard, who were forced to pull out after the Australian government stopped them from traveling overseas to compete.
Six Invitational 2021 teams
Despite the postponement, these teams will be lining up to compete whenever the event eventually goes ahead.
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Reigning champions Spacestation Gaming are will be out to defend their title, while hungry challengers like TSM, DarkZero, and G2 Esports will be fighting to prove themselves on the world stage.
There’s a few dark horses though. Without Fnatic, Wildcard, or Nora-Rengo, the heart of APAC will be carried by the likes of Giants and Cloud9, who will be looking to live up to their predecessors’ names.
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Latin American talent Ninjas in Pyjamas will be looking to make up for their heartbreaking loss in the grand final in 2020 too.
| Team | Region | Players |
| BDS Esport | Europe | Shaiiko, Renshiro, RaFaLe, Elemzje, BriD |
| Cloud9 | APAC | EnvyTaylor, Static, Nova, Harp3r, SyAIL |
| DarkZero Esports | NA | Mint, Hotancold, Hyper, Skys, Ecl9pse |
| FaZe Clan | Brazil | Astro, yoona, ion, live, KDS |
| G2 Esports | Europe | Pengu, Kantoraketti, UUNO, CTZN, Virtue |
| Giants Gaming | APAC | Lunarmetal, Ysaera, HysteRiX, SpeakEasy, jrdn |
| MIBR | Brazil | Cyb3r, soulz1, Bullet1, MKing, cameram4n |
| Ninjas in Pyjamas | Brazil | Kamikaze, Psycho, julio, Muzi, pino |
| Oxygen Esports | NA | FoxA, LaXIng, VertcL, Slashug, B1ologic |
| Spacestation Gaming | NA | Thinkingnade, Rampy, Bosco, Fultz, Canadian |
| Team Empire | Europe | ShepparD, JoyStiCK, Scyther, Dan, Always |
| Team Liquid | Brazil | nesk, xS3xyCake, psk1, Paluh, HSnamuringa |
| Team oNe eSports | Brazil | reduct, Faallz, LuKid, Rappz, FelipoX |
| TSM | NA | Achieved, Merc, Beaulo, Geometrics, Chala |
| Virtus.pro | Europe | wTg, Rask, Shockwave, p4sh4, m1loN |
| Cyclops athlete gaming | APAC | Anitun, SuzuC, gatorada, BlackRay, Ayagator |
| Mkers | Europe | Lollo, Gemini, Scatto, Aqui, Sasha |
| Altiora | NA | Spiritz, Sonar, Euphoria, Eskaa, P3NGU1N |
| FURIA Esports | Brazil | Bersa, LENDA, h1ghs, Novys, Miracle |
Six Invitational 2021 format changes
The Six Invitational has expanded to 20 teams in 2021. Two groups of 10 will duke it out for 16 spots in the playoffs. The group stage will be entirely best-of-ones, while the double-elimination playoffs will be best-of-threes until the grand final, which is set to be a best-of-five.
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The prize pool for the Six Invitational 2021 will be partially crowdfunded. Starting at $500,000, Ubisoft will cap it at $3 million based on the purchase of the Road to S.I. 2021 Battle Pass in-game. Up to $1 million will go to the winners.
