Into the Breach returned to Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege in September 2023 and, only one one month and a half later, the team was one victory away from qualifying for Atlanta. Four months after the squad's defeat against G2 Esports, the organization parted ways with the former samurai Juhani “Kantoraketti” Toivonen and Jonas “Jonka” Kaczmarzyk to add the rookies Charlie “Creedz” Footie and Oscar “Oscr” Deacon.
While expectations around a team where the majority of players had made their top-flight debuts between March 2023 and March 2024 could be low, Into the Breach has become the best example that, when it comes to building a project, not everything lays down on experience and individual legacy. Instead, it’s about finding the right pieces to make the engine work. In just a matter of months, the British-majority squad broke into the international scene for the first time after a second-place finish at the Europe League 2024 Stage 1.
Eventually, Into the Breach’s international debut was watered down by three back-to-back defeats against Bleed Esports, M80, and the eventual Manchester champions, Beastcoast. However, the team wasn’t knocked out empty-handed, as they defeated Spacestation Gaming.
Later this month, the players will have another chance to prove themselves internationally, as they qualified for Rainbow Six Siege’s Esports World Cup following victories against Fnatic and Team Secret. Before the team’s debut in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, SiegeGG spoke with Luke “Kendrew” Kendrew to know more about the roster’s progression.
In February you parted ways with Kantoraketti and Jonka as you added Creedz and Oscr. What was the reasoning behind those two changes?
Compared to other teams in Europe, Into the Breach wasn’t the only one to make changes. However, they would go for more experienced players rather than signing young talent, which was exactly what your team did. What does it take to create that chemistry or synergy that’s needed with top-flight debutants?
In Europe, teams have some of the most experienced coaches in the scene, with Ramalho (G2 Esports), Lyloun (Wolves Esports), Zheka (Virtus.pro), and Twister (Team Secret) as the best examples. The previously mentioned lack of experience isn't only found in your players but also your staff team. Could you define KangruKenny as a coach and as a person and how important he was to the team to qualify for Manchester?
Into the Breach, as an organization, is quite smaller to the rest of powerhouses in the region. However, on social media, it feels like the team is crystal clear with what’s going on behind the scenes. How’s the communication with ITB and how have they supported you?
Manchester was ITB’s first international tournament. How has Manchester made your team better?
In Manchester, your first victory against Spacestation Gaming was followed by a narrow defeat against Bleed Esports and a flawless loss against M80. How did those results and the pressure of being one match away from elimination affect you and your teammates?
In the Esports World Cup you will play against the current world champions FURIA Esports in your first game at the tournament. You didn’t play against any Brazilian teams in Manchester. How do you think FURIA’s playstyle will fit yours?