After a RE:L0:AD group stage full of controversy and debates due to the tournament's wild group stage format, we finally know the eight teams that will compete in RE:L0:AD's playoffs.
Certainly, many of these teams aren't the ones the fans had expected to be among the best eight rosters of the competition. Therefore, the random combination of teams has created rare storylines that is really worth mentioning. Here's a look at them:
Two APAC rosters to play in front of the Brazilian crowd
For the first time since the PL Season 9 Finals, played in Milan, Italy, in May 2019, two APAC rosters will compete in front of an international crowd.
Meanwhile, it's the first time since the Six Sweden Major, played in November 2021, that two Asian rosters finish among the best eight rosters in the sae¡me international competition. Back then, SANDBOX Gaming and DAMWON Gaming reached the quarterfinals, with the latter making it to semifinals — finishing one bullet away from a grand final appearance.
While they didn't reach RE:L0:AD's Top 8, it is also worth mentioning SCARZ. Before RE:L0:AD's playoffs, the Japanese were the last Asian team to play in front of an international crowd, as they reached the quarterfinals of the BLAST R6 Major Copenhagen, which took place in May 2023.
Unfortunately for the region, historical runs made by Asian teams at a same tournament always cross paths at some point. First, at the Six Invitational 2019, Fnatic and NORA-Rengo faced off against in the quarterfinals. Over three years later, at the Six Sweden Major, the previously mentioned SANDBOX Gaming and DAMWON Gaming clashed in the bracket's first match.
Although this may seem like an inconvenient, it grants APAC a team in the semifinals of a Rainbow Six Siege international competition. This has only happened thrice before:
- Six Invitational 2019: NORA-Rengo after beating Fnatic
- PL Season 10 Finals: Aerowolf after beating Giants Gaming
- Six Sweden Major: DAMWON Gaming after beating SANDBOX Gaming
With CAG Osaka and BNK FEARX qualifying for RE:L0:AD's Playoffs, some of the most important players in Rainbow Six Siege APAC's history will play in front of an international crowd after many failed attempts.
The former DAMWON Gaming trio that put FaZe Clan on the verge of elimination at the Six Sweden Major, including Jang "RIN" Byeong-uk, Jo "coted" Sung-jun, and Park "Woogiman" Jin-wook, will finally get to play in front of an international crowd. While they could have done so in Sweden, the event was played behind closed doors due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Meanwhile, CAG Osaka's historical duo Reon "Anitun" Sakai and Sho "BlackRay" Hasegawa, who have been playing together for the Cyclops since before the team qualified for the Six Charlotte Major, will finally play in front of an international crowd after almost six years in the Japanese team.
Precisely, on May 14, 2025, Anitun revealed on his personal X account that the player had considered retirement. Now, the Japanese is glad to not have taken that decision.
Come to Brazil or Brazil will come to you
With RE:L0:AD taking place in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, it's impossible to scape Brazil. The South American fans are well known for their extreme passion for any competition, including both sports and esports.
However, although the South America League will be the most represented regional competition in RE:L0:AD's Playoffs, four other teams will have at least one Brazilian member.
Logically, the most obvious one is Elevate. In an attempt to elevate the team's hopes of international success, the APAC League 2025 Parnered team decided to import a full Brazilian lineup to the Asian top flight.
In North America, Wildcard imported Leonardo "Dash" Lopes to compete in the 2025 season. The BLAST R6 Major Montreal champion had parted ways with w7m esports shortly after the conclusion of the Six Invitational 2025.
In Europe, Team Falcons' Brazilian representation can be found in the Six Invitational 2021 champion Julio "Julio" Giacomelli. Finally, the final piece of the puzzle is César "Dark" Adriano, who's the current coach of BNK FEARX.
All in all, across the eight teams in the competition, five teams have at least one Brazilian player, and a total of seven teams have at least one Brazilian member.
Brazilian legend Paluh to finally play in front of his home crowd at an international event
Luccas "Paluh" Molina is a Rainbow Six Siege legend; unfortunately, the Brazilian player has never won a major international championship after multiple failed attemps.
So far, the Brazilian has reached three international grand finals, spread across the Six Invitational 2021, the Six Jönköping Major, and the BLAST R6 Major Copenhagen, not to mention other tournaments where the Brazilian was knocked out in the semifinals, including the Six Mexico Major, the Six Charlotte Major, the Gamers8 2023, the BLAST R6 Major Manchester, and the Esports World Cup 2024.
Despite his extremely long trajectory in Rainbow Six Siege's competitive scene, Paluh has never played in front of a home crowd at an international event. While playing for Bootkamp Gaming, the Brazilians finished two points away from clinching a PL Season 8 Finals spot — which would have seen him playing in Rio's Jeunesse Arena.
One year and a half later, under Team Liquid, Paluh and his teammates won the LATAM Pro League Season 11. Unfortunately, due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, the PL Season 11 Finals, which were going to take place in São Paulo, had to be cancelled.
Almost four years later, Brazil would host a Rainbow Six Siege international competition again as some of the best teams in the world traveled to São Paulo to fight for the Six Invitational 2024 sledgehammer. However, Team Liquid's defeat against G2 Esports in the Lower Bracket meant the Brazilians wouldn't be able to play in front of the Brazilian crowd at the Ginásio do Ibirapuera.
Finally, after almost seven years of uninterrupted professional Rainbow Six Siege for Paluh, the 25-year-old will play in front of the Brazilian crowd at an international competition. He won't be the only one in w7m esports in the same situation, as the BLAST R6 Major Montreal champions will play in front of their home crowd at an international competition for the first time in their careers too.
First Brazilian derby between FURIA Esports and LOUD
FURIA Esports and LOUD's first clash in Rainbow Six Siege's competitive scene will be in RE:L0:AD's quarterfinals. The match will be the last one of the four and it will likely be the most heated series of the day.
For those unaware, FURIA Esports and LOUD have built a heated rivalship throughout the last few years. Alongside Fluxo and paiN Gaming, both FURIA Esports and LOUD are the biggest esports organizations in Brazil.
With multiple rivalships across other esports scenes like Valorant and League of Legends, as well as the Kings League Brazil, there's no doubt both fanbases want their favorite team to furiously (or loudly) smash their opposition — regardless of the game. Logically, Rainbow Six Siege won't be an exception.
If that wasn't enough, the teams' first clash will be in front of a Brazilian crowd, which will surely add more gas to the fire.