When FURIA eSports was playing its 2020 season in the BR6, few would have expected that squad to be headed to the Six Invitational 2021, much less their own players.
The team was winless after the first split, with its first victory only coming along in the sixth week with a 2-0 over INTZ e-Sports. That victory would be no herald of better tidings in the second split, however, as FURIA would only get one more win to make it a mere two wins across the entire season.
In context, only Santos e-Sports had performed that poorly, with an identical 2-4-12 (W-D-L) record, but one more point for them meant that they survived while FURIA headed to relegations.
However, in the relegation match, Falkol -- the Serie B team -- was not quite on FURIA's level, losing it in three straight maps.
As such, FURIA would survive in the top-flight for 2021, but few thought they would be able to perform any better.
However, FURIA started its rebuild just before the Six Invitational 2021 Brazil qualifier, dropping Renan "fredQx" Lucas. It then kickstarted its Invitational push, taking down Santos 2-0, INTZ 2-0, W7M 2-0, and then INTZ by a 2-0 margin again to become the best Brazilian team in the LATAM qualifier.
While Estral Esports would upset INTZ, FURIA would take down Malvinas before clearing the Estral challenge -- dropping its first and only map in both qualifiers -- to book a ticket to the Six Invitational 2021.
While qualified, questions over FURIA's strength still remained, especially since FaZe Clan, NiP, Team Liquid, MIBR, and Team oNe had already qualified and thus had not played in the qualifier. The questions then intensified as one of its coaches, Arthur "TchubZ" Martins, left, and Victor Hugo "Bersa" Bruschini and former MIBR player Daniel "Novys" Novy were dropped.
Signing Diogo "Fntzy" Lima and Rennan "R4re" Silva seemed to do the trick, however, as FURIA took down NiP, Team oNe, and others on course to a fourth-placed finish in Stage 1 of the BR6.
This performance was unable to be replicated in the Copa Elite Six, however, as the Brazilians could only manage seventh, behind Atheris Esports in sixth.
Now, the team gears up for a Six Invitational 2021 challenge, with much to work on, but an unshaken belief in itself. To know more, SiegeGG spoke with head coach Marlon "Twister" Mello.
Wow, you guys are headed to SI! How real does it feel for your players, after they had to survive the relegations last year?
How did the team make such a big jump, from 10th and last in BR6 2020, to Invitational-qualified in 2021?
Now, of course, the fact that you are traveling to Paris is due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Brazil is one of the worst-hit countries by the virus, so how have you and your entire team been keeping safe? Has it been hard focusing on the game when the pandemic is such a big threat outside of it?
This will be the first-ever international event for your team, though you are personally well experienced with FaZe, NiP, and Black Dragons, having attended nine international events with them. How are you guys preparing for it?
Your team seemed to struggle in the Copa Elite Six, despite a very strong fourth place in Stage 1 of the BR6, and the Atheris loss prevented your progression to the playoffs. What happened? Is this a matter of concern?
What is your goal for the Invitational and how confident are you that you'll achieve it?
What is your opinion on the changed format for the Invitational and how do you rate your chances in the group?
Is there anything you want to say to your fans and maybe your competitors?
---
Catch FURIA eSports next in action on the 11th of May at 3 PM BRT (UTC-3), when they take on Cyclops Athlete Gaming live from Paris.