APAC, since it was inducted into the competitive Siege ecosystem, has always needed to make the most of its opportunities.
Only a total of seven APAC teams have ever qualified for international competition, though an eighth (Father's Back) attended DreamHack Valencia 2019 after its first-come first-served system got them a slot.
Cyclops Athlete Gaming (CAG) from Japan is one of them.
CAG at the Six Major Raleigh in 2019. (Photo: ESL)
It first got its chance at the Six Major Raleigh in 2019 after defeating the favoured Aerowolf in the APAC Qualifier LAN, but its inexperience showed when it could only get nine rounds in total against G2 Esports and Rogue in Group B.
While CAG has been extremely strong in Japan, it has not always had the success it has desired at the APAC level. Since Raleigh, CAG has not attended any international events, as it missed out on the Season 10 Pro League Finals and the Six Invitational 2020.
CAG finally broke that streak earlier this year, defeating Xavier Esports (now Elevate) in the grand final of the APAC Qualifier. As such, two years on from its international debut, the Japanese team is back, fresh-faced, for the biggest tournament in Rainbow Six: Siege.
Since that Raleigh Major appearance, not much has changed within the ranks of the Japanese team.
There has been only one player change; Shohma "Shokei" Shiotsuka was dropped at the end of 2019 in favour of Taiyo "Ayagator" Hirayama. Meanwhile, their coach of Hibiki "XQQ" Motoyama was replaced by the coach-analyst duo of Fumiya "Fuji3" Fujisaki and Riccardo "Hybrid" Massimino Font at the start of 2021.
While CAG has not had a dramatic rise in performance levels, the success is certainly visible. The team went on a 12-game win streak across all competitions (for a total of 15 games without a loss or draw) since the addition of Fuji3 and Hybrid, finished second in APAC North, and fourth in APAC overall.
The team has also been lethal in the Japan League, having a 6-0 record so far.
But while its results have been strong in APAC, CAG still has some ways to go before it can be considered an international challenger.
The team is very cognisant of that fact, but refuses to be cowed by the challenge presented by only its second international appearance. It is a fine line to walk -- having self-confidence, but not overconfidence -- but the duo of Fuji3 and Hybrid are seemingly helping the CAG players walk it well.
To know more about how CAG is taking the positives from its performances this year, but is still keeping keenly aware of the improvements it needs to make for the Invitational, SiegeGG spoke to Hybrid.
It seems that your team has been steadily improving all throughout the past year, from sixth, to second, and now to fourth in APAC overall. How has the team been working to make those improvements?
Obviously, the Invitational is a lot bigger than APAC and APAC North. How does one prepare, both in-game and mentally?
Your team has been lethal in the Japanese circuit too, only dropping one map across six wins (an undefeated win record) so far in the Japan League this year. How different is your approach to that league? What do the differences depend on?
That Fnatic loss marked the end of a ridiculous 15-game win streak across all competitions. So, it seems that aside from some small missteps (and perhaps some ‘strat-saving’), your team has been incredibly consistent. What has been the key to this -- a consistent roster, perhaps?
This will only be the second-ever international event for your team after the Six Major Raleigh, though Ayagator was not present there. How are you guys preparing for it?
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?
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Catch Cyclops Athlete Gaming next in action on the 11th of May at 10:30 PM JST (UTC+9), when they take on DarkZero Esports live from Paris.