Banner image: Ubisoft / Joao F. @itsmeERROR
From Jul. 13 to Jul. 16, eight of the best Rainbow Six Siege teams in the world will travel to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, to compete in the Gamers8.
Although the Gamers8 isn't a competition part of the esports calendar introduced by BLAST, the competition is played during the off-season.
Here's everything you need to know about this year's Gamers8!
Teams
Saudi Arabia's Gamers8 is an eight-team tournament, which will include the following participants:
- #flag@20:eu G2 Esports: Virtue, Doki, Alem4o, Benjamaster, Gemini, Fabian (Coach), Titan (Analyst)
- #flag@20:eu Team BDS: Renshiro, Shaiiko, BriD, Elemzje, LikEfac, Stooflex (Coach), eaglemees (Analyst)
- #flag@20:br w7m esports: Kheyze, HerdsZ, Jv92, FelipoX, nade, igoorctg (Coach), Abreu (Analyst)
- #flag@20:br Ninjas in Pyjamas: Psycho, Muzi, Wizard, pino, kondz, TchubZ (Coach)
- #flag@20:br M80: GMZ, Kyno, DiasLucas, Spoit, iconic, Budega (Coach), Vivas (Coach), PFernandes (Analyst)
- #flag@20:us Oxygen Esports: Yoggah, Dream, Nuers, FoxA, Phish, Redemeer (Coach), HOP3Z (Coach)
- #flag@20:sa Team Falcons: Jlad, Joker619, Okillz, P9, Valantino, Madskills, MSSS
- #flag@20:jp CYCLOPS athlete gaming: Anitun, BlackRay, SuzuC, Arcully, Chibisu, Papilia (Coach), Fuji3 (Analyst)
While G2 Esports, w7m esports, Oxygen Esports, and Team Falcons were invited to compete in Gamers8, M80, Team BDS, Ninjas in Pyjamas, and CYCLOPS athlete gaming qualified after winning their region's Gamers Without Borders.
Dates and Format
The tournament is expected to begin on Jul. 13 and end on Jul. 16. Here's the Gamers8's schedule:
- Group Stage: Jul. 13 to Jul. 14
- Semi-finals: Jul. 15
- Grand Final: Jul 16
In the group stage, the teams will be put in a double-elimination bracket. Meanwhile, the best four rosters will move to a single-elimination playoffs. All of the games will be BO3s except for the grand final, which will be a BO5 game.
The group stage matches will be divided into two streams, which will broadcast the following matches:
- Stream A: Team Falcons vs. Ninjas in Pyjamas, Oxygen Esports vs. Team BDS
- Stream B: G2 Esports vs. M80, w7m esports vs. CYCLOPS athlete gaming
Groups
Earlier this week, Gamers8 announced the distribution of the groups for the first phase of the competition.
Rainbow Six Siege's current world champions of G2 Esports have been drawn in Group A, as they will meet with Ninjas in Pyjamas, M80, and Team Falcons.
Meanwhile, the Six Invitational 2023 grand finalists and BLAST R6 Major Copenhagen champions of w7m esports will share Group B with Oxygen Esports, Team BDS, and CYCLOPS athlete gaming.
Prize Pool
Gamers8's prize pool is the second biggest in Rainbow Six Siege, only behind the Six Invitational 2023. Here's the prize pool for this year's Gamers8:
- 1st: $750,000
- 2nd: $400,000
- 3rd and 4th: $225,000
- 5th and 6th: $125,000
- 7th and 8th: $75,000