The Season 8 APAC LAN Finals kick off on Saturday, October 13th, and we are thrilled for this action-packed week-end of competitive Rainbow Six in Tokyo! Eight of the finest teams from across four regions (Australia-New Zealand, Japan, Southeast Asia, and South Korea) will battle out during the LAN event for a regional crown and two spots to represent the APAC region in Rio de Janeiro!
Whether it is your first time watching a Rainbow Six competition or you are a longtime fan looking for an overview of what to expect, this guide’s got you covered!
Who’s Competing?
As the APAC competition format evolved in Season 8, the Finals remain the most important event of the region. Eight teams will arrive in Japan, but only two will secure a spot to Rio de Janeiro. The qualified teams are:
• NORA-Rengo (Japan): Known for their spectacular playstyle, Wokka and his teammates will be looking to impress the local crowd in their home-country, Japan. The arrival of Papilia from Sengoku Gaming before the APAC playoffs should give a bigger strike force to NORA-Rengo. Their impressive showings in the Season 7 Pro League Finals against Rogue (North America) and the at Six Major prove they are a force to be reckoned with.
• Sengoku Gaming Extasy (Japan): With the Japanese crowd cheering on their side, this roster will look to the APAC Finals with ambition. Having attended to the Season 7 APAC Finals, the 2nd seed in Japanese region has a strong experience of LAN events. Indeed, SGE has two players that were seen at the Six Invitational 2018 as a part of eiNs (SuzuC, Aroer1na).
• Fnatic (Australia): Previous winner of the APAC Finals Season 7, the Australian juggernaut is undoubtedly one of the favorite of the competition. ANZ region (Australia-New Zealand) saw an unexpected surprise with the rise of Athletico, pushing down Magnet and his teammates 2nd seed. They made their mark as Mindfreak at the Six Invitational 2018. Since then, they have made it to every international LAN event so far under Fnatic belt, and will be aiming to do so again through the Season 8 APAC LAN.
• Athletico (Australia): Athletico stepped up this season, putting an end to Fnatic's superemacy over the ANZ region, not only in the regular season, but also in the playoffs for the APAC Finals. A remarkable performance for a team who will play his very first APAC Finals as a 1st seed of Australian region. Keep an eye on Athletico, they could definitely surprise the crowd.
• Xavier Esports (Southeast Asia): Considered the underdogs, this team cruised through the Pro League with only one map dropped in the regular season and knocked down Aerowolf to the 2nd seed. The Thai roster improved significantly and will start their first Pro League LAN Finals as 1st seed of the region.
• Aerowolf (Southeast Asia): Formed by Singaporean players, this roster was the first team making its mark internationally at the inaugural Six Invitational in February 2017 under the name of Team Envy. Despite the fact they were unable to qualify for a Pro League Finals, Aerowolf is one of the most experienced APAC teams and shouldn’t be underestimated.
• Mantis FPS (South Korea): The team led by SummerRain put up strong performances throughout the Pro League Season 8, finishing first seed of South Korean region. Their presence is not a surprise for the fans, as they were also competing in the Pro League Season 6 Finals. They also took down one of the finest Brazilian team, Immortals, during the Six Major.
• New Life (South Korea): Present during the Pro League Season 6 APAC Finals, they are one of the most experienced teams from the Korean region. New Life aims at earning a spot for their first Pro League Finals. 2nd seed,. the roster led by Nova and Smileboi will be able to show all their improvements since then.
What’s the schedule?
Please note that all times in the schedule below are listed in Japan standard time (JST):
Who’s casting?
Where can I watch?
Here’s a full list to find out where to watch in your language:
English: https://www.twitch.tv/rainbow6
Germany: https://www.twitch.tv/rainbow6de
Korean: https://www.twitch.tv/rainbow6kr
Japanese: https://www.twitch.tv/rainbow6jp
Taiwanese (Mandarin): https://twitch.tv/rainbow6tw
Cantonese: https://twitch.tv/rainbow6HK
