Rainbow Six: Siege Invitational Champions
This story, oh man, where to even start. Three years have passed since we entered the Rainbow Six scene; at the time the community thought we were trolling — we were not. Siege has skyrocketed in popularity since then, and this year’s Six Invitational showcases the game's position amongst Tier 1 esports genres.
Gustavo, João, Julio, Gabriel, Murilo, André. What a journey this has been. The sacrifices you have made over the years. These guys live for this game, 24 hours a day, coming together as a family in the Sao Paulo based gaming house. The brotherhood who’s now the best team in the world, and the best Brasilian esports team across all genres; national heroes. It hasn’t been smooth sailing, but hard work, devastating losses and unwavering faith in becoming the very best.
Psycho, Kamikaze, Julio and Bob, the core who has been here since the beginning, experienced a major defeat in 2019’s Invitational, bombing out in the group stages following a disappointing 0-2 score. Changes had to be made, and the team bet on two young prodigies, Muzi, who was previously a streamer and Pino, who had just turned 18 and become eligible for pro play, to add that extra firepower to the roster. At the 2020 Invitational, the team pulled off an epic lower bracket run all the way to the Grand Final, which ended in a heartbreaking loss.
It didn’t bring them down. We never lose, we only win or learn. The team stayed together and decided to grind harder. More practice, more hours spent in-game. We believed.
The 2021 Invitational took place in Paris, on LAN. The passion, the adrenaline, the banter... LAN: We've missed you. Our Brazilian Ninjas stormed through the group stage, and if you let these guys play upper bracket, they won’t let you down. BDS Esports, FaZe Clan and MIBR all got to experience some vintage NIP magic, leading up to the Grand Final versus Team Liquid. 3-2, game over, World Champs, gg wp.
“Last year was heartbreaking, we fell short in the Grand Finals at Six Invitational 2020. We had a big lead but could not close it out - that has haunted us for 18 months. We didn't give up, on the contrary it only fueled our determination to work harder. This year we went back better prepared than ever; same players, same desire, new look and took it home. With that we wrote a new chapter in esports history; first team to reach back to back Finals, crowned the world's best team, first trophy for Brazil and the LATAM region and the first team to establish an era in the game. Viewership broke records, fan engagement broke records and it accelerated our brand hyper-growth further.
I am truly humbled. This means the world to me.” says Hicham Chahine, CEO, Ninjas in Pyjamas.
To all our fans: Thank you all for supporting our boys. The passion you’re showing means the world to them. We were the first team to ever make back to back Invitational Grand Finals. Let’s be the first team to ever win back to back Invitational titles. #VAMOSNINJAS