FURIA sweeps CAG Osaka to lift the BLAST RE:L0:AD 2025 trophy
The Brazilian powerhouse FURIA Esports made history today by claiming the inaugural RE:L0:AD 2025 championship with a commanding 3-0 victory over Japan's CAG Osaka. This landmark match not only crowned FURIA as the first champions of the 2025-2026 competitive season but also marked the competitive debut of Rainbow Six Siege X, offering fans and players their first glimpse of professional play in Ubisoft's reimagined tactical shooter before its global launch on June 10.
The Road to the Grand Final
FURIA's Path to Glory
FURIA entered the tournament as the world's #2 ranked team, and demonstrated why they deserved that position throughout the competition. Their Group Stage performance included impressive victories over Elevate (7-3), Team BDS (7-1), and Team Secret (7-4), showcasing their dominance from the early stages.
In the Quarterfinals, FURIA faced fellow Brazilian squad LOUD in an all-Brazilian showdown. The "Panteras" emerged victorious with a 2-0 victory, securing wins on Lair (8-7) after an intense overtime battle and Border (7-4).
The Semifinals saw FURIA matched against another Brazilian team, w7m esports, in what guaranteed Brazilian presence in the finals. FURIA continued their impressive form, dispatching w7m 2-0 with victories on Border (8-6) and Kafe Dostoyevsky (7-4). Star player kheyze earned MVP honors in this crucial match, cementing FURIA's place in the grand final and maintaining their momentum.
CAG Osaka's Unexpected Rise
CAG Osaka, ranked #6 in the world, had their own impressive journey to the final. Despite entering as underdogs compared to FURIA, they showcased remarkable resilience throughout the tournament, winning four of their five most recent matches leading into the Grand Final.
Their Semifinals match against Wildcard was particularly thrilling, as they secured a 2-1 victory across three maps: winning Nighthaven Labs (7-4), losing Chalet (4-7), and claiming Border (7-3). Player Arcully earned MVP honors for his standout performance in this crucial match.
CAG Osaka's appearance in the Grand Final marked a significant achievement for APAC representation in a major international tournament, challenging the typical dominance of Brazilian, European, and North American teams.
Previous Encounters
Adding intrigue to the Grand Final matchup was the teams' previous meeting at the Six Invitational 2025 on February 4, where CAG Osaka defeated FURIA 2-0 in the Group Stage. This prior victory gave CAG Osaka confidence heading into the final, while FURIA sought redemption on home soil in Brazil.
Despite CAG Osaka having the psychological edge from their previous encounter, fan sentiment heavily favored FURIA, with approximately 81% of predictions backing the Brazilian team to claim victory. This home-field advantage in Rio de Janeiro undoubtedly played in FURIA's favor.
The Brazilian Triumph
The Grand Final took place on Sunday, May 18, 2025, at Arena Carioca 1, with thousands of passionate Brazilian fans creating an electrifying atmosphere.
Lair (7-4)
FURIA made their intentions clear from the outset on Lair, the first map of the series. The Brazilian side took an early lead and maintained control throughout, eventually securing a 7-4 victory. The home crowd erupted with each round win as FURIA demonstrated superior map control and coordination, taking a 1-0 lead in the series.
Bank (7-3)
Building on their momentum, FURIA displayed even greater dominance on the second map, Bank. Their strategic execution and individual skill proved too much for CAG Osaka to handle, resulting in a convincing 7-3 victory that put FURIA on match point. The Brazilian crowd grew increasingly animated as their home team moved one map away from securing the championship.
Kafe Dostoyevsky (7-3)
The final map, Kafe Dostoyevsky, completed FURIA's sweep as they closed out the series with another victory, cementing their 3-0 triumph and claiming the inaugural RE:L0:AD championship. The unprecedented display of dominance on Siege X's competitive debut established FURIA as early masters of the new gameplay mechanics.
The First of Many
FURIA's victory carries significant weight beyond just the $170,000 first-place prize. As the inaugural champions of the first Siege X tournament, they have established themselves as the team to beat in this new era of Rainbow Six esports. Their ability to quickly adapt to and exploit Siege X's new mechanics demonstrates a level of versatility and game understanding that will serve them well as the competitive landscape evolves.
For CAG Osaka, while the final result was disappointing, their run to the Grand Final represents a major accomplishment for the APAC region. Their performance throughout the tournament, including the upset victory over Wildcard in the Semifinals, signals that they will be a formidable force in future competitions.
Looking Forward
The conclusion of RE:L0:AD 2025 marks just the beginning of a new chapter for Rainbow Six esports. With Siege X scheduled for global launch on June 10, 2025, the tournament provided valuable insights into how the game's new mechanics and features will shape competitive play. The success of RE:L0:AD 2025, both as a spectator event and as a showcase for Siege X, bodes well for the future of Rainbow Six esports.
As the esports world digests FURIA's dominant performance and players worldwide anticipate getting their hands on Siege X next month, one thing is clear: the new era of Rainbow Six has begun in spectacular fashion, and the competition has never been more exciting.
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Feature image credit: Ubisoft
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