New faces are ready to make their Major debuts with the undefeated Dire Wolves heading the charge while only two teams remain from the 2021 Stage 1 APAC Playoffs in 2022.
The first APAC Playoffs for 2022 are here to choose the four teams for the first Major of the year, which will be hosted in Charlotte, North Carolina, and will be the first tournament to include a live crowd since Six Invitational 2020.
As the teams and structures have changed significantly since 2021, let’s take a look at everything you need to know about the APAC Playoffs for Stage 1 of the 2022 season.
Participating teams and rosters
- DWG KIA - Woogiman, RIN, coted, CATsang, yass, HoundBird (Coach), EroSA (Assistant Coach)
- Talon Esports - AzzyyyS, Soldier, Kanos, Demic, h3dy, saeyeora (Substitute) zelgadiss (Coach), DongUk (Coach)
- CYCLOPS athlete gaming - Anitun, SuzuC, Gatorada, Ayagator, BlackRay, Fuji3 (Coach), Hybrid (Analyst)
- SANDBOX Gaming - EnvyTaylor, Static, SyAIL, Harp3rXD, GoodBoy, Nova (Coach)
- Dire Wolves - JackyWu, Pikan, Ed, Souffle, HARAM3E, Odin (Coach)
- Elevate - Onigiri, Sapper, DCH, MrPuncH, markshortboyz, DrBestsiaer (Coach)
- Chiefs ESC - Dgtl, Worthy, Ethan, Boydy, bouncinballz, Todd (Coach), Hell (Analyst)
- Knights - Jsh, Juicy, Sageon, Stigs, Quiz, Pikniq (Coach), Sketchy (Analyst)
Notable exclusions from the list include the fresh Invictus Gaming with its new roster, which finished sixth in APAC South. Fnatic, which ditched their Australian team for the old GUTS Gaming lineup in Japan but ended a dismal eighth in APAC North, is also absent.
South Asian teams are also absent, as they no longer have as clear a road to a Major as they had in 2021. Instead, they must win promotion to the APAC South Division as well in the APAC Relegations before competing for APAC Playoff and Major spots as APAC South teams.
Rainbow Six Siege APAC 2022 Playoffs Stage 1 Format
Via Ubisoft
The 2022 APAC Playoffs format, an all-BO3 double-elimination bracket, has three important alterations from the 2021 playoffs.
The first and most significant change is that teams who finish first in APAC North and South no longer qualify directly to the Major. Instead, they must compete in the APAC Playoffs as well. Their first-place finishes, however, provide them a significant advantage, as both teams receive a first-round bye through to the Upper Bracket semi finals, putting them one BO3 win away from the Major.
Second, the APAC Playoffs will now take place across six days, divided into three weeks of two play days each, rather than three days over one weekend
SI Points and Prize Pool
Each team that qualifies for the Charlotte Major receives 225 SI Points. In addition, they will get $10,000, $5,000, $2,000, and $1,000 from the APAC Playoffs, from highest to lowest seed. More SI Points and prize money can be earned depending on where you finish in the Major.
Meanwhile, the teams finishing fifth through eighth in the APAC Playoffs will get 225, 180, 140, and 115 SI Points, with no prize money.
Upper Quarter-Finals schedule & betting odds
The two upcoming matches will kick-start the tournament. Teams that are highlighted in bold have the odds in favour. You can click on the dates to take yourself directly to the detailed match page, and watch the matches as they play out live.
- CYCLOPS vs. Elevate (April 20, 2022 - 10:00 CEST) 2.20 vs. 1.60
- Chiefs EC vs. Talon Esports (April 20, 2022 - 13:15 CEST) 1.45 vs. 2.50
What to watch?
Korean Dominance
Since 2021, Korea has performed admirably. DWG KIA began with an excellent group stage performance at the Mexico Major and then became the closest APAC team to a grand final berth at any international tournament. Along with them, SANDBOX reached the quarter-finals of the Sweden Major and competed at SI 2022.
At this point, CAG was the only non-Korean team among the top four in APAC South. However, with the APAC South clubs in the mix, the APAC Playoffs might be a different thing. Talon may capitalise on their impressive Stage 1 form and make their worldwide debut if they push harder. It is still expected from both DWG and SANDBOX to make it to another Major.
Fresh faces into the mix
Only CAG and DWG KIA have not changed their lineups from the Sweden Major and SI 2022 out of the eight teams participating. Talon is now the only team that has remained constant since Stage 3 in 2021, however they are yet to make their international debut.
Dire Wolves and Knights are also attempting to make their international debuts. The latter had qualified for the Mexico Major in 2021 yet was unable to attend due to unforeseen reasons, but now they include a returning Riley "Stigs" Mills, and Dire Wolves' 2022 lineup includes a promising very promising rookie Chih-Kang "HARAM3E" Huang,
It is not only Knights that are proceeding with new rookies. SANDBOX features intriguing new youthful talent Jiheon "GoodBoy" Lee, who debuted in the stage's last match after turning 18 years old, as well as an elder Sihun "Nova" Lee coaching the team with his years of experience.
Dire Wolves are on a streak
Dire Wolves have gone a long way after their rough first season as Electrify Esports in 2020. The Taiwanese team had just escaped from the jaws of relegation at the time, but had a good 2021 season, almost qualified for SI 2022 despite a sloppy set of qualifications, and have since gone 7-0-0-0 in Stage 1 of the 2022 season.
HARAM3E, their latest signing, is doing really well in support positions. He has the lowest rating on this squad, although it's just a 1.00. DW are therefore the only team in both APAC competitions to have all players rated 1.00 or above, and the only team in all top-tier leagues to do so, aside from Team Liquid. It is highly probable that they will make it to the Charlotte Major, and they are expected to dominate the APAC Playoffs Stage 1.
