Despite concerns with COVID-19 the Rainbow 6 Seige invitational is set to take place in 2021. The event has been moved from Montreal where it has traditionally been held and is set to begin on February 9th in Paris, France. 

The event is set to feature 20 twenty teams from across four regions and will be the first cross-regional competition since 2020. Due to COVID-19's massive effects on the Rainbow Six Esports scene, several well-known teams will not be in attendance. Reciprocity, Evil Geniuses, United, Luminosity, and Tempo Storm all left the scene this year leaving their rosters ineligible for the event.

https://twitter.com/R6esports/status/1351211720388341763

Concerns for player safety have been made a priority for the event. Live audiences will not be permitted in the venue and Rainbow Six Esports have taken other precautions as well. "For the past few months, we have been tirelessly working with our partner Live Nation, the health and safety agency ACEPS, the medical assistance agency ISMA and the French Government, in order to develop a controlled, safe and competitive offline environment in line with the guidelines of the health organizations and local authorities," they said in a press release about the event.

It has also been recommended that players isolate for seven days before traveling. Players will also need to have a negative COVID-19 test 72 hours prior to traveling to Paris to be allowed in by local authorities. With the recent discovery of a more dangerous fast-spreading variant of COVID-19 being found in France recently, there is the possibility that health regulations may be tightened even further before the event begins.

https://twitter.com/R6esports/status/1290550778265042944

The prize pool has started at $500,000 for the event but could reach up to $3 million as 30% of revenue from the Road to S.I. 2021 Battle Pass contributes to the prize pool. Rainbow Six Esports has also promised there will be special Twitch drops for the game in the lead-up to the event as well as during the event itself. 

The group stage for the event begins on February 9th with the playoffs beginning February 17th. A special Invitational Show Match will take place on February 21st with a $50,000 charity prize.

https://www.ubisoft.com/en-us/esports/rainbow-six/siege/news-updates/2CMpCb5vw6Xoal95r5h59K