The Formation of a Superteam

The early years of Rainbow Six Siege were defined by European dominance, with Europe ruling from mid-2017 through 2019, with just one exception at a Season Final.

But in the middle of the downturn, when it seemed like Europe would always struggle internationally, a roster began to take shape that would eventually put France at the top of the world.

French wonderkid Shaiiko was so dominant that he would eventually be blackballed from the competitive scene over suspicions of cheating. Alongside him was former console player and longtime pro BriD. Together, the two would become the foundation of a roster that would remain competitive for years to come.

Renshiro, RaFaLe, and Elemzje completed the lineup, forming the French squad that would make a name for themself at the very first Gamers8 tournament.

And this was the moment the French finally reached the mountaintop.

Excellence with an Asterisk

Going into Jönköping just a few months later, BDS had made a change, bringing in LikEfac in place of RaFaLe. With a new piece in place, the French squad looked to keep their winning streak alive this time on European soil.

After a hard-fought tournament, BDS emerged as the champions of their first Ubisoft event, marking Europe’s return to the top of the global mountain.

Over the next two years, the roster would continue to evolve. Renshiro and Elemzje would eventually make way for Solotov and Yuzus, as BDS looked to build on their success. The changes came after a second Gamers8 title, but two middle-of-the-pack Major finishes left questions about just how dominant this team could truly become.

Those questions would soon be answered.

In Manchester and Montreal, the new-look BDS proved they belonged among the best in the world, finishing as Major runners-up at both events. In between those two finals, they claimed their third Gamers8 title, now known as the Esports World Cup.

But despite the consistency, the ultimate prize remained just out of reach.

After another second-place finish at SI25, reality began to set in for BDS. Could this roster really be considered one of the greatest of all time with just one Ubisoft event title and a handful of EWC championships?

With the team's future no longer set in stone, a new force entered the picture.

Esports powerhouse Team Falcons.

Money Can’t Buy Championships

Backed by Saudi oil money, Team Falcons made one thing clear from the start: they weren’t afraid to spend. Players, coaches, staff Falcons were willing to pay whatever it took to build a superteam.

But as we’ve seen time and time again in traditional sports, stacking the biggest names doesn’t always guarantee the biggest results. Just look at the 2003 Lakers or Real Madrid’s Galácticos. Sometimes, too many stars can hurt more than they help.

After winning EML but falling short in Munich, SI26 felt like the final opportunity for Falcons to prove they were worth their weight in gold.

Instead, history repeated itself.

Falcons fell 0–2 in the semifinals, finishing third once again.

Then came the headline that shook the EML.

Shaiiko, the cornerstone of this team from the very beginning, would leave for G2, with Team Secret standout Jume stepping in as his replacement.

But the change failed to spark a turnaround. Falcons stumbled through lackluster finishes in Salt Lake City and at EWC26, leaving the so-called superteam facing more questions than ever.

Now, the Falcons dynasty sits at a crossroads.

As more teams add EWC titles to their trophy cabinets and Falcons' Major victory grows further into the past, their claim to the throne becomes harder and harder to defend.

For Falcons, this may be the moment that decides whether their dynasty continues or whether it was never a dynasty at all.