Before the start of the Six Invitational 2025 group stage, we had the chance to speak with FURIA Esports player Felipe "FelipoX" Lucia. In an interview for Bo3.gg, the professional player discussed the team's preparation for the upcoming event as reigning champions, the popularity of Rainbow Six Siege, and the importance of the Brazilian scene for the discipline.

The Invitational 2025 feels like a huge event, especially for pro players. I wasn't following the scene closely before, but now I’m really excited to see new lineups and, of course, your team as the reigning champions. How are you feeling emotionally as the tournament approaches?

The Six Invitational is the biggest tournament in Rainbow Six. I like to call it a celebration of Siege that happens once a year. For the players, it’s an honor to compete. It was always my dream before I turned pro. This year, it feels even bigger because we’re defending our title, which adds extra weight for us.

Does that extra pressure affect you? Have you worked on it with a psychologist or a coach? Like in metalworking, some pressure is necessary to create strength, but too much can cause everything to collapse.

As the reigning champions, there’s definitely pressure. But since we didn’t qualify for the last Major, I don’t think we’re the favorites this time. If you ask people in the scene, most would say W7M, who won the last Major, or BDS, the runners-up, are the favorites. So, while we feel the weight of defending our title, we’re not under as much external pressure.

It's been a year since your victory, and a lot has happened. In terms of your own firepower, where do you see yourself now? Obviously, every team competes to win, but do you have a minimum goal that would make you feel satisfied with your performance?

I’ve never placed outside the top four at the Six Invitational, so that’s the minimum for me.

Are there any teams you'd prefer to avoid during the tournament?

No, not really. If you want to be a champion, you can’t choose your opponents.

Tell me about your preparation. How much time did you spend at bootcamp, and what did your training look like?

Since we didn’t qualify for the last Major, we had a long break during that time. We started preparing for the Six Invitational in December and trained throughout December and January. Today, we’re actually traveling to Los Angeles for a 10-day bootcamp before heading to the tournament. So, in total, we’ve had almost two months of preparation.

Do you have specific goals for this bootcamp in LA, or is it more general preparation?

It’s all-around preparation. The main goal is to practice against teams from North America and Europe, as we've mostly been scrimming Brazilian teams. At some point, playing against the same teams becomes repetitive.

R6 is unique in that the year starts with one of its biggest tournaments. After winning the Invitational last year, how did you cope with missing out on Atlanta? Did you consider roster changes, or did you take another approach?

It was really tough not qualifying for Montreal. We had been competing in every tournament for over a year and making deep runs, so missing out on a Major was a big setback. We had a lot of discussions about what went wrong and what needed to change, but we ultimately decided not to make roster changes. We believed in our team and realized that we were creating problems where there weren’t any.

So you were overthinking it?

Yeah, exactly.

As the in-game leader, did you feel extra responsibility for the team’s struggles? I can relate—I’m an editor-in-chief, and when my team has a bad month, I feel like I’ve let them down. Did you reflect on your own leadership and make changes to your calling style?

Of course, as IGL, I feel responsible. But I also know that putting too much pressure on myself wouldn’t help. I worked closely with my coach to manage stress and made some adjustments to my calling style and strategies.

Many people don’t like to talk about this, but I find it helpful to discuss work frustrations with my family. They may not understand all the details, but they can still provide support. Do you do something similar?

Yeah, I completely agree. Talking to people outside of esports helps bring a different perspective. I talk to my parents a lot about my job, and we also have a team psychologist who helps me deal with stress.

Any advice your parents have given you?

Not to overthink too much.

That seems to be a recurring theme in this interview. One last question about Brazil League—would you call your rivalry with W7M poetic justice? Last year, you played against them at the Invitational, then switched teams, and at the end of the year, they knocked you out. Does it feel personal, or is it just another match?

It’s just another match. In the first stage, we sent them to the Last Chance Qualifier, and at the end of the year, they sent us there. So, we’re even. If we meet at this Invitational, we’ll see who the better team is.

As far as I know, the group stage matchups haven’t been announced yet, right?

No, not yet.

Unfortunate.

Well, we’ll play against everyone anyway.

You mentioned W7M and BDS as the most dangerous teams. From a fan’s perspective, they seem like clear favorites. Are there any underrated teams that could be a real threat?

Yeah, I’d say Team Secret. They’ve been qualifying for every tournament for over a year now, and I think they’re a dangerous and underestimated team in our group. Another one might be Team JOEL. They were Bleed before, and they come from APAC. They’re pretty strong too.

Let’s talk about your role as an in-game leader. Leadership can be frustrating at times, but it can also be incredibly rewarding. What do you enjoy most about being an IGL?

What I enjoy most is the responsibility. Of course, I take the blame when we lose, but when we win, it feels even more rewarding. I also love implementing my own style and vision of the game. Everything goes through me, and I like that.

How would you describe your leadership style?

In one word—versatile.

So, you’re not the strict, authoritarian type of captain?

No, not at all. Far from it.

Do you ever have those big motivational speeches before important matches?

Yeah, I do, but most of the pre-game talks come from our coach. He’s really good at them.

After the season ended, you had a break over Christmas and New Year. How did you spend that time?

We trained throughout December and only took a break for Christmas and New Year's. I had about 10 days off—I visited my family in my hometown, spent time with friends, and went to the beach. By January 3rd, I was back to work.

What do you love most about Siege? You've spent so much time playing—what keeps you engaged?

The complexity.

What makes it so rewarding, aside from tournament prize money?

It’s a tactical FPS like Counter-Strike, but with around 70 operators, each with unique abilities. This allows for endless strategies, and you're always seeing something new. That’s what keeps it fun.

You've been grinding for months, with only about 10 days of rest. Aren’t you worried about burnout?

It's a fine balance. But after missing the Montreal Major, we had almost a month away from the game, which helped us reset. After that break, we were really hungry to improve and get a good result at the Six Invitational.

During that time, you played in the BR Premier Finals and lost to FaZe in the grand final. Did that tournament highlight areas you needed to improve, or was it more of a testing ground?

It was more of a testing ground. We had just come off a three-week break, and we used the tournament to try out new things. It showed us that we were on the right track.

When I started learning about R6, I was surprised by how strong the South American scene is. Counter-Strike has always been big there, but why do you think Siege is so popular in Brazil?

Brazil is a Siege powerhouse. We have so many talented players coming up every year, more than in North America or even Europe. We even have Brazilian players in G2 now. I don’t know why Brazil is so good at Siege, but I’m glad we are.

You had the chance to get revenge on W7M. Was that match a defining moment for you, or is it not something you dwell on?

Like I said, we’re even this year—they won once, we won once. If we face each other at the Six Invitational, it’ll be about proving who’s the better team.

I actually meant to focus on a different match. Some people believe that losing a final before a major tournament can be a good thing—it exposes areas for improvement and keeps the team hungry for victory. Did losing that final highlight anything you needed to fix?

Yeah, as I mentioned, the Premier Finals were more of a testing ground for us. But you're right—if we had won, we might have overlooked certain issues. Losing made it clear that we still had things to improve.

Any specific weaknesses you noticed?

Our play against shields wasn’t great, but we had already identified that problem before the Premier Finals.

Players often switch rosters between seasons, but you've been with this team for quite a while. What makes you so committed to this lineup?

I believe in roster stability. Before joining this team, I was with the same roster for three years. In my view, making frequent changes isn’t good unless absolutely necessary. When I joined, I knew we had a strong team and that we’d stick together for a long time. Now it’s been almost two years, and I still believe my teammates are among the best in their roles. I don’t see any reason for changes.

I wasn’t asking about roster changes—it’s clear you enjoy playing together. I just saw a clip of you winning a tournament, and the pure joy on your faces was unmatched. My question was more about the team’s chemistry. What do you enjoy most about playing with this group?

We genuinely enjoy playing together, but more than that, we’re friends outside the game. We spend a lot of time together, and I think that’s what creates such a strong atmosphere.

Can you share something about each teammate that fans might not know?

Well, Jv92 is just crazy.

In what way?

I don’t know how to describe it—he’s just unique. I’ve never met anyone like him.

Any specific stories from bootcamps that come to mind?

Oh, there are plenty, but I can’t share some of them here!

Okay, maybe not about JV, but do you have a heartwarming memory from bootcamp—just five guys enjoying time together?

Yeah, when we were in Manchester for the Major last year, we went to a Manchester United game at Old Trafford. It was a dream for all of us to see a Premier League match. On the train ride back, we were exhausted, but we started singing Brazilian songs in the empty train. Just five guys from Brazil, in the UK, having a great time.

I’m guessing there are a few stories you can’t share.

Oh yeah, I have better ones, but I definitely can’t tell them here.

Too much alcohol and too much Coke, huh? Alright, keep your secrets. By the way, since you’re from Brazil, I assume you're a football fan?

Yeah.

Do your teammates support different clubs?

Yeah, everyone supports a different team.

Which team do you support?

São Paulo.

Why São Paulo?

Our coach and Nate support Santos, but everyone has a different team because we all come from different regions of Brazil.

If you had to compare your team to a football club in terms of mentality, results, and overall vibe, which one comes to mind?

We are like Real Madrid. Because we’ve won everything together, and they’re the greatest football club.

I’m sure a lot of people would disagree. I was a longtime Barcelona fan, by the way.

Yeah, I get it. I actually like Barcelona more than Real Madrid, but come on, Madrid is bigger.

I used to enjoy football more when Barcelona was at the top—Ronaldinho, Shevchenko in Milan… those were the days.

Yeah, I was just a kid back then.

Alright, let’s start wrapping up. You’ve played for different teams, but what do you enjoy most about being with FURIA? Is it the management, the environment?

FURIA is the best team I’ve ever played for. They’re the biggest, for sure. The environment, the office where we train, the staff—it’s all great. Anytime we have a problem, they’re quick to find solutions and support us. I really want to bring them a world championship.