The BLAST R6 Major is the UK’s first S tier Siege event. We got to speak to host Iain Chambers during the second semi finals game about hosting in the UK, preferring the north and supporting BDS.
Andrew: This time we’re joined by our illustrious host. This is UK’s first Siege event.
Iain: Crazy. Like, I’ve literally, before I came up here to talk to you I just got off the stage and with the crowd and stuff, and there was high expectations coming off the back of SI in Brazil. That was the biggest and best, arguably, crowd of all time in Siege history.
They just rocked the place, and I was a little bit nervous, like “oh, man, Manchester, we’re finally doing it in the UK home crowd. Please do us proud”. And they’ve just gone above and beyond. They’re so creative, super loud, and the acoustics in here are nuts.
Andrew: The vibes have been insane. Like, the UK crowd never really disappoints. And the French being here, France are always so massive on the esports stuff.
Iain: That’s one thing I want, and I’ve heard rumors. You never know if it’s going to happen. But a big event in France would be pretty sick, wouldn’t it? Because we know that the esports fans over there for other stuff we’ve seen there is super, ultra passionate. So I’d love to see a Siege event over there.
Andrew: Yeah, I think it would be sick. A bunch of the players have been saying Japan but, like, France would be sick. I love seeing events in EU, especially, like you said, France, they support esports so much. I want to see the UK do more.
Iain: Me too.
Credit: @R6Esports / Adela Sznajder
Andrew: So you’re obviously UK native.
Iain: Well, actually, Hull is about an hour and 45 minutes away driving. That’s where I grew up, right on the east coast. Humber Bridge. You might have heard of it. It’s one of the best bridges in the world. But I live in London now. But whenever I go there, that’s home.
My mum and dad are coming to the grand final on Sunday. My dad’s never seen an event, so they’re making the drive up tomorrow, so I’m really excited for that. But yeah, that’s my home city.
Iain: Ah, northerners are friendlier. We just, you know, I think we’re a little bit more approachable and, dare I say, huggable. But yeah, I love the south just for things to do and, you know, I love being in London for work because, you know, toss of a coin, you can end up absolutely anywhere doing anything.
So yeah, I’d say, don’t get me wrong, the south, I love you, but I’m a northern boy. Manchester’s become like a media hub though, hasn’t it, now?
Andrew: Yeah, like a second city. Don’t talk about Birmingham.
Iain: Well, I don’t even know what that is. What’s Birmingham? I’m kidding.
Andrew: But you’ve been pretty publicly a BDS fan down in the crowd.
Credit: Joao Ferreira / Ubisoft
Iain: It’s funny, I come to these events and I have, like, an idea in mind of who I’m supporting. You know, coming out of Sao Paulo, the SI event, they really adopted me as, like, a Brazilian. So my Twitter and my social media was just going crazy with all these Brazilians saying like “we love you, Iain” and all this. So then…
I became a big Liquid fan. So I was supporting Liquid, then they dropped out, and now I’m like, am I back to BDS?
But then I like this Gunnar guy of beastcoast who’s onstage swearing and, like, super out there and I’m loving it. So I think no matter what, we’ll end up with a good final.
I think it’d be amazing if BDS make it just for the fans but yeah, it’d be rude not to support BDS. I’m going BDS.
Iain: I’m gonna go for that BDS, the first BDS secret game, just because for me, that was when it all started to kick off. Because for me, when I get to an event and it starts and I get the energy going through the butterflies and all that stuff and seeing the crowd start to buy in and react.
Yes, it was two EU teams, but it was when the event really came to life. So I’m going to go BDS Secret the first quarterfinal.
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