Attention gamers: A major esports event is in Raleigh this week. And, even though VIP and general admission tickets are sold out, the public can still experience some of it.
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The 2019 Six Major Raleigh runs through Sunday, Aug. 18, at the Raleigh Convention Center, and features Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Siege, an online tactical shooter video game that's developed by Ubisoft, which has offices in the Triangle.
As the second largest Rainbow Six esports event of the year, the Six Major Raleigh gathers sixteen of the best Rainbow Six teams from around the world to compete for a prize pool of $500,000, according to a press release from the Greater Raleigh Convention and Visitors Bureau. The group stage phase runs through Wednesday, Aug. 14. Then, the eight qualifying teams will face off during the Six Major Raleigh's final phase from Friday, Aug. 16 to Sunday, Aug. 18.
Unfortunately, unless you've already bought your tickets, you won't be able to watch the show and competition. But, this Saturday, Aug. 17, and Sunday, Aug. 18. there will be a non-ticketed, open-to-the-public, interactive experience inside the convention center.
The convention and visitors bureau tells me that the public will find:
- a Ubisoft Store with merchandise on sale.
- Acer and HyperX interactive booths with gameplay and demos.
- Meet-and-greet areas with professional esports players and influencers.
- A Rainbow Six Siege preview area with the latest game updates and operators before the global reveal.
- Cosplay.
- A community art wall.
- An artist row with in-game character face painting, custom caricature drawings and other activities.
Ubisoft will also hold a job recruitment fair open to the public at the Raleigh Convention Center during the tournament. The convention center is at 500 S. Salisbury St. in downtown Raleigh.