In an unexpected move, Brazilian esports team paiN Gaming has made significant changes to its Counter-Strike 2 roster. This decision comes after a series of disappointing performances, marking a pivotal moment for the team as they prepare for future competitions.
paiN Gaming has benched David ‘dav1deuS’ Tapia and Franco ‘dgt’ Garcia following their Stage 3 exit at the StarLadder Budapest Major 2025. Failing to qualify for the playoffs has prompted this shake-up in the team lineup.
The Rise and Fall of paiN Gaming
After a promising start with a top-four finish at the BLAST.tv Austin Major, paiN Gaming seemed poised for a successful year. However, their momentum faltered, with struggles to deliver the same results in other Tier 1 tournaments. Unsuccessful attempts to reach the playoffs in the BLAST Open London, combined with early exits in both IEM Cologne 2025 and IEM Chengdu 2025, caused a significant drop in their Valve Regional Standings, descending to 15th globally by December.
Recent Challenges at Major Tournaments
In the second half of 2025, paiN Gaming aimed for a comeback with a semi-final spot at BLAST Rivals Fall 2025, hoping this would set the stage for future success. Entering Stage 3 of the Major, they secured a win against 3DMAX but were later defeated by G2 Esports, NAVI, and suffered a decisive 2-0 loss to B8 in round four. These results concluded their Major campaign with a 1-3 record, earning them $20,000 (~£15,022) in prize money.
Looking Ahead to 2026
With vacancies in their lineup, paiN Gaming is actively seeking new talent to reinforce their squad and regain their competitive edge seen earlier in the year. As the esports scene anticipates the start of the 2026 season, teams, including paiN Gaming, are expected to announce roster changes. The upcoming season will kick off with the BLAST Bounty Winter from January 13th to 28th, setting the stage for a fresh start in the competitive calendar.