After a standout performance at BLAST.tv Austin Major 2025, where paiN finished among the top four, expectations for the Brazilian squad were high. However, at FISSURE Playground 1, the team looked significantly weaker, exiting early after two consecutive losses. The contrast in results raised questions about paiN’s readiness for upcoming top-tier challenges — especially with IEM Cologne 2025 just around the corner. Team captain Rodrigo “biguzera” Bittencourt shared his perspective in an interview with HLTV.
paiN show a stark contrast to the Major where they beat FURIA
paiN Gaming delivered one of their best performances in recent history at the Austin Major, reaching the playoffs and pulling off a surprise victory against FURIA, who were favored in that matchup. However, they were later eliminated by The MongolZ. At FISSURE Playground 1, their form dropped — after an opening win over Rare Atom, they suffered defeats to Lynn Vision and 3DMAX, leading to an early exit from the tournament.
biguzera: “We need to focus and be more professional”
Following the elimination, team leader Rodrigo “biguzera” Bittencourt reflected on the team’s state in his HLTV interview. He admitted that their preparation after the player break was far from ideal:
“We only practiced for four days before the tournament. But we can’t keep using jet lag and fatigue as excuses. We’re Brazilians — we have to be more professional.”
He also emphasized the need to balance emotional recovery with professional commitment:
“We chose the emotional side — to give ourselves more rest. But now we need to work intensively to look better in Cologne.”
Despite the setback, biguzera remains confident:
“We have the roster to return to the level we showed at the Major. What we’re missing is the desire.”
Major vs warm-up: what went wrong for paiN?
paiN’s underwhelming run at FISSURE Playground 1 feels puzzling when compared to their strong showing at the Major. One explanation lies in their lack of preparation after the break. In Austin, the team was in top shape and full of energy. In Serbia, they came in relaxed and physically unprepared.
Another factor could be the emotional comedown after the Major. Reaching the semifinals might have given the team a false sense of security. Meanwhile, teams like 3DMAX came into the tournament fighting for every round, while paiN were still finding their rhythm.
Match vs Liquid — paiN’s first Cologne test
Next up for paiN is a major challenge: IEM Cologne 2025, one of the year’s premier events. In their opening match, they’ll face Team Liquid, and this clash will be a true test of whether paiN can bounce back after their early exit in Serbia. Following the disappointment at FISSURE Playground 1, there’s no room for error — they must prove that their Major run was no fluke.
