In this all-Brazilian clash at the BLAST.tv Austin Major playoffs, FURIA and paiN face off — two teams with different trajectories but the same goal. FURIA enters the match in peak form, while paiN have already surprised many during the group stage and are looking to do it again. Who will come out on top in this best-of-three series? We analyze the teams’ current form, potential map pool, and key factors of the matchup.
Current Form
FURIA enters the playoffs in excellent shape. Over the last three months, they’ve played 50 maps and won 26. Recently, they placed top 4 at PGL Astana 2025 and top 12 at IEM Dallas. Additionally, they are on a five-match winning streak, defeating VP, Aurora, The MongolZ, B8, and M80. In the third stage of the BLAST.tv Austin Major, FURIA advanced from their group with a flawless 3-0 record.
paiN, despite a modest overall win rate — only 15 wins in 41 maps over the past three months — managed to reach the playoffs, showing resilience and composure in decisive matches. They placed 3rd–5th in the second stage of the tournament, with victories over VP, 3DMAX, and Nemiga. However, they lost to G2 and Spirit, revealing some inconsistency against top-tier teams.
“There’s a lot of pressure on paiN’s shoulders. For many of their players, this will be their first time playing on a major stage — and against the favorite Brazilian team. Unless the American crowd gets behind them as underdogs, it’ll be a very tough match.” — peacemaker
Previous Encounters Between the Teams
The teams have already faced each other over the past two years. At the Perfect World Shanghai Major 2024, they played a best-of-three series where FURIA came out on top with a 2–1 victory. Additionally, during Stage 2 of the same Major, paiN defeated FURIA on Dust2 with a close 13–11 scoreline.
So, looking at their past meetings, the chances appear evenly matched — but only one team will emerge as the winner this time.
Map Pool
First ban: Both teams usually avoid Ancient, so it’s highly likely this map will be removed first by one side.
Picks:
- FURIA has strong win rates on Dust2 (70%) and Train (67%). Given their recent loss on Dust2 to paiN, they might opt for Train to avoid repeating past mistakes.
- paiN tends to adapt to their opponent’s weaknesses and will likely choose Nuke or Mirage, based on their balanced win rates and the potential to disrupt FURIA’s structure.
Second ban: One of the less comfortable maps will be removed — likely Inferno or Anubis.
Decider: In this scenario, Dust2 seems the most likely deciding map — a classic battleground in Brazilian derbies, frequently played and favored by both teams.
Predicted map veto:
- FURIA ban Ancient
- paiN ban Anubis
- FURIA pick Train
- paiN pick Nuke
- FURIA ban Mirage
- paiN ban Inferno
- Decider: Dust2
Head-to-Head and Key Players
The teams have already faced each other once at this tournament in a best-of-one match. paiN came out on top with a narrow 13:11 win on Dust2, showing disciplined play and the ability to exploit FURIA’s weaknesses.
This upcoming series could be decided by the AWPers. molodoy, a recent addition to FURIA, has been one of the standout performers of the tournament with a 1.36 rating. On the other side, nqz from paiN has also been solid, posting a 1.16 rating and stepping up in crucial moments. Their duel could play a pivotal role in the outcome of this match.
“There’s a massive gap in experience. YEKINDAR has played on big stages with Liquid and Virtus.pro. paiN’s standout, decenty, is talented but has never been in an environment like this. Unless nqz steps up and dictates the game, I don’t see how they stop YEKINDAR.” — peacemaker
Match Prediction
FURIA has shown more stability and consistency throughout the tournament. Their high win rate on key maps, recent wins over strong teams, and the individual form of players like molodoy make them clear favorites.
paiN has proven they can challenge strong opponents, but their inconsistency and limited experience in playoff scenarios could be a hurdle.
“In my eyes, it’s a 70–30 matchup in favor of FURIA. I don’t see a single map where paiN can heavily punish them. Even on Mirage — where paiN beat Virtus.pro — FURIA just destroyed VP on that same map.” — peacemaker
Prediction: FURIA to win 2–1. We expect a close contest on the first and third maps, but FURIA’s deeper map pool and individual firepower should give them the edge.
