The Brazilian team paiN Gaming continues their run at the BLAST.tv Austin Major 2025, taking down Belarusian squad Nemiga 2–1 in a do-or-die match. After losing the opening map, paiN managed to regroup and convincingly close out the next two. Meanwhile, Nemiga exit the tournament with a 0–3 record and no wins in a single Best-of-3.
Match Timeline
Ancient — Nemiga’s pick, Nemiga’s win (13:8)
Nemiga started strong on their map pick. On Ancient, the Belarusian side showed confident play in both halves. riskyboB and Xant3r led the charge, winning crucial duels, while paiN failed to impose their aggressive style on either side. A shocking start for the Brazilians — 0:1 in the series.
Anubis — paiN strike back on their map (13:8)
Anubis saw a much more structured paiN. The team played with clarity, composure, and purpose — especially nqz and dav1deuS, who consistently opened up rounds and maintained control of the map. Nemiga struggled to keep pace and looked lost; their inability to adapt became a major liability.
Dust2 — dominant from start to finish (13:7)
On the decider, Dust2, paiN were in full control. They secured 7 rounds on T-side and confidently locked down the map after switching to defense. nqz shined with the AWP, dav1deuS once again anchored the team, and Nemiga looked flat, losing even basic trades.
Player Stats Overview
paiN played with confidence and cohesion. The dgt–snow duo provided excellent support, while biguzera made key plays in clutch moments. On the Nemiga side, only riskyboB maintained a respectable level of play — most others failed to withstand the pressure of the Major.
Tactical Breakdown
After their poor showing on Ancient, paiN made the right adjustments: they approached Anubis with controlled aggression, seized early-round initiative, and used timing effectively. Nemiga, in contrast, struggled with macro-level decision-making — their rotations were late, and their structure collapsed entirely by Dust2.
Nemiga: toothless attacks and lack of synergy
Nemiga’s performance reflected their ongoing struggles at the event. Despite having a solid map pool, they failed to execute a coherent strategy. While Ancient looked decent, the team quickly lost control in the second and third maps. Their attack on Dust2 was completely ineffective. riskyboB was the only consistent performer, while players like 1eeR and khaN fell short in both aim and positioning. Poor rotations, lost clutches, and missed timing — Nemiga end their Major campaign 0–3 without showing any real competitive edge.
paiN stay alive with a 1–2 record and now prepare for another elimination match. The team showed they can adapt and bounce back after a tough start. Nemiga, on the other hand, exit the BLAST.tv Major winless, and will need to seriously reevaluate both their lineup and their approach to high-level tournament preparation.
