paiN Gaming’s difficult second half of 2026 has taken another worrying turn after in-game leader Rodrigo “biguzera” Bittencourt openly questioned the level of trust inside the roster.
The comments came after paiN were eliminated from BLAST Open Porto by Natus Vincere. The Brazilian side had built a 10-2 lead on Mirage before losing control of the map, extending a run in which paiN have won just one of their last six matches.
paiN let a 10-2 Mirage lead disappear
The defeat against NAVI was particularly damaging because paiN had placed themselves in a commanding position.
They led Mirage 10-2 at one stage, but failed to convert the advantage. biguzera said afterward that nerves may have played a role and pointed to poor communication and weak calls as possible reasons for the collapse.
- paiN led NAVI 10-2 on Mirage
- The Brazilian side still lost the map and series
- biguzera cited nerves and communication problems
- paiN have now won only one of their last six matches
The loss therefore reinforced concerns that go beyond simple aim or individual form.
biguzera believes the larger problem is that paiN are no longer showing the same trust in each other during official matches.
Trust has become the central concern
When asked about paiN’s poor run, biguzera admitted he did not have a clear solution.
He said the team sometimes suffers from bad communication, over-communication and questionable calls, but repeatedly returned to the issue of trust. According to the IGL, this feeling has appeared in multiple recent matches rather than only against NAVI.
That distinction matters because tactical problems can often be addressed directly in practice. A lack of confidence between teammates is more difficult to solve, especially during high-pressure rounds where players need to commit instantly to a call.
| paiN situation | Current picture |
|---|---|
| Recent form | One win in six matches |
| Latest opponent | Natus Vincere |
| Mirage lead | 10-2 |
| Main issue raised | Lack of trust and communication |
| Next steps | Qualifiers, then return to Brazil |
biguzera also made clear that the problem is not simply the recent win-loss record. For him, the quality of Counter-Strike paiN are currently producing is the bigger concern.
Roster questions are starting to appear
The team’s poor performances have inevitably raised questions about whether the current lineup can remain together.
biguzera acknowledged that those thoughts do cross the players’ minds. However, he stressed that roster decisions should ultimately be handled by the coaching staff and management rather than becoming the players’ main focus during tournaments.
paiN’s current lineup consists of:
- biguzera
- vsm
- piriajr
- saffee
- snow
Henrique “rikz” Waku currently serves as coach. The core has remained together for much of the year, although the team made a change at the AWP position earlier in the season.
For biguzera, the immediate priority remains improving the team’s play rather than speculating about replacements.
European competition exposes paiN’s problems
paiN will remain in Europe for another week to play upcoming qualifiers before returning to Brazil.
biguzera said playing in Europe offers tougher opposition and more intensive practice, but also creates different pressures compared with competing at home.
In Brazil, paiN generally face weaker teams, while European events regularly place them against elite opposition such as NAVI. The trade-off is that returning home also brings more distractions through family and everyday life, meaning the team must find a balance between comfort and competitive focus.
That context makes the current slump especially important. paiN have access to high-level practice and international competition, but are struggling to turn that environment into stable tournament results.
BLAST Porto exit extends difficult run
The latest defeat continues a period that has quickly erased some of paiN’s earlier momentum.
The team had shown promise by qualifying for the BLAST Bounty Season 2 Finals, but performances since then have deteriorated. HLTV notes that paiN have managed only a single victory across their last six attempts.
The problem is therefore becoming harder to dismiss as a short-term dip.
When a team repeatedly loses large leads and the IGL publicly questions internal trust, the issue becomes structural rather than simply statistical.
Assessment
paiN’s current situation is concerning because biguzera is not describing one isolated tactical mistake.
Communication problems, questionable calls and lost confidence have apparently started reinforcing each other. That can create a cycle where players hesitate, second-guess decisions and become even less willing to trust the next call.
The collapse from 10-2 against NAVI is a clear example of what that looks like under pressure.
There is still time for paiN to recover, especially with qualifiers ahead and a return to Brazil approaching. However, if the same problems continue after additional practice and tournament reps, roster discussions will likely become harder to avoid.
For now, the biggest challenge is rebuilding trust inside the server. Without that, tactical improvements alone may not be enough to stabilize paiN’s season.
