SAW return to a fully Portuguese lineup

<h2>After four months of experimenting with an English-speaking roster, SAW have officially closed the international chapter and shifted their focus back to a native Portuguese core.</h2><p>The team has welcomed two new players from Rhyno — Adones "<a href="/en/players/krazy" target="_self">krazy</a>" Nobre and António "<a href="/en/players/aragornn" target="_self">aragornN</a>" Barbosa. They will replace Jan "<a href="/en/players/cej0t" target="_self">cej0t</a>" Dyl and Oscar "<a href="/en/players/azuwu" target="_self">AZUWU</a>" Bell, who were released in early June following a disappointing run. SAW underperformed at their last two LAN events of the season (IEM Melbourne and MESA Nomadic Masters Spring) and failed to qualify for the Austin Major — a turning point for the organization.</p><p>Notably, aragornN had already appeared in SAW's lineup back in 2023, stepping in for captain Christopher "<a href="/en/players/mutiris" target="_self">MUTiRiS</a>" Fernandes in November when he temporarily left the active roster. As for krazy, he had been part of Rhyno since September 2023 and helped the team reach the grand final of the IESF World Championship 2024 in Riyadh.</p><p>SAW are currently ranked 46th in the global VRS standings, and their updated roster is as follows:</p><ul><li>Christopher "MUTiRiS" Fernandes</li><li>João "<a href="/en/players/story" target="_self">story</a>" Vieira</li><li>André "<a href="/en/players/ag1l" target="_self">Ag1l</a>" Gil</li><li>Adones "krazy" Nobre</li><li>António "aragornN" Barbosa</li></ul>

CS2 News – June 18, 2025

<h2>paiN and Astralis place their trust in their captains and aim for victories in the near future</h2><h3>biguzera extends contract with paiN</h3><p>28-year-old paiN captain Rodrigo "<a target="_self">biguzera</a>" Bittencourt has officially extended his contract with the Brazilian organization he has represented since 2019. The deal was signed during the current tournament, shortly after paiN reached the playoffs of the Austin Major for the first time in their history. The new contract runs through the end of 2026, providing stability and strengthening the team’s position on the international scene.</p><h3>HooXi signs full contract with Astralis</h3><p>Danish in-game leader Rasmus "<a target="_self">HooXi</a>" Nielsen has officially joined Astralis after a successful stint as a stand-in. The organization confirmed he will remain on the roster permanently. Despite recent challenges and rumors of internal restructuring within the CS division, the club expects HooXi’s experience to bring much-needed stability and restore the team's former confidence.</p><h3>What’s next?</h3><p>paiN is preparing for a crucial match against FURIA at the BLAST.tv Austin Major, while Astralis continues to work with their new IGL, hoping to improve their results and climb back up the global rankings. Both teams are betting on their captains to lead and inspire under the pressure of CS2’s competitive scene.</p>

Roster Changes in HEROIC After BLAST.tv Austin Major 2025 Exit

<h2>After a disappointing run at the Austin Major, HEROIC have kicked off a serious roster shake-up.</h2><p><a href="/en/players/xfl0ud" target="_self">xfl0ud</a>&nbsp;has been benched despite showing solid form, making way for&nbsp;<a href="/en/players/nilo" target="_self">nilo</a>, who returns to the active lineup after a period on the sidelines.</p><p>Coach sAw and AWPer&nbsp;<a href="/en/players/sunpayus" target="_self">SunPayus</a>&nbsp;are both leaving the organization to join G2, replacing&nbsp;<a href="/en/players/hades" target="_self">hades</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="/en/players/taz" target="_self">TaZ</a>&nbsp;respectively.</p><p>What’s next? According to reports, Danish coach TOBIZ is expected to take over the coaching role, while young talent&nbsp;<a href="/en/players/gr1ks" target="_self">gr1ks</a>&nbsp;is set to fill the AWPer slot — likely on a full three-year deal.</p><p>The rebuild at HEROIC is in full swing — and this might just be the beginning.</p>

Vitality, FaZe Clan and NaVi — the next playoff contenders at the Austin Major

<h2>The third day of Stage 3 at the BLAST.tv Austin Major 2025 was packed with intense action.</h2><p>At this point in the tournament, teams are on the verge of either securing a playoff spot or facing a last chance to avoid elimination. By the end of the day, three more squads — Vitality, FaZe and NAVI — clinched their places in the final stage. Meanwhile, six other teams find themselves on the edge, with two wins and two losses each.</p><h3>Vitality secure playoff berth</h3><p>After a shaky start, the French organization bounced back to claim three consecutive wins. Their key match came against Virtus.pro, where Vitality dominated with two back-to-back 13:6 victories.&nbsp;<a href="/en/players/zywoo" target="_self">ZywOo</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="/en/players/ropz" target="_self">ropz</a>&nbsp;were once again the standout performers, showing solid team play and consistency throughout the stage.</p><h3>FaZe fight their way through</h3><p>FaZe Clan entered Day 3 with a 2-1 record and comfortably handled The MongolZ, winning both maps without dropping a round.&nbsp;<a href="/en/players/s1mple" target="_self">s1mple</a>&nbsp;in particular impressed, stating after&nbsp;<a href="/en/blog/roster-changes-in-faze-clan-as-of-may-5-2025" target="_self">joining FaZe</a>&nbsp;that he’s committed to returning to his peak form — and he’s already making good on that promise.</p><h3>NaVi — a strong comeback</h3><p>Natus Vincere also ended Day 3 with a 3-1 score. After a loss to Spirit, the “Born to Win” bounced back with a dominant performance against G2.&nbsp;<a href="/en/players/jl" target="_self">jL</a>&nbsp;was in excellent form, making a crucial impact in securing the victory. As a result, NAVI are now officially through to the playoffs.</p><h3>1-3 teams on the brink</h3><p>Three teams have been eliminated after finishing with a 1-3 record: Aurora, Lynn Vision and 3DMAX.</p><p>What’s next</p><p>The final day of Stage 3 will be decisive for the remaining teams. Legacy will face MOUZ, The MongolZ will go up against G2, and Virtus.pro will try to stop the Brazilians from paiN. These matches will determine the final playoff lineup at the Austin Major 2025.</p>

Results of Day 2 of Stage 3 at BLAST.tv Austin Major 2025

<h2>Day two of Stage 3 has wrapped up in Austin, where teams continue fighting for a spot in the playoffs—and ultimately, for the title at one of the biggest events of the year.</h2><p>While some squads are still battling for a playoff berth, others have already either booked their place in the final stage or were sent home, just short of making it to the big stage.</p><h3>Eliminated from the tournament (0–3)</h3><p>Two teams exited BLAST.tv Major 2025 after going winless in Stage 3:</p><p>Team Liquid lost all three matches, including a decisive Bo3 against MOUZ (1–2), despite the incredible performance by&nbsp;<a href="/en/players/ultimate" target="_self">ultimate</a>, who ended the match with a 71–42 K/D and a 1.41 rating. He carried his team and delivered countless highlight moments, but&nbsp;<a href="/en/players/spinx" target="_self">spinx</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="/en/players/torzsi" target="_self">torzsi</a>&nbsp;helped keep MOUZ alive and in the playoff race. This clash turned out to be one of the most thrilling matches of the entire Major. On the final map,&nbsp;<a href="/en/wiki/overview-map-mirage" target="_self">Mirage</a>, the teams couldn’t settle it in regulation and played three overtimes before MOUZ closed it out 22–19.</p><p>Nemiga Gaming also couldn’t handle the pressure and finished 0–3 after falling to paiN in a full Bo3. Though the match was competitive across all three maps, the CIS team couldn’t contain the Brazilian duo&nbsp;<a href="/en/players/dav1deus" target="_self">dav1deuS</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="/en/players/nqz" target="_self">nqz</a>, who were impactful throughout. For&nbsp;<a href="/en/players/1eer" target="_self">1eeR</a>&nbsp;and his squad, it was their first Major appearance, and they still managed to show solid potential.</p><h3>Qualified for playoffs (3–0)</h3><p>Two teams secured a playoff spot after sweeping through Stage 3:</p><p>Team Spirit looked dominant, not dropping a single map—including a clean win over NAVI in a Bo3. As usual, the young phenom&nbsp;<a href="/en/players/donk" target="_self">donk</a>&nbsp;led the charge and kept his squad fully motivated.</p><p>FURIA exceeded expectations, going 3–0 and sending Virtus.pro to the lower bracket, where they’ll now face Vitality.</p><h3>Still in contention</h3><p>The MongolZ, FaZe, NAVI, G2, Virtus.pro, and Vitality (2–1), along with Legacy, Lynn Vision, 3DMAX, paiN, Aurora, and MOUZ (1–2) are all still in the running for playoff qualification. Decisive matches will be played across days 3 and 4 of Stage 3, where the remaining playoff spots will be determined.</p><p>Stay tuned for more updates as we approach the final battles that will decide the complete playoff lineup for BLAST.tv Austin Major 2025.</p>

Sensational Results of Day 1 at Stage 3 of the BLAST.tv Austin Major 2025

<h2>The first day of Stage 3 at the BLAST.tv Austin Major 2025 was marked by a series of shocking upsets.</h2><p>Legacy ended Vitality’s 30-match winning streak with a dominant 13-3 win on&nbsp;<a href="/en/wiki/overview-map-inferno" target="_self">Inferno</a>.&nbsp;<a href="/en/players/latto" target="_self">latto</a>&nbsp;stood out with 14 frags.</p><p>Virtus.pro continued to show solid form, defeating MOUZ 13-11 on&nbsp;<a href="/en/wiki/overview-map-mirage" target="_self">Mirage</a>&nbsp;and then sending the day’s heroes, Legacy, into the 1-1 pool.</p><p>Team Spirit crushed paiN 13-3 on&nbsp;<a href="/en/wiki/overview-map-dust2" target="_self">Dust2</a>, with&nbsp;<a href="/en/players/donk" target="_self">donk</a>&nbsp;delivering an outstanding performance — a 1.91 rating and 19 kills. They also comfortably beat Lynn Vision in their second match of the day.</p><p>3DMAX confidently took down G2 on&nbsp;<a href="/en/wiki/overview-map-nuke" target="_self">Nuke</a>&nbsp;(13-5), but fell to NAVI in the next game.</p><p>Aurora pulled off one of the biggest surprises of the day, defeating FaZe 13-5 on&nbsp;<a href="/en/wiki/overview-map-anubis" target="_self">Anubis</a>.&nbsp;<a href="/en/players/xantares" target="_self">XANTARES</a>&nbsp;got 17 frags, but it wasn’t enough in their second match against FURIA — they dropped to the 1-1 pool.</p><p>FURIA overcame The MongolZ in a tense 13-11 battle on Inferno.&nbsp;<a href="/en/players/molodoy" target="_self">molodoy</a>&nbsp;starred with 22 frags.</p><p>NAVI handled Nemiga 13-7 on&nbsp;<a href="/en/wiki/overview-map-train" target="_self">Train</a>.</p><p>Lynn Vision crushed Liquid on Dust2 with a confident 13-5 win.&nbsp;<a href="/en/players/westmelon" target="_self">Westmelon</a>&nbsp;posted 17 kills and a 1.50 rating.</p><p>This day shocked fans of many top-tier teams: Vitality, FaZe, G2, and Liquid all started with losses, while underdog squads delivered some of the tournament's most exciting performances.</p><p>Stage 3 has completely shaken up the standings — now the focus is on those who stumbled early. Can they make a comeback to reach the playoffs? We’ll find out soon!</p>

Falcons exit BLAST.tv Austin Major 2025 — a favorite fails to handle the pressure

<h2>Falcons exit BLAST.tv Austin Major 2025 — a favorite fails to handle the pressure, finishing only between 20th and 22nd place.</h2><p>The squad, which recently gave Vitality a tough fight in major tournaments, failed to even reach Stage 3.</p><p>From the very start, Falcons faced serious issues. Losses to B8 and Lynn Vision in best-of-one matches were an alarming sign. Was it down to players like&nbsp;<a href="/en/players/headtr1ck" target="_self">headtr1ck</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="/en/players/westmelon" target="_self">Westmelon</a>, or Falcons’ shortcomings? The elimination match against OG nearly ended in disaster — the team avoided a 0-3 sweep only thanks to individual efforts, with&nbsp;<a href="/en/players/magisk" target="_self">Magisk</a>&nbsp;standing out.</p><p>The series against MIBR started optimistically: a solid win on&nbsp;<a href="/en/wiki/overview-map-ancient" target="_self">Ancient</a>&nbsp;and impressive play from&nbsp;<a href="/en/players/monesy" target="_self">m0NESY</a>, but the positivity ended there. The Brazilians overwhelmed Falcons on&nbsp;<a href="/en/wiki/overview-map-nuke" target="_self">Nuke</a>, winning crucial clutches, and on the deciding map Inferno, the favorites lost momentum again. Despite a comeback from 4-10 to overtime, mistakes in 5v3 situations and missed opportunities in key moments led to a loss in triple overtime.</p><p>After the match, Falcons’ captain&nbsp;<a href="/en/players/kyxsan" target="_self">kyxsan</a>&nbsp;admitted the team couldn’t handle the pressure:</p><blockquote><p>“We didn’t expect this result. Maybe pressure and high expectations played a role, but this was not our level of play.”</p></blockquote><p>Rumors of potential roster changes have been circulating for a while, and this might be one of the main reasons for the team’s early exit from such a high-level tournament.</p>

First participants of Stage 3 BLAST.tv Austin Major 2025

<h2>At the second stage of BLAST.tv Austin Major 2025, the list of the strongest teams is gradually taking shape, and the first participants of Stage 3 have already been determined.</h2><p>Virtus.pro became one of the first teams to advance to the next round without losing a single series. The “Bears” confidently defeated OG, B8, and paiN, showing stable form and a high level of preparation, as well as fresh captain decisions from&nbsp;<a href="/en/players/electronic" target="_self">electroNic</a>. Unexpectedly for many, Legacy followed them, also finishing their series with a 3-0 score. The Brazilians proved stronger than MIBR, 3DMAX, and FaZe, securing their place in Stage 3 largely thanks to the efforts of the young talent of the Brazilian scene – Bruno “<a href="/en/players/latto" target="_self">latto</a>” Rebelatto.</p><p>In the 2-1 bracket are teams FURIA, B8, FaZe Clan, 3DMAX, paiN, and Lynn Vision, and today they will face off in matches for the right to advance to the next stage, while the losers will still have chances the following day.</p><p>Fighting for survival in the 1-2 bracket are Falcons, MIBR, Nemiga, M80, Tyloo, and HEROIC. Some of these teams were considered clear favorites before the stage started, but something went wrong, and now they need to show incredible play to get back into the fight.</p><p>OG and BetBoom finished their participation in the tournament, losing all three matches and exiting with a 0-3 result.</p><p>With each day, the tournament approaches the decisive stage, and fewer teams are competing for the right to enter the best at BLAST.tv Austin Major 2025. Stage 3 promises to be even more intense.</p>

Results of the First Three Days of BLAST.tv Austin Major 2025: Who Will Play in the Final Day of Stage 1

<h2>Teams That Have Already Advanced to Stage 2</h2><p>OG, BetBoom, and Nemiga won key matches in the 2-1 bracket and joined HEROIC and B8, who qualified a day earlier. OG confidently defeated NRG, showing stable performance across all maps. BetBoom took down Wildcard, despite strong efforts from&nbsp;<a href="/en/players/phzy" target="_self">phzy</a>, who was the best performer on both maps for his team. Nemiga made history by reaching Stage 2 of a Major for the first time ever, winning a tense series against FlyQuest.</p><h3>Teams That Have Been Eliminated</h3><p>Complexity, Imperial, and Chinggis Warriors are out of the tournament. Complexity fell to TYLOO and exit the event with a roster change — Paytyn "<a href="/en/players/junior" target="_self">junior</a>" Johnson played for the team. Imperial were defeated by Legacy, and Chinggis Warriors lost to Lynn Vision despite some good moments during the match.</p><h2>Final Day Matches — June 6</h2><p>Today, three best-of-three matches will decide the last spots in Stage 2:</p><p>NRG vs Lynn Vision<br>Wildcard vs Legacy<br>FlyQuest vs TYLOO</p><p>The final day of Stage 1 promises to be intense — soon we’ll know all the Stage 2 participants and continue following the battle of the world’s best teams at the BLAST.tv Austin Major 2025.</p>

BLAST.tv Austin Major 2025: Teams Eliminated in Stage 1

<h2>By the end of the second day of Stage 1 at BLAST.tv Austin Major 2025, two teams had ended their tournament run without securing a single win.</h2><h3>Metizport (0–3)</h3><p>The Swedish team Metizport exited the tournament without winning a single map. In their elimination match against Imperial, they lost 0–2. They were close on the first map,&nbsp;<a href="/en/wiki/overview-map-nuke" target="_self">Nuke</a>, but&nbsp;<a href="/en/players/try" target="_self">try</a>&nbsp;from Imperial gave it everything to secure the win and keep his team in the tournament.</p><h3>Fluxo (0–3)</h3><p>The Brazilian team Fluxo also concluded their run without a victory. In the elimination match, they were defeated by Chinggis Warriors. Across all three maps,&nbsp;<a href="/en/players/controlez" target="_self">controlez</a>&nbsp;stood out with an overall score of 60–45 and a 1.39 rating.</p><p>Thus, Metizport and Fluxo became the first teams to be eliminated from BLAST.tv Austin Major 2025 after Stage 1. The rest of the teams continue to fight for a spot in the next phase of the tournament.</p>