Austin, June 22, 2025 – In a high-stakes all-Brazilian battle, paiN Gaming emerged victorious over FURIA in a nail-biting 2-1 series to advance to the semifinals of the BLAST.tv Austin Major 2025. The decisive blow came on Inferno, where biguzera’s squad held strong through overtime, carried by a dominant performance from nqz.
A Rollercoaster Series: FURIA Strikes First, paiN Strikes Back
Things started off strong for FURIA, who confidently took Nuke 13-6. Their young AWPer molodoy, already in the spotlight after a standout showing in Astana, impressed once again, supported by a solid performance from yuurih (53-44 K-D, 90 ADR, 11 multi-kills). With that kind of momentum, FURIA looked set to breeze through the series.
But paiN Gaming had other plans. On Anubis, the Brazilians turned the tide with a convincing 13-8 win. dav1deuS, the Chilean clutch specialist, pulled off several highlight-worthy plays, including two 1v3s, one 1v2, and a 1v1. paiN’s T side was particularly sharp (9-3), giving them the cushion they needed to withstand FURIA’s comeback attempt in the second half.
Inferno: A Comeback for the Ages
The decider on Inferno looked like a disaster in the making for paiN. FURIA came out flying, led by YEKINDAR’s aggressive dominance on Banana, and jumped to a 6-0 lead.
But biguzera’s men refused to fold.
nqz rose to the occasion at just the right time, delivering 13 of his 16 total multi-kills in this final map. His clutch shots helped paiN close the gap and then take control on CT side with seven straight rounds. They earned four match points, but FURIA clawed back to force overtime.
That’s when paiN shifted into overdrive—sweeping OT 4-0 and sealing a remarkable comeback. Once again, nqz was the difference-maker in the closing moments.
Key Stats: nqz and dav1deuS Shine, yuurih Holds His Own
| Player | K-D | ADR | Rating | Multi-kills | Clutches (1vX) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| nqz (paiN) | 56-43 | 80 | 1.21 | 16 | 1 (1v1) |
| dav1deuS (paiN) | 49-48 | 77 | 1.11 | 15 | 2 (1v2, 1v3) |
| yuurih (FURIA) | 53-44 | 90 | 1.19 | 11 | 0 |
| dgt (paiN) | 50-48 | 72 | 1.05 | 10 | 0 |
| YEKINDAR (FURIA) | 46-49 | 80 | 1.09 | 10 | 1 (1v1) |
Despite the loss, yuurih was named MVP of the match for his consistency—especially on Nuke. For paiN, nqz finished with the best plus-minus (+13) and delivered on every map, shining brightest on Inferno. Meanwhile, dav1deuS continued to build his reputation as a clutch master, securing multiple crucial rounds when his team needed them most.
What’s Next?
This victory earns paiN a well-deserved day off before their semifinal match, where they’ll face the winner of FaZe vs The MongolZ. With nqz firing on all cylinders and a team that’s proven it can battle back from the brink, paiN Gaming is emerging as a serious dark horse in the tournament’s final stretch.