biguzera: “snow is one of those players every captain wants on their team.”
paiN Gaming captain Rodrigo “biguzera” Bittencourt spoke in an interview at the IEM Cologne Major 2026 about Astralis’s playstyle, reflected on roster changes for his team, and highlighted the strengths of João “snow” Vinícius.
On Astralis’s playstyle
Astralis builds its strategy largely around Staehr. They like to assign him a specific zone and play based on his actions. As a captain, I believe this style is fairly easy to counter. If you kill Staehr, you win the round in most cases. This works regardless of the map.
On the roster changes at paiN Gaming
I’m happy with my current roster. Management doesn’t make pointless changes—every substitution benefits the team. But sometimes it’s hard to say goodbye to teammates, because they’re good people. However, I understand that such decisions benefit all parties. The example of dgt confirms this—he’s currently performing excellently for 9z.
About snow
Snow is one of those players every captain wants on their team. It’s not just about his attitude. Of course, he’s always smiling and helps keep the team’s morale high. But what impresses me most is his eagerness to learn. He listens carefully and remembers what I say. We get along well. Sometimes I even give him life advice.
Earlier, paiN Gaming lost to Monte 0-2 on the fourth day of the second stage of the IEM Cologne Major 2026. biguzera’s team finished the tournament in 20th–22nd place and received $10,000 in prize money.
