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Gaimin Gladiators are back in Counter-Strike, this time with a Brazilian line-up built around former w7m players. The Canadian organisation announced the signing of the squad just seven months after parting ways with its Danish roster.

The new roster includes captain Gabriel “NEKIZ” Schenato, alongside Jhonatan “JOTA” Willian, Bruno “shz” Martinelli, Bruno “b4rtiN” Câmara, and Lucas “bsd” Luan, with João “horvy” Horvath stepping in as head coach.

The Brazilians had been teamless since May, when w7m exited the CS scene citing “significant challenges to profitability and sustainability” for organisations not regularly competing at tier-one events. Since then, the core had been searching for a new home, forming the short-lived project DESEMPREGUEIDOS before securing this new deal with Gaimin Gladiators.

A Fresh Chapter After a Rocky Past

This marks Gaimin Gladiators’ second stint in CS2 after an ill-fated run with their Danish roster. That line-up, headlined by Nico “nicoodoz” Tamjidi and Fredrik “roeJ” Jørgensen, was released at the start of 2025. Only months later, the players announced legal action against the Canadian organisation, claiming their contracts had been terminated improperly.

Adding to the turmoil, Gaimin Gladiators also withdrew from The International 2025 in Dota 2 just last month, citing “internal matters between the players.” The move raised questions about the stability of the organisation, but this new CS signing signals their intent to stay active in esports despite recent turbulence.

Looking Ahead

The Brazilian roster is currently ranked 24th in the Americas and will debut under the Gaimin Gladiators banner at FERJEE Rush 2025, a 16-team LAN in Rio de Janeiro with a $27,419 prize pool.

Head coach horvy told Dust2 Brasil that while qualifying for a Major is always the dream, the team is taking things step by step. “Of course, we want to qualify for the current Major, but we know it is difficult, and it is good that there is no pressure, so we are playing more relaxed. We are already thinking about the Major in Cologne.”

For Gaimin Gladiators, the move offers a chance to rebuild their reputation and carve out a fresh start in a new region. For NEKIZ and his squad, it is an opportunity to prove themselves on a bigger stage. All eyes will be on their performance later this month in Rio.