paiN Esports Bench vsm, Elevate Rkzinho from Academy

paiN Esports has made a significant roster change by moving Vinicius "vsm" Moreira to the bench after eight months as a starter. The organization announced that 16-year-old Rickson "Rkzinho" Ribeiro Dias, recently ranked 49th in HLTV Prospects, will take his place in the starting lineup.

This decision follows a series of disappointing performances, including a last-place finish at the BLAST Open Porto and other poor results in recent tournaments. Rodrigo "biguzera" Bittencourt expressed concerns about team trust, indicating a need for a fresh approach.

Rkzinho, who has been performing well in the academy with a 1.10 rating, will make his debut in the PGL Masters Bucharest 2026 South America Closed Qualifier set to start on September 6.

Additionally, paiN has bolstered their coaching staff by bringing in Pedro "beto" Umberto, who has experience coaching teams like Case, RED Canids, and KRÜ. This move aims to provide the necessary support as the team seeks to improve its competitive standing.