00NATION ends the paiN for the benched NEKIZ

Gabriel “NEKIZ” Schenato has swiftly landed a new opportunity at 00NATION, following his benching by paiN Gaming

00NATION has officially announced the acquisition of NEKIZ, a 27-year-old Brazilian player, for their Valorant roster. He has joined the team from paiN Gaming, stepping in to replace Leonardo “n9xtz” Santos, who will transition to a substitute role.

The decision to bring NEKIZ on board comes amid rumors of paiN Gaming’s potential separation from the Norwegian organization, as they explore new avenues for their own independent project.

O @nekizcs chegou pra firmar com nois!
Seja muito bem-vindo, nekão! Bom demais ter você aqui!#ZEROZERO pic.twitter.com/4VtHTSfpjv

— 00NATION BRASIL (@ZeroZeroBRASIL) July 7, 2023

NEKIZ brings a wealth of experience to the team, having previously represented paiN Gaming on three separate occasions. His most recent tenure began in February, following the departure of in-game leader Vinicios “PKL” Coelho, which created a vacancy in the roster. Under NEKIZ’s contributions, paiN Gaming witnessed a notable upswing in performance, reaching a peak of 13th place in the world rankings. Their journey began with a successful run in the ESL Pro League S17, securing a spot in the first round of playoffs. They continued their success at the Paris Major Americas RMR, ultimately earning a place in the Major circuit.

Copyright: Dreamhack

However, paiN Gaming’s momentum began to wane as they failed to advance through the Challengers Stage in Paris and subsequently suffered a last-place exit at ESL Challenger Katowice 2023. These setbacks prompted the organization to consider a roster overhaul, with NEKIZ being the first player to be replaced.

NEKIZ benched from paiN https://t.co/6nxmOZlXeo

— HLTV.org (@HLTVorg) June 22, 2023

NEKIZ now joins the 00NATION roster, a team that recently claimed victory at the Pinnacle Cup Brasil 1 just before the player break. However, their results have been inconsistent, particularly following the departure of their captain, Epitacio “TACO” de Melo, in February.

With the addition of NEKIZ, 00NATION aims to reinforce their lineup and reignite their competitive performance in the Valorant scene. Fans eagerly anticipate the team’s progress and hope to see NEKIZ’s impact on their future endeavors.