The first round of the Swiss stage at FISSURE Playground 2 brought fans an exciting clash between European giants FaZe Clan and Brazilian squad paiN Gaming. Despite expectations of a tense battle, the series ended rather quickly: FaZe secured a 2:0 victory, showing full control on both maps. For paiN, the match was a painful reminder that they still lack the stability needed to compete with the very top teams.
Match Chronology
- Nuke (13:11, paiN’s pick)
The Brazilians gambled on their favorite map, one where they’ve secured important victories in the past. The start looked promising: dgt and nqz found early frags, and paiN’s defense held strong. The first half ended with a narrow FaZe lead (8:4), but in the second half the Brazilians managed to close the gap. However, frozen and broky became the biggest nightmare for paiN. They clutched key rounds and left no chances in the closing stages. Final score — 13:11 for FaZe.
- Mirage (13:8, FaZe’s pick)
On their own map, FaZe looked even more confident. The start of the game turned into a show from jCobb and frozen, who dominated mid-fights and denied any momentum for paiN. The Brazilians tried to adjust through dav1deuS and biguzera, but their attacks looked too predictable. FaZe quickly established control and never allowed an upset. The 13:8 win sealed a clean 2:0 series for the Europeans.
Player stats for the match
Player of the Match
The undisputed hero of the series was David “frozen” Čerňanský, who dominated throughout both maps:
- K-D: 45–24 (+21)
- ADR: 107.1
- Rating 3.0: 1.58
Frozen once again confirmed his superstar status: his consistency in duels, composure in clutch situations, and impeccable aim were the main reasons for FaZe’s victory.
Team Performance
FaZe looked every bit like title contenders. Frozen (1.58) was the standout leader, but support from jCobb (1.43) and broky (1.22) was equally vital. Both consistently closed out critical rounds, preventing paiN from gaining momentum. Rain (0.82) and karrigan (0.65) may not have had flashy stats, but they contributed massive amounts of utility, space creation, and key map control. This synergy allowed FaZe to dominate both maps.
PaiN started well on Nuke but gradually lost pace. dgt (1.14) and nqz (1.05) were the only bright spots, keeping the team in contention. However, the rest of the lineup underperformed: dav1deuS (0.87) and biguzera (0.81) failed to find consistency, while snow (0.69) lost almost all of his key duels. The team ultimately looked lost and without a concrete game plan.
Previous Encounters
The FaZe vs paiN rivalry has always been intense. At IEM Melbourne 2025, the teams traded wins, and at PGL Bucharest 2025, the matches were once again razor close. Overall, FaZe hold 8 victories, while paiN have 4, with many of those series going down to the wire. That’s why such a dominant showing by FaZe in London felt especially significant.
FaZe Clan kicked off their FISSURE Playground 2 campaign with a convincing 2:0 win over paiN Gaming. Frozen once again proved he can lead the team forward, while the rest of the roster provided crucial support at the highest level.
For paiN, this loss was a serious blow: they failed to show either the individual firepower or the cohesion needed at this level. In the Swiss stage they will now have to fight for survival, while FaZe already look like one of the tournament’s top contenders.
