Felps Joins Gaimin Gladiators, Reigniting His Counter-Strike Career

Felps Joins Gaimin Gladiators, Reigniting His Counter-Strike Career

Brazilian rifler João “felps” Vasconcellos has returned to top-level Counter-Strike, signing with Gaimin Gladiators to replace Bruno “b4rtiN” Câmara on the team’s Brazilian CS2 roster. The move ends a six-month spell on the bench for the 28-year-old, who was sidelined by RED Canids in April after the team failed to qualify for the BLAST.tv Austin Major through the South American regional qualifier.

Gaimin Gladiators described the signing as an effort to add more flair and aggression to their playstyle. In their announcement, the organization wrote:

“We needed someone with that Brazilian Fire. We got it. Welcome @felperaa to Gaimin Gladiators!”

From RED Canids Bench to a New Home

Felps’ time in RED Canids’ active lineup was brief, lasting just over two months before both he and Henrique “HEN1” Teles were moved to the bench following the team’s failed Major qualification run.

In its official statement, RED Canids emphasized that reaching the Major had been the primary goal and thanked both players for their dedication, even though the campaign fell short. The qualifier itself was disappointing: the team didn’t win a single map, suffering losses to Legacy and BESTIA.

Despite strong individual performances — with felps averaging a 1.12 HLTV rating and HEN1 a 1.09 — RED Canids continued to struggle in local qualifiers against Imperial, Sharks, and Legacy. After being benched, felps briefly appeared with the South American mix UnderDogs, staying active without a permanent organization.

Gaimin Gladiators’ Brazilian Project

For Gaimin Gladiators, signing felps is part of their broader push into Brazilian Counter-Strike. The Canadian organization re-entered CS earlier in 2025 by picking up a roster led by in-game leader Gabriel “NEKIZ” Schenato, reuniting a core that previously played under W7M.

That lineup originally featured NEKIZ, Jhonatan “JOTA” Willian, Bruno “shz” Martinelli, Bruno “b4rtiN” Câmara, and Lucas “bsd” Luan, with João “horvy” Horvath as coach. b4rtiN officially left the team on October 31, just days before the announcement of felps’ arrival on November 3.

In a farewell message, Gaimin Gladiators thanked b4rtiN for his energy and professionalism, wishing him success in the next stage of his career.

With felps on board, Gaimin Gladiators’ current CS2 lineup is:

João “felps” Vasconcellos

Bruno “shz” Martinelli

Gabriel “NEKIZ” Schenato

Jhonatan “JOTA” Willian

Lucas “bsd” Luan

João “horvy” Horvath (coach)

Recent Form and Upcoming Debut

Even before adding felps, the NEKIZ-led roster had started to show improvement. The team recently won ESL Challenger League Season 50 South America Cup 3, a qualifying event that paves the way toward ESL Pro League Season 23. That victory brought them closer to securing a slot in the upcoming ESL Challenger Finals and potentially an EPL appearance.

In Valve’s current regional standings, Gaimin Gladiators sit mid-table in South America and hold the No. 65 spot globally in the Valve Ranking System.

Felps is expected to make his debut for the team in the CCT Season 3 South America Series 6 playoffs, an online event running from November 3–15 with a $20,000 prize pool.

What Felps Brings to the Gladiators

Gaimin Gladiators are gaining a seasoned, aggressive rifler with a deep well of experience. Over a career spanning more than 1,500 maps, felps holds a 1.07 lifetime rating and has competed in over 150 tournaments. His peak years came between 2016 and 2018 with Immortals and SK Gaming, where he achieved several titles and reached the PGL Major Kraków 2017 grand final with Immortals.

Even during his short stint with RED Canids in early 2025, felps showcased consistent form, maintaining high stats despite team struggles.

A Veteran Mindset

While felps hasn’t commented directly on his new move, past interviews reveal his competitive philosophy. In a 2022 interview with Dust2 Brasil, he stated that he only competes when he’s fully committed:

“If I ever stop giving 100%, there’s no reason to keep competing.”

Later, while with Imperial in 2024, he emphasized the importance of mental strength over raw skill:

“What matters most is the team’s mentality. The day I stop believing in the team I’m playing for, that’s the day I stop competing.”

These insights suggest a veteran who values discipline, teamwork, and motivation — qualities that Gaimin Gladiators hope will translate into stronger results.

A Fresh Chapter for Both Sides

For felps, this transfer marks a long-awaited return to structured, high-level competition. For Gaimin Gladiators, it’s a major upgrade — adding both experience and firepower to a roster that’s already showing promise.

With momentum from their ESL Cup victory and a direct playoff berth at CCT South America Series 6, all eyes will be on felps’ debut to see whether his arrival can truly ignite the “Brazilian Fire” the team promised.