paiN in Advanced Talks With vsm and ewjerkz to Rebuild CS2 Roster for 2026

paiN in Advanced Talks With vsm and ewjerkz to Rebuild CS2 Roster for 2026

Brazilian organisation paiN is reportedly in advanced negotiations with riflers Vinicius “vsm” Moreira and Michel “ewjerkz” Pinto as it looks to finalise its Counter-Strike 2 roster for the 2026 season, according to a report from Dust2.com.br. 

paiN’s CS2 squad has been significantly weakened following the benching of David “dav1deuS” Tapia Maldonado and Franco “dgt” Garcia earlier in December. Those decisions came after a period of underwhelming results that left the team struggling to compete effectively in international and domestic competition. 

Targets in Talks

• Vinicius “vsm” Moreira: The Brazilian rifler has already left his previous team, Keyd Stars, and is currently a free agent. Known for his strong performance in the South American competitive scene, vsm posted an impressive 1.29 rating across 253 maps in 2025, making him an attractive option for paiN as they seek firepower and consistency.

• Michel “ewjerkz” Pinto: The 25-year-old Portuguese player is in reported discussions with paiN but nothing has been confirmed. Recently benched by Ninjas in Pyjamas following the StarLadder Budapest Major, ewjerkz averaged around a 0.94 rating at the tournament and is currently without a starting role.

If these talks conclude successfully, paiN’s projected 2026 roster would likely consist of:

• Rodrigo “biguzera” Bittencourt

• Lucas “nqz” Soares

• João “snow” Vinicius

• vsm

• ewjerkz

• Henrique “rikz” Waku (coach)

Context in the Rostermania Wave

This potential signing move comes amid broader winter rostermania activity in the CS2 scene, with other key changes including:

• Ninjas in Pyjamas benching ewjerkz.

• Spirit making lineup adjustments, swapping chopper and zweih for magixx and zont1x.

• Other teams like M80, GamerLegion, and top organisations engaging in transfers or roster reshuffles.

For paiN, securing vsm would reinforce their strategic rifling strength, while adding ewjerkz could bring experience — despite his recent benching at the Major. However, confirmation from the club or the players is still pending.