saadzin Joins Imperial: Brazilian AWPer Completes Transfer From Legacy

15.07.2026 - 11:35

saadzin Joins Imperial: Brazilian AWPer Completes Transfer From Legacy

Imperial have officially strengthened their Counter-Strike 2 roster by signing Brazilian AWPer Guilherme "saadzin" Pacheco from Legacy. The move follows several weeks of transfer speculation and comes after the 22-year-old already appeared as a stand-in for Imperial during CCT South America Series 3, where the team claimed the title.

The signing replaces Guilherme "levi" Gustavo, who was moved to the bench earlier in July, and marks another major roster change for Imperial as the organization continues rebuilding following the departure of head coach zakk.

Quick Summary

Item	Details
Transfer	saadzin joins Imperial
Previous team	Legacy
Role	AWPer
Replaces	levi
Status	Official
Region	Brazil / South America
Announcement	July 10, 2026
Immediate result	Won CCT South America Series 3 with Imperial as a stand-in before signing officially

Imperial complete the signing of saadzin

Imperial confirmed the acquisition of saadzin after reaching an agreement with Legacy, ending the sniper's two-year stint with the Brazilian organization.

The transfer had been anticipated following reports linking the two organizations in negotiations involving try, who was expected to move in the opposite direction. One day after Imperial announced saadzin, Legacy officially completed the signing of try, confirming the swap between the organizations.

Before becoming a permanent member of Imperial, saadzin had already played several official matches for the team as a substitute during CCT South America Series 3. His performances helped Imperial lift the trophy, making the permanent transfer a natural continuation rather than a completely fresh start.

Background and Context

saadzin joined Legacy in May 2024 after previously representing W7M.

During his time with Legacy he:

played at multiple CS2 Majors,
helped the team win back-to-back CAC titles,
established himself as one of South America's most consistent AWPers,
maintained an average 1.09 HLTV rating throughout his Legacy tenure.

Meanwhile, Imperial entered another rebuilding phase in 2026.

Recent organizational changes include:

benching levi,
the departure of head coach zakk,
continued efforts to stabilize the roster after multiple lineup adjustments.

Updated Imperial Roster

Player	Status
chelo	Active
VINI	Active
decenty	Active
noway	Active
saadzin	Active

Bench

levi

Coach

TBD (Imperial have not yet announced a replacement for zakk.)

Why This Move Matters

Although Imperial did not simply replace one player with another, the signing gives the team an established AWPer with significant experience against international opposition.

Several factors make the move noteworthy:

saadzin already has chemistry with the roster after standing in during an event victory.
He arrives with recent Major experience.
Imperial gains a long-term primary sniper rather than relying on temporary solutions.
The organization can now focus on appointing a new head coach instead of filling its AWPer position.

Tactical Impact

While Imperial have not publicly outlined their tactical plans, several expectations are reasonable based on confirmed information:

saadzin is expected to continue as the team's primary AWPer.
His familiarity with Brazilian Counter-Strike should reduce adaptation time.
His recent appearances with Imperial suggest much of the integration process has already begun.

Any further tactical changes remain unknown until Imperial begin competing with the finalized lineup.

Tournament Impact

The transfer gives Imperial a stable five-player roster ahead of upcoming competitions.

No tournament qualification changes were announced alongside the signing, and no Valve Regional Standings implications were disclosed as part of the transfer. Therefore, any direct ranking impact remains TBD.

Timeline

Date	Event
May 2024	saadzin joins Legacy
July 4, 2026	Plays for Imperial as stand-in
July 7, 2026	Imperial bench levi
July 10, 2026	Imperial officially sign saadzin
July 11, 2026	Legacy officially announce try as replacement

Key Details

Category	Information
Player	Guilherme "saadzin" Pacheco
Age	22
Nationality	Brazil
Previous Team	Legacy
New Team	Imperial
Role	AWPer
Transfer Status	Official
Replaced Player	levi
Coach Situation	Replacement for zakk still TBD

Impact Analysis

From a competitive standpoint, Imperial secure one of South America's proven AWPers without requiring a lengthy adjustment period.

Legacy, meanwhile, quickly filled the vacancy by bringing in try, ensuring neither organization entered the remainder of the season without a dedicated sniper.

The move also completes one of the most closely followed roster exchanges in the Brazilian scene during July 2026.

What Changes Now

Following the signing:

Imperial's active roster is complete.
levi moves to the bench.
The team's next major priority is naming a permanent head coach after zakk's departure.
Legacy move forward with try as their new AWPer.

What to Watch Next

Several storylines remain worth following:

Imperial's announcement of a new head coach.
The first international events featuring the finalized roster.
Whether saadzin maintains the form he displayed during CCT South America Series 3.
Legacy's early performances with try.