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We turn our attention to the PGL Masters Bucharest 2025, one of the biggest offline CS2 tournaments of the year. Kicking off on October 24, the event brings together 12 of the top-ranked Valve teams and 4 regional qualifier winners to compete for a total prize pool of $1,250,000, with $625,000 reserved for the players.
One of the opening matches will see paiN Gaming from Brazil facing Gentle Mates, a full Spanish roster. Both teams are eager to make a strong start, secure a playoff spot, and gain momentum for the tournament ahead. Fans will be watching closely to see whether paiN’s experience and consistency can overcome Gentle Mates’ growing tactical synergy and determination.
Let’s see which squad will assert themselves in this early clash and who might stumble in the opening rounds of PGL Masters Bucharest 2025.
How The Bookies View It: paiN Gaming Slight Favourite
Ahead of the opening clash at PGL Masters Bucharest 2025 between paiN Gaming and Gentle Mates, the bookmakers have set the odds to reflect a tight contest. paiN Gaming is slightly favoured, with odds of 1.82 for a win, while Gentle Mates are close behind at 1.97.
The odds suggest that the match could be highly competitive, with both teams having the potential to take control early. Fans can expect a tactical battle, as paiN Gaming will rely on their experience and map control, while Gentle Mates will aim to surprise with their Spanish roster’s coordination and aggressive plays.
This opening match promises to set the tone for both squads in the PGL Masters Bucharest 2025.
paiN Gaming form. What result can be expected from paiN Gaming
paiN Gaming in 2025 continued to show stable performance on the international CS2 scene, although results were sometimes inconsistent. The team consists of biguzera, nqz, snow, dav1deuS, and dgt, combining experienced players with some young talents. Coach rikz helps the team coordinate better, develop strategies, and optimize map control.
- paiN Gaming 2025 roster: biguzera, nqz, snow, dav1deuS, dgt
Coach rikz is responsible for analytics and match preparation, helping the team distribute roles efficiently and use smokes, flashes, and map positions effectively. This gradually translates into more coordinated play and better team combinations.
The season started with the BLAST.tv Austin Major 2025, where paiN Gaming finished 3–4 after losing in the semifinals 0:2 and earning $80,000. After that, results were mixed: at BLAST Rivals Spring 2025, they finished 7–8 with a 0:2 record ($10,000), and at PGL Astana 2025 — 12–14 with 0:2 ($9,375). These tournaments showed that the players’ individual skill level is high, but consistency and team synergy still needed improvement.
During the summer, results remained unstable: at FISSURE Playground #1, the team placed 9–12 (0:2, $10,000), and at Intel Extreme Masters Cologne 2025 — 17–20 (1:2, $4,500). On online tournaments like BLAST Bounty Fall 2025: Closed Qualifier, the team also failed to advance (0:2, $2,500). Despite the losses, these events allowed the team to practice strategies, map control, and rotations.
September was slightly better: at FISSURE Playground #2, the team finished 5–8 (0:2, $17,500). In October, at the CS Asia Championships 2025, they ended 9–12 (0:2, $4,000). While the placements were modest, these tournaments gave the team experience, helped refine communication, and worked on tactical schemes.
The team’s dynamics are clear: biguzera and snow consistently secure frags, dav1deuS and dgt play flexibly on different maps — Dust2, Nuke, and Mirage — while nqz manages rotations and strategic decisions. The team can balance aggression and control, helping them stay competitive even in tough matches.
Overall, paiN Gaming in 2025 proved they are still a serious team on the CS2 scene. Results are sometimes disappointing, but the players analyze mistakes, adjust tactics, and learn to play together. Every tournament gives them experience and an opportunity to improve, so the team has room for growth in upcoming competitions.
paiN Gaming Map Pool
Over the past three months, paiN Gaming’s performance across different maps in CS2 has shown clear strengths and weaknesses. Their most dominant map has been Nuke, where they have a 66.7% win rate as First Pick, making it a reliable choice in strategic drafts. Inferno has also been relatively solid at 57.1%, providing another map where the team can assert control. On the other hand, Mirage and Ancient have been more challenging, with win rates of 40.0% and 33.3% respectively, indicating areas where opponents can potentially exploit weaknesses. Dust2 has been particularly tough, yielding only 16.7%, and Overpass has been a complete struggle, with no wins recorded in the past three months. These statistics highlight the maps paiN Gaming is most comfortable on and where they will need to focus preparation to improve consistency and competitive results.
Gentle Mates form. What result can be expected from Gentle Mates
Gentle Mates in 2025 continued to work on establishing themselves on the international CS2 scene, showing persistence and a willingness to gain experience despite inconsistent results. Throughout the year, the team focused on improving coordination, map control, and tactical play, participating in both online and offline tournaments to test strategies and gain exposure.
- Gentle Mates 2025 roster: mopoz, dav1g, sausol, alex, Martinez
The team’s coaching and support staff help organize practice sessions, analyze opponents, and optimize team rotations. This allows players to better understand map dynamics, coordinate smokes and flashes, and execute strategic plays during matches.
The season started modestly with offline tournaments. In August, Gentle Mates competed at DraculaN #1, finishing 5–6 after a 0:2 loss. Later in the month, at ESL Challenger League Season 50: Europe – Cup #1, they ended 7–8 with another 0:2 result. These tournaments were crucial for building teamwork and identifying weaknesses in communication and strategy.
September brought slightly better results. At Roman Imperium Cup II, Gentle Mates reached the final but lost 1:2, taking second place and $1,760.35. Shortly after, at StarLadder StarSeries Fall 2025, the team finished 4th after a 1:2 loss in the deciding match, earning $40,000. The Birch Cup 2025 didn’t go as planned, as the team forfeited their matches, but participation in such events added valuable offline experience.
October saw mixed results. At Galaxy Battle 2025 // Phase 4, Gentle Mates reached 3–4th place after a 0:2 defeat, taking $4,000 in prize money. In ESL Pro League Season 22, they finished 12–14, again with a 0:2 record ($10,500). While the placements were not top-tier, these tournaments provided opportunities to test new strategies and improve team synergy under competitive pressure.
The team’s dynamics are gradually taking shape. Gentle Mates focus on balancing individual skill with teamwork: key players take responsibility for fragging, while others rotate flexibly across maps like Dust2, Mirage, and Nuke, supporting coordinated pushes and retakes. The coaching staff continues to emphasize communication, map control, and timing, helping the team become more consistent in their performances.
Overall, Gentle Mates in 2025 have shown that they are committed to growing as a competitive CS2 team. Results have been uneven, but the team consistently learns from defeats, adjusts tactics, and gains experience. With each tournament, they build cohesion and refine their gameplay, laying the foundation for stronger performances in the future.
Gentle Mates Map Pool
Over the past three months, Gentle Mates have shown clear preferences and strengths on certain maps in CS2, but it’s important to note that most of these matches were played against far from the strongest opponents. Their most dominant map has been Overpass, boasting a perfect 100% win rate, making it their go-to map in strategic drafts. Ancient has also been strong for the team at 66.7%, followed by Nuke at 61.5% when chosen as First Pick, and Inferno at 54.5%, showing solid performance on these classic maps. However, Train and Mirage have been problematic, with win rates of only 20.0% and 16.7% respectively, highlighting clear weaknesses that stronger opponents could exploit. These stats give some insight into Gentle Mates’ map strengths and vulnerabilities, though the level of competition should be taken into account when assessing their potential against top-tier teams like paiN Gaming.
Head-to-Head History paiN Gaming vs Gentle Mates
Gentle Mates and paiN Gaming have not faced each other in any official CS2 matches so far. Their upcoming game on October 26, 2025, at the PGL Masters Bucharest 2025 group stage will be their first meeting. The match will be played as a Best of 3, giving both teams a fair chance to adapt and compete.
Predicted result of the match paiN Gaming – Gentle Mates at PGL Masters Bucharest 2025
paiN Gaming look like the favorites in their match against Gentle Mates at PGL Masters Bucharest 2025. Throughout 2025, paiN have shown more stability compared to Gentle Mates, with consistent map control and smarter tactical ideas. Gentle Mates, being a fully Iberian roster, have some strong individual performances but mostly played against lower-tier opponents, which makes their results less reliable. paiN’s structured play, experience in high-pressure offline events, and interesting tactical approaches give them an edge. While exact map scores are hard to predict, it’s reasonable to expect a paiN Gaming victory in this matchup.
Prediction: paiN Gaming win.
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