ODDIK Signs NEKIZ as New Captain, Replacing PremiuM

ODDIK has moved to strengthen its Counter-Strike leadership by signing experienced Brazilian player Gabriel ‘NEKIZ’ Schenato. The thirty-year-old joins the organization and will immediately assume the role of in-game captain, a position that had been held by Guilhermo ‘PremiuM’ Popov since a roster overhaul in May of this year.

The change was confirmed by a report from Dust2 Brasil, which detailed the veteran’s arrival and the subsequent uncertainty surrounding the younger player’s future. NEKIZ arrives at ODDIK after a period without a team, having been inactive in official matches since June.

The acquisition marks the fifteenth distinct team in NEKIZ’s long career, according to records tracked by HLTV. He has been competing professionally since 2015, building a resume that includes stints with prominent Brazilian and international organizations. His previous teams include g3x, Black Dragons, paiN, Luminosity, O PLANO, 00Nation, and Legacy.

His most recent official appearance came in June during the IEM Cologne Major while representing Gaimin Gladiators. Following that tournament, Gaimin Gladiators moved its roster to the bench, and by July, NEKIZ was no longer tied to an active contract, leaving him available to negotiate a new deal.

PremiuM, who is twenty-two years old, had been serving as the team’s captain since May, when ODDIK underwent a significant restructuring. With NEKIZ now taking over the leadership duties, the organization faces a decision regarding the younger player. According to the report, PremiuM had the option of either moving to the bench or returning to the organization’s Academy roster. His final destination has not yet been confirmed, and ODDIK declined to comment on market speculation when approached for a statement.

NEKIZ Brings a Decade of Experience to ODDIK’s Leadership

By appointing NEKIZ as captain, ODDIK is placing its strategic direction in the hands of a player whose career spans nearly a decade of top-tier competition. Since beginning his professional journey in 2015, he has navigated the Brazilian scene and beyond, accumulating experience across a wide variety of rosters and tournament circuits.

His resume includes time with organizations that have been central to the development of Brazilian Counter-Strike. He competed for Luminosity and 00Nation, two names that have carried the region’s flag at international events, as well as Legacy and O PLANO, teams that have featured some of the country’s most recognizable talent. This breadth of experience provides a foundation that few active captains in the region can match.

The transition also signals a shift in ODDIK’s internal structure. PremiuM had been entrusted with the captaincy during the May rebuild, a period of significant change for the squad. Replacing him with a veteran of NEKIZ’s caliber suggests a desire for a more seasoned voice to guide the team through its next competitive phase. The full active roster now consists of Diogo ‘diozera’ Oliveira, NEKIZ, Gustavo ‘nardes’ Henrique, Sebastian ‘righi’ Righi, and Vitor ‘Ceruttera’ Cerutti, with Joaquin ‘lokomotioN’ Cuevas serving as coach.

• NEKIZ has been active in professional Counter-Strike since 2015, giving him roughly a decade of competitive experience.
• He has played for fourteen other teams before joining ODDIK, including g3x, Black Dragons, paiN, Luminosity, O PLANO, 00Nation, and Legacy.
• His last official match was in June at the IEM Cologne Major, after which his former team Gaimin Gladiators benched its roster.
• PremiuM had been ODDIK’s captain since May, when the team went through a major roster overhaul.

The move also raises questions about how ODDIK will integrate a new leader mid-season and what the long-term plan is for its younger players. With PremiuM’s status unresolved, the organization’s Academy pathway may become a focal point in the coming weeks.

PremiuM’s Uncertain Future and the Academy Option

While NEKIZ’s arrival solidifies the active lineup, it leaves PremiuM at a crossroads. The twenty-two-year-old had been a central figure in the team’s leadership since the May restructuring, but the decision to bring in an external captain changes his trajectory within the organization.

According to the information gathered by Dust2 Brasil, PremiuM was presented with two possible paths: he could step back to a substitute role on the bench, or he could return to the ODDIK Academy. Neither option has been finalized, and the organization has not issued a public statement clarifying the situation. ODDIK’s only official response was that it does not comment on market speculation.

The Academy route could offer PremiuM a chance to continue developing within the organization’s system, potentially positioning him for a future return to the main roster. Alternatively, a bench role might keep him closer to the active lineup while the team evaluates its new structure under NEKIZ’s leadership. For now, his next step remains an open question, and no timeline has been provided for a final decision.

ODDIK’s decision to bring in NEKIZ represents a clear investment in experience and established leadership. The thirty-year-old captain inherits a roster that has been in flux since May and will be expected to provide the stability and direction needed to compete at a higher level.

For PremiuM, the situation remains unresolved. Whether he transitions to the Academy or takes a place on the bench, his role within the organization has fundamentally shifted. As ODDIK moves forward with its new captain, the resolution of PremiuM’s status will be one of the immediate storylines to follow within the Brazilian Counter-Strike scene.