RED Academy has claimed the Retake Cup title with a new face in the lineup, and the victory could mark the beginning of a longer-term change for the organization. The team competed in the tournament with Nicolas “n1cks” Paixão stepping into the AWP role, a position left vacant after the departure of Renan “reNTU” Cardoso last week. The move is part of an ongoing evaluation, with the organization testing n1cks as a potential permanent addition to the roster.
The championship win came on Friday, and it was decisive. RED Academy swept through the competition without dropping a single map, capping the run with a 2-0 victory over QUINTESSÊNCIA in the grand final. The performance immediately validated the decision to bring n1cks into the fold, at least for the short term. According to a report by Dust2 Brasil, the player is being assessed by RED Academy and could be signed permanently if he continues to perform well alongside the team.
The organization has been evaluating n1cks since the departure of reNTU, and the early results are promising. The Retake Cup run was flawless: RED Academy did not lose a single map across the series, culminating in a clean 2-0 victory over QUINTESSÊNCIA in the grand final. That kind of consistency is exactly what a team looks for when integrating a new player, especially one stepping into a high-pressure AWP role.
The momentum carried into the weekend. On Saturday, RED Academy faced METANOIA Wolves in the Série A of the Gamers Club and secured a 2-1 win. The victory pushed them into the quarterfinals, where they are scheduled to meet ODDIK on Tuesday. According to the report, n1cks will finish the current Gamers Club campaign with the team and continue playing in upcoming tournaments, giving the organization a longer window to assess his fit before making a permanent decision.
A Flawless Debut and Immediate Results
The Retake Cup provided the first real test for the revised lineup, and RED Academy passed it convincingly. The team went undefeated through the championship, never losing a map across the series. In the final, they dispatched QUINTESSÊNCIA in straight maps, a performance that underscored the squad’s cohesion despite the recent roster change. For n1cks, it was a statement debut: stepping into a role vacated by a recently released player and immediately contributing to a championship run.
The AWP role carries significant weight in any Counter-Strike team, and filling it under competitive pressure is never straightforward. n1cks’ previous experience with organizations like Sharks and Vasco likely provided a foundation, but the immediate synergy with his new teammates is what stands out from the Retake Cup results. The team did not merely win; they dominated the field without conceding a single map loss across the series.
- RED Academy won the Retake Cup without losing a single map, defeating QUINTESSÊNCIA 2-0 in the final.
- The team also won a Série A match against METANOIA Wolves 2-1 and advanced to the Gamers Club quarterfinals.
- n1cks previously played for C4 Base, Sharks, and Vasco before becoming a free agent last month.
The Retake Cup title and the Gamers Club quarterfinal berth are tangible results, but they also raise questions about the team’s ceiling with this new lineup. The decision to test n1cks rather than rush a permanent signing suggests a deliberate approach by RED Academy’s management.
What the Trial Means for RED Academy’s Future
The trial period for n1cks is not just about individual performance; it is about finding the right long-term fit for a roster that has shown potential. RED Academy’s decision to test the player across multiple tournaments, including the ongoing Gamers Club Série A, indicates a methodical evaluation process. The organization is gathering data in different competitive contexts before committing to a permanent roster move.
The upcoming quarterfinal against ODDIK will be another important checkpoint. The report from Dust2 Brasil makes clear that the player’s continuation with the team is contingent on sustained performance, not just a single tournament win. This creates a competitive environment where every match carries additional significance for the AWP’s future.
| Event | Result | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Retake Cup Final vs QUINTESSÊNCIA | 2-0 Win | Friday |
| Gamers Club Série A vs METANOIA Wolves | 2-1 Win | Saturday |
| Gamers Club Quarterfinal vs ODDIK | Scheduled | Tuesday |
The coming week will be telling. A deep run in the Gamers Club Série A, starting with the ODDIK match, would strengthen n1cks’ case for a permanent contract. For now, the organization is keeping its options open, declining to comment when approached. The player, meanwhile, has a clear opportunity to turn a trial into a stable home after a period of uncertainty following his exit from Vasco.
RED Academy’s handling of the situation reflects a broader trend in the Brazilian scene, where academy and developmental rosters are increasingly used to evaluate talent in live competitive environments before committing to long-term deals. The Retake Cup victory is a positive data point, but the full evaluation is still underway.
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