The Brasileirão Stage 3 is starting this weekend.
Although some teams are very close to confirming their participation at the next edition of the Copa Elite Six, the region is in a very sweet spot at the moment, as the majority of the teams in the league are showing consistent improvement.
Let’s go through the lineups that will be competing in Stage 3 of the Brasileirão:
1st - Team Liquid: 40 pts
Lineup: nesk, resetz, Paluh, psk1, AsK, Silence (Coach), mcunha (Analyst)
Team Liquid has been one of the most consistent squads in recent days. The Brazilian lineup currently sits at the top of the standings, as it has been the most regular side in the Brasileirão so far. Moreover, Liquid won the Copa Elite Six Stage 1 and finished in third place in the Copa Elite Six Stage 2.
Team Liquid at the Mexico Major. (Photo: Ubisoft/Kirill B.)
However, the SI 2021 finalists and Mexico Major semi-finalists have decided to make their first roster moves since May 2019, as Thiago “xS3xyCake” Reis and João “HSnamuringa” Deam have been replaced by Pablo “resetz” Oliveira and Gabriel “AsK” Santos.
Both resetz and AsK are considered to be two of the most skilled prospects in the region. Although this move looks like a huge gamble, highly inexperienced squads such as FURIA Esports or the Mexico Major champions of Team oNe have proved to us that Brazil is full of young talents waiting for their moment to shine.
2nd - FaZe Clan: 38 pts
Lineup: Astro, cameram4n, Bullet1, Cyber, soulz1, Ramalho (Coach), Dxrk (Analyst)
FaZe Clan might be in a very comfortable spot in the standings, but its recent result at the latest edition of the Copa Elite Six was a huge blow. The Brazilian squad was knocked out in the first round, forcing it to miss out on an international event for the first time since the ESL Pro League Season 4 Finals in April 2017.
This poor result has put the FaZe players' backs up against the wall. With just 365 SI Points, the Brazilian duo of Leonardo “Astro” Luis and Gabriel “cameram4n” Hespanhol is now in danger of missing out on the Six Invitational for the first time ever.
Luckily for them, the squad is 16 points clear of sixth and should easily make it to the Copa Elite Six Stage 3. Nevertheless, FaZe Clan is in a dangerous spot and cannot afford another bad stage, and has thus signed Cesar “Dxrk” Adriano as an analyst.
3rd - Ninjas in Pyjamas: 34 pts
Lineup: Kamikaze, Psycho, Julio, Muzi, pino, Mity (Coach)
The SI 2021 champions head to Stage 3 of the Brasileirão after a disappointing performance in Mexico. But despite their poor displays in Mexico, the Ninjas are expected to keep up with the pace in Brazil. They not only won the SI 2021 but also won the Copa Elite Six Stage 2 after defeating Team oNe in the Grand Final.
Individually, NiP has some of the best players on the planet, as Gabriel “pino” Fernandes and Julio “julio” Giacomelli finished with two of the best three SiegeGG Ratings after the conclusion of the second stage, just behind Liquid’s player Luccas “Paluh” Molina.
Furthermore, the squad is in a comfortable spot at the Global Standings. Delivering a good performance at the next Copa Elite Six should be enough to see the roster defending its crown at SI 2022.
NiP at the Mexico Major. (Photo: Kirill B.)
4th - Team oNe: 32 pts
Lineup: Lagonis, KDS, Alem4o, Neskin, Levy, TchubZ (Coach)
Just a few months ago, Team oNe was seen in Brazil as an inexperienced squad; young and exciting, but with plenty to learn. Now, after winning the Mexico Major, it is the country’s most in-form team.
Currently sitting in fourth, Team oNe is more than ready to take over Brazil. In fact, the organization has never been able to win a regional tournament, as its best finishes are two top-two finishes at the Six November 2020 Major and at the Copa Elite Six 2021 Stage 2. Now, Team oNe hopes to break that streak with a win at the next edition of the Copa Elite Six.
Team oNe celebrating after defeating Team Empire at the Mexico Major. (Photo: Kirill B.)
5th - FURIA Esports: 30 pts
Lineup: h1ghs, LENDA, Miracle, Fntzy, R4re, Twister (Coach)
“Experience is something really important,” said Marlon “Twister” Mello in an interview with SiegeGG just before FURIA’s trip to Mexico.
FURIA Esports, just like Team oNe, is a roster made of highly inexperienced players that have been learning crucial lessons throughout the last two international events. Just like at SI 2021, the Brazilian roster was knocked out of the tournament at the hands of BDS Esport in Mexico.
Now, moving forward, Stage 3 could be pivotal for these players if they are able to follow in Team oNe's footsteps and stun many with a sensational run -- starting in the BR6.
FURIA Esports at the Mexico Major. (Photo: Kirill B.)
6th - Black Dragons e-Sports: 25 pts
Lineup: live, peres, ion, Patoxy, Bassetto, sSeiiya (Coach), Vivas (Second Coach)
After a great Stage 2, Black Dragons broke into the Top 6 and got the chance to compete at the Copa Elite Six Stage 2. However, the team fell to FURIA Esports, who booked an invitation to the Mexico Major.
But something was made clear: the team is there to compete. With resetz leaving for Team Liquid, BD has made the decision to sign Imperium e-Sports’ highest rated player in the latest edition of the Copa do Brasil, Guilherme “Bassetto” Basetto. Only time will tell if the move is right, but the team could have done a lot worse, at least on paper.
7th - MIBR: 22 pts
Lineup: reduct, Faallz, LuKid, Rappz, FelipoX, Budega (Coach)
After finishing in third place at SI 2021, Stage 2 was a nightmare for MIBR, as a Felipe “FelipoX” De Lucia shoulder injury saw the team struggling throughout the second split.
Undoubtedly, that was the reason why MIBR fell from the Top 6, as the Brazilian roster could not add any SI Points to its list. Comparatively, in Stage 1, the team had finished in second place and had secured a healthy 390 SI Points.
Now, after a bootcamp in Serbia, the roster is hungry to show its potential. The team knows what it is capable of, and that is why it has not made a change to its main lineup -- at least not yet, though it is seemingly set to sign a sixth player soon.
8th - INTZ: 20 pts
Lineup: Zaak, Vnx, DRUNKKZZ, Vittzzz, Hornetao, JP (Coach), Hellraiser (Analyst)
INTZ heads into Stage 3 with an unchanged roster, as the current lineup won the latest edition of the Copa do Brasil played just a month ago.
Unfortunately, the truth is that this roster has struggled at recent events. However, its great performances at the Copa do Brasil and its results in its last two games in the BR6 -- a 7-2 win against NiP and a 7-4 victory against W7M -- surely gives some hope to its fans.
9th - Santos e-sports: 16 pts
Lineup: rhZ, kondz, Hxnteer, mgN, Stk, Lend4 (Coach).
Santos is in a very risky position, as the team is in ninth place -- just two points ahead of W7M Gaming.
The team has produced some good results against better teams, such as an 8-7 win against Team Liquid and a 6-8 loss against Ninjas in Pyjamas. Nonetheless, Santos has lost all of its matches against W7M so far, a record that could cost it dearly come the end of the season.
This team has also made a signing in order to try and avoid playing relegations, as Felipe “mgN” Dutra will replace Nicolas “destiny” Alves.
10th - W7M Gaming: 14 pts
Lineup: panico, Guii, Kheyze, HerdsZ, GdNN1, Abreu (Coach), Alpha (Analyst).
At the bottom of the standings is W7M Gaming, whose situation is worrying to say the least.
The team has gone through various changes throughout the season, including the recent signing of the highly inexperienced player of Diego “Kheyze” Zanello, who joins in place of Rafael “mav” Loureiro.
A 10th place finish at the end of the stage would see the team playing against the Série B winner, likely a fierce challenge considering the great amount of talent hidden in the country.