"It's a loss that hurts me a lot" - EG dgzin opens up after elimination

One step closer, yet one step farther away. That was the reality Douglas "dgzin" Silva faced after Evil Geniuses was eliminated by MIBR in the Lower Bracket of the VALORANT Champions Tour 2026 - Americas Stage 2. Now, only regret remains, but so does plenty of pride in his individual performance and the team’s evolution since the beginning of the stage.

THESPIKE spoke with dgzin about his performance, the team’s struggles, and his connection to the organization as his future remains uncertain with the end of the locked partnership franchise in 2027.

VALORANT Champions Tour 2026 - Americas Stage 2

MIBR

2

X

1

Evil Geniuses

Lower Bracket Round 1 of 4, Best of 3 - August 30, 2026 - 12:00AM

16

Lotus

18

13

Sunset

10

13

Haven

9

MIBR

player

Rating

ACS

K/D/A

+/-

K/D

KAST

ADR

HS%

FBSR

FB

FD

aspas

1.32

276

76/61/12

+15

1.25

76.7%

174.6

29%

54%

13

11

zekken

1.13

225

62/58/23

+4

1.07

76.3%

140.6

25%

44%

7

9

Verno

1.01

202

55/46/18

+9

1.20

79.2%

131.3

23%

55%

6

5

Mazino

0.90

170

45/55/30

-10

0.82

77.4%

118.5

20%

53%

8

7

tex

0.78

153

46/53/17

-7

0.87

63.6%

117.5

33%

46%

6

7

Evil Geniuses

player

Rating

ACS

K/D/A

+/-

K/D

KAST

ADR

HS%

FBSR

FB

FD

zerona

1.15

242

68/60/18

+8

1.13

72.0%

162.6

28%

67%

14

7

supamen

1.02

200

56/55/25

+1

1.02

81.8%

131.5

35%

47%

7

8

Paincakes

1.00

181

47/50/39

-3

0.94

86.7%

124.6

32%

67%

4

2

dgzin

1.00

219

59/63/17

-4

0.94

74.0%

128.6

23%

44%

12

15

bao

0.71

160

43/56/19

-13

0.77

69.9%

115.6

27%

20%

2

8

What went wrong?

THESPIKE: It’s hard to look at this series and not think about what could have been different. What’s the first thing that comes to mind? What does this elimination mean against a team like MIBR?

Dgzin: "I think the first thing that comes to my mind is that we were doing well, but things changed very quickly. I felt that we lost some control on the second map, going into the third. We had an amazing series today. We won all the pistols of the series. We had this boost to start the game leading. Unfortunately, on the last map we ended up losing an eco, and that's it.

Especially with the composition that the guys have been using, Phoenix ends up taking a lot of orbs. He has his ultimate almost every three rounds. So, the game ended up being difficult. We just needed one more round to be able to come back. I think these are the things that come to my mind."

However, in some ways, this loss feels different for dgzin, as he believed this team could finally turn its evolution into something bigger.

A lot of things happened. I cried a lot already. It's a loss that hurts me a lot, because we changed the team. I don't want to compare all the teams in the league, but I feel that we gave our best. That's what matters. I'm very upset, very sad. Because it's a team that, outside the game, is like a family. We always do everything together. We've never had any kind of fight here. We always try to do everything for each other. So, I think that's the part that hurts me the most.

Proud of what they built together

When a loss hurts the most, there are still moments worth remembering. The good ones are the memories that stay with you for the rest of your life. For dgzin, despite the elimination and the rollercoaster of emotions he is feeling, he remains proud of the team’s evolution and everything they went through together.

I finish the season very happy. This year was a challenge for me. I learned a new language under a lot of pressure, in a game where things have to be spoken quickly. Nowadays, my English is good, and it's good to be able to live this moment. It wasn't easy. I woke up at 7 in the morning to study English after two hours of tactics. I stayed strong. I felt like I was missing a little bit today in the game. The game ended up being a little more difficult, and because of the lack of control, I think the pressure got to us. This year was like that. It's worth it. You learn.

Next year, everything remains uncertain, but dgzin has no regrets about what he and the team have accomplished on stage and the work they put in along the way.

For the time we had, we trained a lot. My heart is very tight. I wanted to make a lot of things happen because of potter, because she trusted me. I just wanted to make it possible. These moments end up catching up a lot. I've already lost a lot. I've already won too. And now the future is scary because we don't know what's going to happen. Next year there won't be a franchise. Everything can change.

Potter was a big reason why dgzin joined Evil Geniuses, and he wanted to bring some happiness to her and to the organization that welcomed him when he needed it the most.

I even apologized to her. Every time I talk about it, I feel like crying, but she's happy. She exchanged a lot of ideas with me. She's very proud of me. It's not easy. I've never had contact with English before. It was a challenge, but I was able to perform. She believed in me every day. So, one day, I'll be able to repay her the way I think it should be.

Finding their footing too late

THESPIKE: You managed to find an identity throughout the season. Do you think you found that identity too late?

Dgzin: "We ended up finding our identity and our confidence a little too late. We had two people who never played Tier 1. I'm very happy to have them on my team. They really showed their level and that they really belong here. They are two very talented and intelligent players.

It ended up being a little too late. When we play like this in practice, there's no one to stop us. We had an excellent week. It's something to be proud of. Unfortunately, it was too late. It was a game that took us to the limit. They deserved it too. Congratulations to them, as I congratulated aspas before. He really deserves it.

I don't know what's going to happen in the future. I want to make sure that I'm proud of the guys. I don't look back and think that I could have done this. I think that today we did everything we could. We believed in all the crazy things we were thinking. We didn't do it for each other."

A future with EG

For dgzin, the answer was quick. He wants to stay with Evil Geniuses if that is what the organization wants. The future is uncertain, even "scary" as he describes it, but he believes there is still much more ahead of him.

I want to stay with EG, for sure. I think I'm a very grateful guy. It was the moment I needed the most, after I left LOUD and things didn't work out in Team Solid. You keep thinking about what's going to happen in the future. I have many dreams. But this year, I played for the best of my team. If we can make it happen, to qualify, to play in Champs at the end of the year, it would make me happier than doing something just for me.

The VCT Americas 2026 Stage 2 runs from August 13 to September 6, with the teams fighting for a spot at VALORANT Champions 2026. Only four teams will qualify, while G2 Esports and NRG have already secured their spots through VCT Championship Points.

For all things VCT-related, make sure to stay tuned to THESPIKE.GG as we continue to update you with the freshest game and esports news.

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