“We had to work incredibly hard to get here” - Fluxo mazin on making it to VCT Americas
On August 7, Fluxo W7M acquired the roster of La Masia, bringing a new lineup of talented players to the VALORANT Champions Tour 2026 - Americas Stage 2 Play-Ins stage. After their loss to Cloud9, in-game leader Matheus "mazin" Araújo spoke with THESPIKE about the team's debut, embracing the underdog role, and captaining a team full of unique personalities.
A debut to forget
In VCT Americas, every Tier 2 team had a debut to forget, with none able to secure a series win against a Tier 1 opponent. For mazin, however, the result wasn’t about the team’s mentality. Instead, he pointed to the small details and poor decisions that made the difference.
THESPIKE: Do you think Fluxo was affected by the nerves of making their debut? What do you think was missing from the series, especially after such a strong first map?
mazin: "I’d say the psychological factor wasn’t the main one, especially since we started the series by winning. I think we lost a bit tactically. Everyone on our team is very proactive and involved in communication. I like that, but sometimes it can also become a problem. Today, for example, it was. We ended up losing out strategically, and things just didn’t work out."
At the same time, Fluxo W7M entered the series confident they could bring the win home, making this loss even more frustrating for the players. As the team’s captain, mazin takes much of that responsibility upon himself.
To be honest, it was a bit frustrating. With all due respect to Cloud9, it’s a game we expected to win because we felt very prepared. Looking back, I think our game plan was a bit strange, and that’s also my responsibility. We need to review our ideas, but we also made a lot of individual mistakes.
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Palla
Despite the loss that marked their VCT Americas debut, mazin remains confident in the potential of the roster.
THESPIKE: What did you see in Cloud9’s game that gave you so much confidence you could win?
mazin: "Honestly, it was because of the potential I see in my team and everything we’ve done since Brazil. People who follow us from abroad might not know the potential we have, but we trust our work a lot.
We feel that we have good ideas, so I believed those ideas would be enough to win this game. But we couldn’t put them into practice. Maybe that was down to inexperience within the team, and also my fault. I’m the captain, after all."
THESPIKE: Everyone looked at this match and clearly favored Cloud9. Did that take some pressure off Fluxo, or did you still feel you had something to prove?
mazin: "Even though the public and the community will always see us as the underdogs, we put pressure on ourselves because we know we have the potential to beat these teams. That pressure comes from within, regardless of what other people think.
Of course, we also have our feet on the ground. We know we’re a team that’s just arriving here and that every team in VCT Americas is good. I’m not trying to belittle anyone, but we know our potential."
Born to be a captain
After his career in CrossFire, mazin realized how much he wanted to be a captain, something that had always been there, hidden within him.
I think I could have made different choices throughout my career. I would have focused more on becoming a leader earlier. I always had the personality to lead a team, but I wasn’t a captain, especially at the beginning of my career. So, I think I would have tried to become a leader and take ownership of my teams earlier. I would be more prepared today because of it.
With Fluxo, mazin has high expectations for the roster assembled in April 2026. He describes the team as a group where everyone gets along, creating a positive environment both inside and outside the server.
THESPIKE: What has it been like leading this Fluxo team as the in-game leader? What has been the biggest challenge?
mazin: "I really like this team. It’s a new roster, though, and I think that’s one of the negatives. Even though we won in Brazil, the team was only formed in April, so we’ve only had about four months together. The positive is that we get along really well day to day. The environment is very good.
We like each other a lot, and everyone is very friendly. In-game, because we’re still a new team, I think there’s a lot of room for us to improve and reach our highest level. Regardless of how these next games go, whether we win or not, I know we still have a lot to work on to reach the level we want."
A new era for Brazilian VALORANT
For the players, competing in Tier 1 is not only about reaching the highest level. It is also an honor to represent their country and carry the hopes of a new era of Brazilian VALORANT glory, something mazin believes the region has been missing since 2022.
We really want to bring Brazil back to the top. Since the LOUD 2022, Brazil hasn’t had a team that has consistently been at the highest level. Of course, we dream big. We want to bring joy back to the people of Brazil and give them something to cheer for with the same passion and hope they had during LOUD’s era. We know it’s a long process, but that’s what we’re working toward. If it’s not now, then at some point we have to bring that era back to Brazil.
Nevertheless, the team still has a long road ahead in VCT Americas as they look to build a new era of their own and grow their support within the community.
THESPIKE: How has the community received to this team?
mazin: "Our team has a lot of people who support us, but there are also plenty of haters. It’s always gratifying to interact with the people who genuinely care about us and support what we’re doing. The day-to-day life of a competitor isn’t easy, and while we know we’re privileged in many ways, we’ve also been through some very difficult times."
We spent the whole year without an organization. We had to work incredibly hard to get here, so I think everyone’s expectations have to take that into account. We didn’t have any structure from the beginning. Now Fluxo is supporting us, and hopefully things will only get better. But we also have to keep our feet on the ground and understand where we came from. This is a team that made it here without anyone’s support, without anyone believing in us.
Ready for what comes next
Fluxo W7M does not yet know their next opponent, but the team is determined to come back stronger than ever and build on the experience gained in VCT Americas 2026 Stage 2. As captain, mazin is now focused on getting the team back on track, lifting the players’ spirits and making sure everyone remains on the same page.
THESPIKE: What do you want to say to the team now? Losing your first game, especially in your debut, can be a shock. What kind of message do you want to give the players to keep them focused and confident heading into the next phase?
mazin: "What I really want is to take some of the weight off their shoulders. They might feel pressure sometimes because of the expectations we put on ourselves, including from me, because we demand a lot from each other. I don’t want them to feel that today’s result was their fault in any way. It was a difficult game, and Cloud9 is a well-prepared team.
I just want them to stay confident, play the way they enjoy playing, and keep that aggression that I think is one of our biggest characteristics. Most importantly, I want us to enjoy what we’ve accomplished and everything we’ve experienced so far."
VCT Americas 2026 Stage 2 Play-Ins
The VCT Americas 2026 Stage 2 Play-In Stage runs from August 13 to August 23. Only four teams will advance to the Playoffs, where they will battle for a place at VALORANT Champions 2026, which is set to take place in Shanghai, China.
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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