Felps, HEN1 Benched By RED Canids After MRQ Failure

In a major shake-up within the Brazilian esports landscape, RED Canids, a prominent team in the Counter-Strike 2 (CS2) scene, has officially benched two of its players, João “felps” Vasconcellos and Henrique “HEN1” Teles. This decision comes on the heels of a disappointing performance during the South American regional qualifier for the highly anticipated BLAST.tv Austin Major.

This move signals the first roster change for RED Canids since the introduction of Andre “drop” Abreu in March, marking the ninth adjustment to the team in just one year. Following the recent alterations, the remaining active roster now consists of drop, Carlos “venomzera” Dias Junior, Marcelo “coldzera” David, and Marcelo “nyezin” Ramos.

Anunciamos que os jogadores @felperaa e @HEN1 foram movidos ao banco de reservas e estão abertos à proposta.

O foco foi, desde o começo, a vaga no Major e sabemos que este também era o foco de vocês. Tentamos, mas mesmo assim a classificação não veio e agradecemos a ambos pela… pic.twitter.com/kqp8psBufS

— RED Canids Kalunga (@REDCanids) April 17, 2025

The abrupt benching of felps and HEN1 follows a disappointing last-place finish for RED Canids at the BLAST.tv Austin Major 2025: South American Regional Qualifier. The team struggled significantly, ending with two consecutive 0-2 losses—first against Legacy and then against BESTIA in Group B.

In the opening match against Legacy, both players were notably underwhelming, with performance ratings of 0.63 for felps and 0.68 for HEN1. Although they demonstrated better form in their match against BESTIA, achieving ratings of 0.99 and 1.08 respectively, it was insufficient to secure victories, resulting in close defeats with scores of 10-13 on Inferno and 9-13 on Anubis.

Since their recruitment from Imperial Esports, the primary objective for HEN1 and felps was to help RED Canids clinch a coveted spot in the Major tournament. HEN1, who joined on loan in August 2024 and later signed full-time in January, was expected to bolster the team’s competitive edge. Felps also joined during this period, taking the place of David “dav1deuS” Tapia Maldonado and Gabriel “nython” Lino, who were benched after failing to qualify for the Perfect World Shanghai Major 2024.

Despite their relatively brief tenures, HEN1 and felps have shown flashes of potential. HEN1 maintained an average performance rating of 1.09 over his eight months in the lineup, while felps recorded an impressive 1.12 during his three-month stay with the team. However, these statistics weren’t enough to translate into successful outcomes for RED Canids in the regional circuit.

As all eyes now turn to RED Canids, the team has yet to announce potential replacements for the newly bench players. Fans and analysts alike will be keenly watching the organization’s social media channels for updates regarding its direction leading into future competitions.

For those following esports trends, this development underlines the mounting pressure teams face to deliver results in a highly competitive landscape. Roster changes, while often disruptive, can also pave the way for rejuvenated strategies and renewed aspirations for success on the global stage.

Stay tuned for more updates in the esports realm as the dynamics continue to evolve.