Furia Esports

Lore & Background

Furia was founded in February 2017 by businessman Jaime Pádua, who was planning to invest in electronic sports, and entrepreneurs André Akkari (professional poker player) and Cris Guedes. These two had similar plans and gave Jaime the ability to structure the project. On May 6, 2024, the Esports World Cup Foundation, funded by the Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund and organizers of the Esports World Cup tournament series, announced the 30 organizations (known in the ESWC as Clubs) who would make up the Club Support Program, with Furia being one of them. This program gives teams a one-time six-figure stipend if an organization is willing to enter new esports as well as additional funding each year if they drive viewership and fan engagement to the Esports World Cup.

Furia's Counter-Strike division made its first appearance at a Major two years after founding at IEM Katowice Major 2019, though eliminated in the New Challengers Stage. The team improved, challenging MIBR as the best team in Brazil and finishing second at ECS Season 7. At PGL Major Stockholm 2021 and PGL Major Antwerp 2022, Furia was eliminated in the quarterfinals. At IEM Rio Major 2022, Furia reached the semifinals, its best placement in a Major. In 2023, IHC Esports defeated Furia 2–1 to advance to the group stage of IEM Katowice. Furia entered the League of Legends scene by acquiring Uppercut Esports' roster to form Furia Uppercut in the CBLOL, later renaming to Furia Esports after the CBLOL 2020 Split 1. In the 2022 Rocket League Championship Series, Furia made the semifinals before losing to tournament winners Team BDS. Furia announced its entry into Valorant on 21 January 2021, appearing at the inaugural 2021 Valorant Champions but eliminated in group stages; they returned for 2022 Valorant Champions with the same result. In late 2022, Riot Games confirmed Furia would receive a partner spot in the international VALORANT league system.

Reader's Guide

Furia Esports represents a significant force in Brazilian and global esports, having been recognized as the fifth most successful esports organization in the world in 2022 by Nerd Street. The organization's multi-title approach—spanning Counter-Strike 2, Rocket League, League of Legends, Valorant, Rainbow Six: Siege, Apex Legends, and Kings League—demonstrates its broad competitive footprint. Furia's inclusion in the Esports World Cup Foundation's Club Support Program in 2024 highlights its strategic importance to major tournament organizers. In Counter-Strike, Furia achieved its best Major result at IEM Rio Major 2022, reaching the semifinals in front of a home crowd. The organization's League of Legends team won the America's Cup in 2026 and multiple domestic titles in the CBLOL/LTA South. In Rocket League, Furia reached the semifinals of the 2022 Rocket League Championship Series. The Rainbow Six Siege division won several tournaments in 2025, including the Esports World Cup 2025. Furia's Valorant team secured a partner spot in the international league system in late 2022. The organization's legacy is tied to its consistent presence at top-tier events across multiple esports, its role in elevating Brazilian competition, and its ability to secure institutional support from major esports initiatives.

Did You Know?

• Furia was founded in February 2017 by businessman Jaime Pádua, professional poker player André Akkari, and entrepreneur Cris Guedes.
• In 2022, Furia was named the fifth most currently successful esports organization in the world by the North American portal Nerd Street.
• Furia was one of 30 organizations selected for the Esports World Cup Foundation's Club Support Program, announced on May 6, 2024.
• Furia's Counter-Strike division reached the semifinals of IEM Rio Major 2022, its best placement in a Major.

Founding & Organizational Identity

Furia, often stylized as FURIA or FURIA Esports, is a Brazilian professional esports organization that has carved out a distinctive identity in the global competitive scene. The organization was established in February 2017 when businessman Jaime Pádua, who was looking to invest in electronic sports, joined forces with entrepreneurs André Akkari—a professional poker player—and Cris Guedes. The latter two shared similar ambitions and granted Pádua the authority to structure and build the project into what it would become. Since its inception, Furia has expanded its competitive portfolio to span Counter-Strike 2, Rocket League, League of Legends, Valorant, Rainbow Six: Siege, Apex Legends, and Kings League, making it one of the most diversified rosters in the industry. In 2022, the North American esports portal Nerd Street recognized Furia as the fifth most currently successful esports organization worldwide, a testament to the breadth and depth of its competitive programs. This multi-title approach has allowed the organization to maintain relevance across multiple gaming communities simultaneously, building a brand that resonates far beyond any single game's fanbase.

Counter-Strike: From Challengers to Major Champions

Counter-Strike has been the flagship discipline for Furia since the organization's early years. The team made its first Major appearance at IEM Katowice 2019, just two years after founding, though they were knocked out during the New Challengers Stage. From that starting point, the squad steadily climbed, challenging fellow Brazilian outfit MIBR for supremacy and finishing as runners-up at ECS Season 7. By the time PGL Major Stockholm 2021 rolled around, Furia entered as the highest-seeded team from the Americas region, advancing to the quarterfinals before falling short. They replicated that quarterfinal run at PGL Major Antwerp 2022. The breakthrough moment arrived on October 7, 2022, when the team qualified through the Americas RMR for the IEM Rio Major. Playing before a passionate home crowd, Furia shattered expectations and pushed all the way to the semifinals—their best-ever Major placement at that time. Their trophy cabinet since then includes titles at ESL Pro League Season 12 North America, FISSURE Playground 2, Thunderpick World Championship 2025, IEM Chengdu 2025, BLAST Rivals 2025 Season 2, and IEM Kraków 2026, with a Major victory at IEM Cologne 2026 rounding out a remarkable ascent.

Multi-Discipline Dominance Across the Roster

What sets Furia apart from many single-title organizations is its deliberate strategy of competing across multiple games simultaneously. In League of Legends, the team entered the Brazilian scene by acquiring Uppercut Esports' roster to form Furia Uppercut in the CBLOL, later rebranding to Furia Esports after the 2020 Split 1 concluded. Their LoL success has included two domestic titles in the CBLOL/LTA South (2025-2 and 2026-1) and the America's Cup in 2026. In Rocket League, Furia reached the semifinals of the 2022 RLCS before losing to eventual champions Team BDS, and their roster has claimed the Gamers8 2022 title, the RLCS Season X South American Championship, and the South American RLCS MVP award. The Rainbow Six Siege division has been particularly dominant recently, winning the Six Invitational 2025, the Esports World Cup 2025, RE:LO:AD 2025, and both stages of the South America League 2025. In Valorant, the team announced its entry in January 2021, competed at the inaugural 2021 Champions, and by late 2022 secured a partner spot in Riot's international league system. This breadth of competition has made Furia a constant presence across the global esports calendar.

Global Recognition & the Road Ahead

Furia's growing stature on the international stage has been cemented by both competitive results and institutional partnerships. In May 2024, the Esports World Cup Foundation—backed by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund and serving as the organizer of the ESWC tournament series—selected Furia as one of 30 organizations to join its Club Support Program. Under this arrangement, participating clubs receive a one-time six-figure stipend for committing to enter new esports titles, along with additional annual funding tied to their ability to drive viewership and fan engagement to the Esports World Cup events. This recognition places a Brazilian organization squarely among the elite tier of global esports institutions. On the competitive front, Furia's 2025–2026 period has been extraordinary: the CS roster captured IEM Chengdu 2025, BLAST Rivals 2025 Season 2, and IEM Kraków 2026, while the R6 team lifted the Six Invitational 2025 and the Esports World Cup 2025 trophy. The LoL squad added the America's Cup 2026 to its collection. Together, these accomplishments confirm that Furia is no longer merely a regional powerhouse but a genuine contender for the highest honors in every discipline it fields.