Wilton "zews" Prado, a Brazilian Counter-Strike head coach, has left SK Gaming to join fellow Brazilian team Immortals as a player. Zews will replace Immortals rifler Gustavo "SHOOWTiME" Gonçalves, who has been released from the team and paid a buyout by the Immortals organization.
"Like most, the dream to play is always there," zews said in a news release Friday. "After getting news that the Immortals players wanted me to lead them, that dream was rekindled instantly.
"Immortals is the kind of organization that doesn't make hasty decisions. ... Their pure, raw talent and incomparable passion have already led them to high moments in their careers. Still, they didn't feel it was enough, and trusted me with helping them to take the next step. I will not let them down."
The move comes after winning Major League Gaming Columbus with Luminosity Gaming and ESL One Cologne 2016 under the SK Gaming banner, both as coach. It will be zews' first time playing professionally since the summer of 2015 with Yakuz4 e-SPORTS. He ended his tenure with Yakuz4 to coach Games Academy, which was picked up by Tempo Storm and then purchased by Immortals this past June. Zews will now be coming back to a somewhat familiar team, but this time as a player.
In an interview with ELeague Host and Turner Sports contributing editor Richard Lewis, zews says that he had been getting called to come back to this team for a while, but the opportunity wasn't a fit until the team came under the Immortals banner. He says that he wouldn't be returning to playing anywhere else besides Immortals.
"We believe that zews' addition brings needed experience and maturity to our team as he assumes a leadership role," Immortals CEO Noah Whinston said in a news release. "I look forward to working with him to develop the young talents on our roster and to demonstrate the strength of the next generation of Brazilian CS:GO."