Thomas Hamens, the long-time CEO of the Brazilian esports organization paiN Gaming, has stepped down. The reason was an investigation into how the club’s management responded to sexual assault allegations against League of Legends team player Alexandre “TitaN” Lima.
Journalists from Sheep Esports and Mais Esports reported that paiN’s management was aware of the seriousness of the situation surrounding TitaN but actively tried to protect the player. According to media reports, the player even returned to team practice after his initial suspension in January.
The organization’s leadership also held meetings with leaders of organized fan groups, allegedly attempting to strategically downplay the significance of the accusations.
These revelations led to an almost complete breakdown in relations between the organization and its massive fanbase, historically considered one of the most loyal in esports.
In a statement published on social media, paiN addressed its fans directly, admitting that management failed to uphold the community’s values:
“Recent decisions by paiN Gaming were made viewing the organization only as a business, and that was our mistake. paiN Gaming is not just a business. As our most famous quote says: ‘It’s not a team, it’s a damn family.’
Because of this, we announce that CEO Thomas Hamens is officially leaving his position. Let this stain on our history serve as a reminder for future generations: paiN fans will always be our greatest triumph, and we must honor them.”
Thomas Hamens had led the organization since 2018. During his tenure, the club secured major sponsors and built one of the largest esports facilities in Latin America. For now, the organization continues to be run by its owner, Arthur “PAADA” Curiati.
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