Falcons Coach zonic Admits Team Performance Fell Short at StarLadder Budapest Major, Vows to Address Consistency

Falcons Coach zonic Admits Team Performance Fell Short at StarLadder Budapest Major, Vows to Address Consistency

Falcons head coach Danny “zonic” Sørensen openly reflected on his team’s disappointing exit at the StarLadder Budapest Major, admitting that the squad’s performances at the pivotal event were below expectations and that he takes responsibility as coach. 

The Saudi-backed organisation reached the quarter-finals of the StarLadder Budapest Major 2025 in Hungary — one of the biggest Counter-Strike 2 events of the year — but were eliminated 2-0 by Russian side Spirit, failing to advance to the semifinals. 

“We obviously need to go home and do better. I also need to do better. It’s not been good enough this tournament, and I take responsibility for that,” zonic told HLTV after the loss. He emphasised that consistency has been a recurring theme throughout Falcons’ 2025 campaign, a year where the team delivered a mix of highs and frustration on the international stage. 

Falcons began 2025 with high ambitions, securing their first major S-tier title at PGL Bucharest 2025, where they defeated G2 Esports in the final in April — a landmark victory that garnered significant viewership and cemented the squad’s status among the world’s top CS2 teams. 

However, the rest of the season proved more turbulent. While Falcons achieved strong placings — including podium finishes at IEM Chengdu 2025 and competitive runs in other international events — trophies remained scarce outside Borgarest. The Budapest Major disappointment capped a campaign with only one trophy in 2025. 

Zonic highlighted that improving Falcons’ teamplay and in-game communication will be a primary focus going into the next season, stressing the balance between individual freedom and structured coordination. He believes that enhancing these core areas could be the difference in critical matches where they currently fall short. 

The loss to Spirit served as a stark reminder of how quickly momentum can shift during high-stakes play: Falcons struggled to adapt after setbacks on maps like Nuke and Dust2, ultimately being outpaced by a spirited performance from Spirit’s roster. 

Looking ahead, zonic’s comments suggest that 2026 preparations will focus on consistency and adapting team strategies, with the coach acknowledging both the squad’s potential and the work still needed to turn close calls into championship victories.