Falcons & FURIA top groups in Hong Kong to secure semi-final berths

Falcons & FURIA top groups in Hong Kong to secure semi-final berths

Day two of the BLAST Rivals 2025 Season 2 group stage delivered one of the tighter playoff formats in recent CS2 history — and both Falcons and FURIA ensured they’d skip the quarter-finals entirely by winning their respective upper-bracket group matches. 

In front of the 12,500-capacity AsiaWorld-Arena in Hong Kong, the outcome means both squads move directly into the semifinal stage of the six-team playoff bracket, avoiding the extra hurdle that the runners-up and third-place finishers must face. 

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The pathway to semis: format & stakes

The tournament structure at BLAST Rivals sees eight teams split into two best-of-three, double-elimination groups. The winner of each group advances directly to the semi-finals, while the second and third placed teams still make the playoff bracket but must contest quarter-finals. 

With that in mind, the upper-bracket final matches were essentially “play-in” semis for the group winners. The pressure to win and avoid the quarter-final route was tangible in both upper-bracket deciders.

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Falcons: composed dominance over Passion UA

In Group A, Falcons faced off against Passion UA in the upper-bracket final. Falcons swept the series 2-0 and locked in their semi-final berth. 

Map 1 (Train) opened with Falcons planting the foot aggressively, establishing a 6-1 T-side lead before closing it out 13-11. The margin may appear narrow, but it masked strong mid-round CT reads and key multi-kills from the Falcons roster. Map 2 (Mirage) followed a similar script — with Falcons restricting Passion UA to 10 rounds while securing 13 themselves. The dominance in both the opening T halves and closing CT sequences signalled Falcons had arrived in Hong Kong ready. 

Notably, stars such as Ilya “m0NESY” Osipov and Maxim “kyousuke” Lukin led the charge. Their impact was felt in opening kills, fragging power, and rotating presence — a synergy that has become a hallmark of this Falcons lineup. 

By sealing the group upper‐bracket final, Falcons avoided the extra quarter-final match and now shift focus to their semi-final opponent, which will be the winner of the Spirit vs Vitality quarter. 

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FURIA: back-to-back statement wins and bracket privilege

In Group B, FURIA continued to reinforce their status as one of 2025’s strongest teams. After defeating a high-profile opponent in recent days, they locked in their direct semi-final spot with their group-winner victory. 

Their final group game was a high-stakes rematch against Team Vitality — a roster FURIA had faced just days earlier in the Grand Final of IEM Chengdu 2025. Mareks “YEKINDAR” Gaļinskis acknowledged the mental dimension of the showdown:

“When you play the same team … again on the same map, it’s all about a little bit of mind games and also a little bit of luck,” he said. 

FURIA’s win not only brought them the group top spot but also placed them in the opposite bracket side from Falcons and Spirit/Vitality, giving them arguably the clearest road into the grand final. 

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Tactical takeaways & why it matters

Bracket advantages: Winning the group upper-bracket final means fewer matches to play and a longer preparation window. For a demanding tournament with $350,000 prize pool, stretching thin is no minor factor. 

Roster momentum: Both organizations arrive in the playoff phase with statement matches behind them. Falcons, after achieving direct advancement, now focus on parrying further rounds; FURIA similarly consolidates its top-tier status.

Map control & preparation: The quick victories suggest both teams handled preparation well. For example, Falcons’ commanding start on Train and Mirage showed readiness against Passion UA’s tactical picks. FURIA’s win over Vitality, despite being recent opponents, showcased adaptability and mental resilience.

Psychological edge: FURIA’s advantage in opponent familiarity and the bracket structure may give them a subtle psychological edge heading into the semi-finals. Falcons on the other hand must now ensure the pressure of high expectations doesn’t weigh them down.

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What’s next & potential matchups

With the group winners secured, the updated event schedule shows:

• Semi-final 1: FURIA vs winner of Passion UA/paiN (Sunday, 9:00 local)

• Semi-final 2: Falcons vs winner of Spirit/Vitality (Sunday, 11:30 local)

Both matches are best-of-three, with the grand final set as a best-of-five on Sunday evening. The winner of each semi will proceed to the grand final, while there will be no third-place decider. 

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Final word

By topping their groups in Hong Kong, Falcons and FURIA have taken significant steps toward the BLAST Rivals crown. The format rewarded group winners with rest and direct advancement — and both squads capitalised. For FURIA, this is consistent with their deep-run narrative. For Falcons, it may mark a maturation point: from promising roster to potential trophy contender.

But the work is far from done. In the high-stakes playoff phase, every map counts and the margin for error is thin. Falcons must keep leveling up; FURIA must defend their dominance. Regardless, the playoff field just became narrower, and two teams now sit one victory away from the grand final.