Falcons Sweep Monte to Secure BLAST Bounty 2026 Season 1 LAN Finals Berth

 

Falcons Sweep Monte to Secure BLAST Bounty 2026 Season 1 LAN Finals Berth

Falcons secured their place in the BLAST Bounty 2026 Season 1 LAN Finals in Malta, finishing qualification without dropping a single map after defeating Monte 2-0 in the Stage 2 round of 16.

The best-of-three encounter saw Falcons, seeded second in the bracket, take control from the outset. They had opened their campaign with a clean 2-0 victory over ECSTATIC in the first round, setting the tone for a dominant run through the online qualifiers.

Match Summary

• Map 1 — Nuke: Falcons established their winning momentum after navigating a challenging start from Monte. Though Monte managed six Terrorist rounds and briefly held the lead as the CT side began, Falcons regained control and closed out the map.

• Map 2 — Mirage: Falcons built a half-time advantage and maintained it, stifling Monte’s attempts to mount a comeback. A notable 1v3 clutch from Monte’s Aurélien “afro” Drapier brought brief hope, but Falcons remained composed to seal the series.

Key Performances

• Ilya “m0NESY” Osipov was the standout for Falcons throughout the series, finishing with a high rating and leading the team’s offensive output.

• René “TeSeS” Madsen also made a significant impact across both maps, ending the online portion of the event with a 1.52 rating, second best on his squad. He reflected on adjusting his schedule during the player break to reset his form, calling it a decision that paid off.

Context and Next Stage

By advancing, Falcons join seven other teams who have clinched LAN Finals spots at BLAST’s studio event in Malta, scheduled January 22–25, 2026. The full lineup includes teams such as Liquid and GamerLegion, with several spots yet to be determined.

Roster Update Ahead of LAN

Shortly after qualification, Falcons announced that Maxim “kyousuke” Lukin will be unable to attend the Malta Finals due to unresolved visa issues. His place on the active roster will be taken by NucleonZ from the academy team.

Significance for Falcons

This result continues Falcons’ upward trajectory in Counter-Strike 2. The team has consistently been among the top competitors following its formation, featuring high-profile players such as Nikola “NiKo” Kovač, m0NESY, and kyxsan, and guided by coach zonic.

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Tournament Background

The BLAST Bounty 2026 Season 1 event began with an online closed qualifier involving 32 teams fighting for just eight LAN Finals berths. The competition serves as one of the early major CS2 events of the year and offers significant prize money and exposure heading into the 2026 competitive calendar.