FalleN Reflects on FURIA’s Season After Budapest Major Exit: “With Time I’ll Appreciate These Moments More”

FalleN Reflects on FURIA’s Season After Budapest Major Exit: “With Time I’ll Appreciate These Moments More”

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Budapest, Hungary • December 13, 2025 —
Brazilian CS2 veteran Gabriel “FalleN” Toledo spoke candidly after FURIA’s elimination from the StarLadder Budapest Major 2025, expressing that with a few days’ perspective he expects to feel gratitude for the team’s journey this year, even if the defeat still feels fresh now. 

FURIA’s Major run ended in the quarter-finals, with Natus Vincere winning the best-of-three series. After losing Mirage and Train, FURIA mounted a comeback on Inferno but ultimately fell short, concluding their Major campaign earlier than expected. 

In the post-match interview with HLTV, FalleN discussed FURIA’s tactics, including their map veto choices, such as opting not to pick Nuke where they’d previously enjoyed success against NAVI earlier in the tournament. He acknowledged the team’s struggle to maintain rhythm against a resilient NAVI side. 

Despite the loss, FalleN reminded fans of FURIA’s impressive 2025 season, which included multiple high-profile trophies long before the Major:

• FISSURE Playground #2 title with a 3-2 series win over The MongolZ.

• IEM Chengdu 2025 championship — a commanding 3-0 victory over Vitality in the grand final, marking one of FURIA’s most significant event wins of the year.

• BLAST Rivals Fall 2025 success with a convincing playoff run.

• Victory at the Thunderpick World Championship 2025 (noted in multiple esports records).

FalleN stressed that achievements like these help soften the sting of defeat: “In a few days, I’ll be able to look back and feel a bit more gratitude for these moments, and the bitterness will quickly fade,” he said, recognizing that every season has both highs and lows. 

On Leadership and Transition

FalleN also elaborated on his ongoing reflections about his role in FURIA. Earlier in 2025 he shifted away from the AWP role, handing it over to teammate molodoy to better balance team dynamics — a strategic move he sees as part of a broader transition. 

The 34-year-old captain confirmed that he and the organization are already planning for the future, including searching for a new in-game leader so that he may one day step away from competitive play and pursue personal priorities outside esports. But for now, FalleN stated he remains committed to the team and intends to continue competing into 2026. 

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FURIA’s 2025 Momentum & Major Run

FURIA’s rise in the latter half of 2025 was one of the most talked-about storylines in CS2 esports. The team confirmed its strength with victories at several international tier-1 tournaments, showcasing that Brazilian Counter-Strike remains a powerhouse on the global stage. 

Yet, as the stakes rose at the StarLadder Budapest Major 2025 — one of the season’s most prestigious events — FURIA couldn’t translate their rich trophy cabinet into a deep Major run. After dispatching NAVI decisively in an earlier stage, FURIA’s knockout loss in the quarter-finals remains a disappointing end to a year that many expected would see them vie for Major glory.