FlyQuest Break Historic BO3 Curse as jks Feels the Support of an Entire Nation

FlyQuest Break Historic BO3 Curse as jks Feels the Support of an Entire Nation

1. FlyQuest secure a historic BO3 and jks feels the weight of Australia behind him

FlyQuest’s dominant 2-0 sweep over Fluxo at the StarLadder Budapest Major Stage 1 not only cemented their place in Stage 2 — it also ended a years-long drought. It marked the first best-of-three victory for an Australian core at a Major since StarLadder Berlin 2019.

Justin “jks” Savage said the team approached the match with calm discipline:

“We were kind of just going into the day pretty much the same as yesterday. We didn’t change anything, we just had the same mentality.”

FlyQuest crushed Overpass 13–1 and Inferno 13–3, with regali and vexite leading the fragging while jks and INS provided the backbone of the team’s structure.

2. “It’s really good playing with a country behind you”

For jks, this Major run represents more than just progression through the stages; it’s a homecoming after five years spent in internationally mixed teams like Complexity, G2, and Liquid.

He explained why returning to an Aussie core mattered:

“One of the reasons why I joined the team was obviously to play for an Australian core again, and just play for the region.”

He added one of the interview’s standout lines:

“It’s really good playing with a country behind you, playing in a majority-national team, whatever you want to call it.”

His words echo INS’s remarks from a previous interview, where the in-game leader revealed that AZR told the squad this could be “the best Australian core since his team in 100 Thieves”, and that he wants to “make Australia succeed again.”

3. Aurora’s all-Turkish rise as a blueprint

jks highlighted Aurora’s full-Turkish roster as a major source of inspiration:

“It’s kind of like Aurora. I feel like those guys inspired me a bit as well… It was really inspiring and motivating to see how well they were doing on the international stage when they grouped up as five Turkish players.”

Aurora’s rise — powered by XANTARES and guided by coach Fabre, who previously promised to help XANTARES break into the Top 20 — stands as an example of what a united national core can achieve.

For jks, FlyQuest’s Australian majority complemented by regali offers a similar sense of identity and purpose.

4. AZR’s return and the rebuilt playbook

Upon first joining FlyQuest, jks felt the team’s map pool lacked depth:

“We were strong on maybe one or two maps, and then the other maps were very shaky.”

After Aaron “AZR” Ward’s arrival as coach — following a successful trial at DraculaN 2 — the team’s preparation expanded dramatically:

“We just kind of added a lot of stuff, made our playbook a bit bigger, and just made sure we have something for everything that’s thrown at us.”

AZR has spoken openly about reworking roles and positions to create a more coherent structure, praising FlyQuest for giving him “a lot of freedom to lead things.”

Those adjustments showed in Budapest, with FlyQuest appearing well-prepared across multiple maps and confident even against surprise picks.

5. INS’s evolving leadership and FlyQuest’s mindset

Joshua “INS” Potter has stepped further into the IGL role and described his leadership approach as collaborative:

“I’m a friend, rather than a leader, so I’m trying to improve on that… He [AZR] inspires us to work hard, and motivates us.”

He also shared the team’s ambitions:

“The goal is to make Stage 3 and do more damage. As my friend would say, ‘Fuck your pickems.’”

This relaxed but hungry mindset mirrors what jks emphasized after beating Fluxo: Stick to the routine, avoid unnecessary pressure, and play one match at a time.

6. From G2 champion to FlyQuest cornerstone

jks remains one of Australia’s most successful players:

IEM Katowice 2022 champion as FaZe’s stand-in

IEM Cologne 2023 winner with G2 Esports

Following a difficult stint on Liquid, his July 2025 signing by FlyQuest marked a return to an Australian lineup for the first time since the 100 Thieves era.

Heading into the Budapest Major, FlyQuest’s roster — INS, jks, vexite, nettik, regali, with AZR as coach — hovered around the lower end of the Top 30, but momentum was clearly building.

7. Why this run matters for Australian Counter-Strike

Australia has struggled for stable representation since the peak Renegades/100 Thieves years. FlyQuest’s strong showing adds momentum to a region long searching for its next breakout lineup.

Their recent Major appearances include:

Perfect World Shanghai Major 2024 – Opening Stage (9–11th)

BLAST.tv Austin Major 2025 – Stage 1 (9–11th)

StarLadder Budapest Major 2025 – now through Stage 1 with a 3–0 sweep

With AZR’s leadership, INS’s growing maturity as an IGL, regali’s firepower, and jks’s experience and national pride, FlyQuest are increasingly compared to the legendary 100 Thieves core — and the players themselves acknowledge the parallel.

8. What’s next for jks and FlyQuest at the Budapest Major?

Despite the hype, jks remains grounded:

“We’re one of the underdogs of the event… I think the first goal would obviously be to make playoffs… We’re kind of just taking match by match.”

He also called Stage 1 a grueling journey, noting that both he and AZR had to push through a similar gauntlet during their last deep Major run back in 2019.