FlyQuest Crash Out of DraculaN Season 2 in Disappointing Fashion; BASEMENT BOYS Continue Cinderella Run

FlyQuest Crash Out of DraculaN Season 2 in Disappointing Fashion; BASEMENT BOYS Continue Cinderella Run

The second day of the DraculaN Season 2 playoffs concluded with major shakeups in the Romanian LAN tournament, as one of the event’s most anticipated teams—FlyQuest—was unceremoniously eliminated in 7th–8th place. The Australian squad, ranked second-highest in the tournament according to HLTV’s Valve Regional Standings (VRS) entering the event, failed to meet expectations and exited after a series of underwhelming performances.

FlyQuest’s downfall came at the hands of GenOne, an unranked European side, in the third round of the lower bracket. Prior to that, they narrowly survived a tense encounter against SINNERS, who squandered a golden opportunity on Mirage in a 2v1 situation when Iulian "regali" Harjău pulled off a clutch that kept FlyQuest alive—at least temporarily. However, their reprieve was short-lived. Against GenOne, FlyQuest looked disjointed and unable to find synergy, ultimately falling 0–2 in a match that underscored their ongoing struggles.

Following the loss, FlyQuest’s in-game leader, Declan "Vexite" Portelli, took to X (formerly Twitter) to express his disappointment: *“That’s it for us at Draculan. Unfortunately, we just haven’t been able to click as a team, and the results are reflecting it.”* His statement echoes growing concerns about the team’s cohesion since their formation earlier this year. Despite holding the fourth position in the Asian VRS and sitting tied for 31st globally, their LAN performance in Romania exposed critical weaknesses that may jeopardize their preparation for the upcoming PGL Major in Budapest.

The implications of this early exit are significant but not catastrophic for FlyQuest’s Major hopes. Asia is allocated six slots for the Budapest Major: one direct invite to Stage 3, one to Stage 2, and four to Stage 1. With FlyQuest currently well within the qualification zone, they remain in a strong position—but continued poor showings could allow regional rivals like TheMongolz or M80 to close the gap in the VRS race.

Meanwhile, the DraculaN playoffs have been defined by surprise performers. None more so than Ukraine’s BASEMENT BOYS, an underdog roster that has stormed through the bracket with wins over both FlyQuest and Nexus in the opening playoff rounds. Their momentum carried them into the upper bracket final after a convincing victory over Passion UA on Day 2. The team’s LAN success has already translated into a notable rankings boost—they now sit at No. 108 in the global VRS, a remarkable jump for a relatively unknown squad.

On the other side of the upper bracket, European powerhouse OG also advanced to Saturday’s upper final after dispatching ECSTATIC. The Danish-led OG lineup, featuring veterans like valde and blameF, continues to demonstrate why they remain one of Europe’s most consistent teams in 2025. Their path to the grand final now goes through the surging BASEMENT BOYS—a clash that promises a stark contrast in experience and style.

The lower bracket also saw intense action. Alongside FlyQuest, both AM and SINNERS were eliminated on Friday, trimming the field from ten to six teams. SINNERS’ loss was particularly heartbreaking, as their missed 2v1 on Mirage against FlyQuest proved decisive in a series that could have reshaped the lower bracket trajectory. AM, another European side, also failed to capitalize on their seeding and bowed out without making a significant impact.

Looking ahead, Saturday’s schedule features four critical matches that will determine who advances to the grand final and who fights for third place. The day kicks off at 14:00 CEST with two lower bracket encounters, followed by the upper bracket final and the first lower bracket semifinal at 18:00 CEST. One of those evening slots will feature the winner of the Passion UA vs. GenOne decider—a match that will decide who faces either OG or BASEMENT BOYS in the next round.

DraculaN Season 2, hosted in Bucharest, has quickly become one of the most unpredictable tournaments of the 2025 season. With a $100,000 prize pool and valuable VRS points on the line, every match carries weight beyond just regional prestige. For teams like BASEMENT BOYS, this event could be a springboard to international relevance. For established names like FlyQuest, it’s a stark reminder that rankings and past results offer no guarantee of success on LAN.

As the tournament heads into its decisive phase, all eyes will be on whether OG can assert their dominance or if the fairy tale of BASEMENT BOYS continues. For FlyQuest, the focus now shifts to internal evaluation and preparation for the Major qualifiers—where redemption may still be possible, but only if they resolve the issues that plagued their DraculaN campaign.