“I felt terrible, could hardly focus” – Danil “molodoy” Golubenko opens up on the dramatic final of the Thunderpick World Championship 2025

“I felt terrible, could hardly focus” – Danil “molodoy” Golubenko opens up on the dramatic final of the Thunderpick World Championship 2025

In a thrilling conclusion to the Thunderpick World Championship 2025, held in Malta from 15 to 19 October, the roster of FURIA Esports rallied from a 0-2 deficit to beat Natus Vincere 3-2 in the grand final. The victory earned them the lion’s share of the prize pool and crowned the Brazilian-Kazakh-Latvian lineup as champions of one of the key Counter-Strike 2 events of the season. 

Yet for Danil “molodoy” Golubenko, the journey to that trophy was anything but smooth. In a post on his Telegram channel, the 20-year-old Kazakh AWP-specialist admitted he was ill during the first two maps of the final and “felt awful,” saying he “couldn’t pull myself together at all.” “The first two maps were hell – I was sick, felt terrible, couldn’t focus at all,” he wrote. “But the boys didn’t let me give up … the boys believed till the end and we pulled it off together.” 

The comeback

FURIA’s run in Malta culminated in an epic reverse sweep. After losing the opening two maps, the team dug deep, refocused and claimed the next three to lift the trophy. The win itself was a major statement for FURIA, reflecting their growth and resilience under pressure. 

Molodoy’s acknowledgment of his own physical condition adds an extra layer to the story: battling illness, down 0-2, yet finding the mental strength and team support to push through. His comments underscore how individual adversity can intersect with team dynamics in high-stakes LAN tournaments.

A team transformed

The win also highlights how far FURIA have come. Just weeks earlier, in a separate event, molodoy noted that although he had rapid success, the team still had “something to aspire to” – specifically a Major title. Meanwhile his teammate Mareks “YEKINDAR” Gaļinskis recently reflected on the team’s internal evolution: following their earlier success, they had to reset mentally when overconfidence crept in, particularly from molodoy, who had to learn the balance between confidence and overconfidence. “Sometimes his confidence goes a little bit too much… he kinda understood the balance of confidence and overconfidence,” YEKINDAR said. 

Thus, this title win in Malta could be viewed not just as a moment of triumph, but as a validation of the growth path FURIA are travelling – from promising roster to contenders capable of closing in on elite levels. Coach Sidnei “sidde” Macedo and veteran IGL Gabriel “FalleN” Toledo both shared public praise after the win: FalleN wrote “proud of everyone in the team and the organisation” and sidde called the result “incredible … what we’re building is incredible.” 

What it means going forward

For molodoy personally, this moment will likely be a key milestone. He joined FURIA relatively recently and has already shown high ceiling, but admits — in earlier interviews — he still needs to improve his English and overall game-sense to become a more complete player and contributor. “The biggest aspiration is English. If I had 100% English, I would be able to call and suggest things to my team,” he told HLTV a month earlier. 

Beyond him, the team now carries momentum into future events, notably the upcoming Major and other international tournaments. The ability to overcome sickness, a two-map deficit and the pressure of a final suggests considerable mental fortitude. Their polish might still be a work in progress, but the trophy proves they can deliver when it counts.

Final thoughts

In the end, it wasn’t just the mechanical skill or strategic nuance that won FURIA the Thunderpick title — it was perseverance. Molodoy’s frank admission of feeling “awful” during the opening maps makes their comeback even more impressive. When push came to shove, his teammates refused to give up on him, he refused to give up on the match, and together they turned the series around.

For half of a team still with rising trajectories — Brazil’s core veterans alongside newer international talent — this win might mark the moment they move from establishing phase into elite contention. And for molodoy, showing he can deliver despite personal adversity will deepen his standing within the team and the scene.