Kyxsan: “Something is happening to us in these important games, and we’re working to fix it”

Kyxsan: “Something is happening to us in these important games, and we’re working to fix it”

Falcons chase consistency as pressure mounts in key matches

Falcons’ in-game leader Damjan “kyxsan” Stoilkovski says the team know exactly where their biggest problem lies: closing out the matches that matter most.

Despite strong results over the past few months, the star-studded roster — featuring NiKo, m0NESY, TeSeS, kyxsan, and kyousuke — continues to fall short when it comes to lifting major trophies.

The Saudi-backed organization has been fully committed to winning since signing Danny “zonic” Sørensen as head coach. Their first big LAN success came earlier this year at PGL Bucharest, where Falcons swept G2 3–0 in the grand final to claim their first top-level trophy in Counter-Strike.

However, that title was achieved with a different lineup. Since then, the team has doubled down on its “superteam” approach, adding m0NESY from G2 and young rifler Maxim “kyousuke” Lukin, aiming to establish themselves as the best in the world.

So far, results have been impressive in group stages. Falcons topped their group at IEM Chengdu 2025, secured a playoff spot with a victory over Spirit, and are currently ranked among the top three teams globally. But when playoff pressure intensifies, the team’s composure falters.

“Something is happening to us in these important games”

Following Falcons’ third-place finish at IEM Chengdu after a 2–1 win over MOUZ, kyxsan admitted that the team’s biggest obstacle is mental.

In crucial playoff moments, Falcons have repeatedly lost rounds from advantageous positions, turning “Falcons rounds” — thrown 4v2 and 5v3 situations — into a running community joke.

At Chengdu, history repeated itself. After topping their group, Falcons fell 0–2 to FURIA in the semi-final (5–13 on Inferno, 11–13 on Mirage) — their third consecutive defeat to the Brazilian side.

“Something is definitely happening to us in these important games, and we’ve been working on it to fix it,” said kyxsan.

He noted that the team generally performs well in earlier stages but begins to make uncharacteristic mistakes once the pressure spikes. The captain believes the issue may stem from nerves or mentality, but stresses that everyone on the roster acknowledges the problem and is committed to solving it.

Inferno struggles and pistol-round progress

Reflecting on the third-place series against MOUZ, kyxsan highlighted both positives and areas for improvement. Falcons were dominant on Ancient and Mirage, yet Inferno remained a weak point.

He admitted that the team had previously tried to fix the map, saw progress, but then regressed again during Chengdu. Inferno, he said, remains on their to-do list — the team needs to “recap” and rediscover their preferred approach.

One noticeable improvement came in pistol rounds. After struggling to find consistency earlier in the year, Falcons shifted focus to mid-round decision-making, emphasizing better individual choices once initial plans were executed. This adjustment turned a former weakness into a strength at Chengdu.

Kyxsan also mentioned that Falcons’ continued success against MOUZ — four series wins in 2025 — is not a coincidence. The matchup suits their style, and the team feels particularly confident in that head-to-head.

Asked about format preferences, the in-game leader said he still prefers best-of-three matches over best-of-ones, valuing the stability and fairness of longer series in CS2.

A growing rivalry with FURIA

Falcons’ semi-final loss once again came at the hands of FURIA, who have now beaten them in three straight series. Gabriel “FalleN” Toledo’s squad is currently one of the most in-form teams in Counter-Strike, with new additions molodoy and YEKINDAR leading the way. FURIA went on to dominate Vitality 3–0 in the Chengdu grand final.

For Falcons, the event was a reminder of their dual nature: a powerhouse capable of beating anyone in groups, but still struggling to stay composed in decisive matches.

Teammates weigh in

NiKo, one of the team’s cornerstones, said earlier this year that zonic’s renewed hunger was the key reason he joined Falcons. According to NiKo, the legendary coach is eager to prove once again that he belongs at the top — and that ambition drives the entire project.

He also praised kyousuke’s rapid rise, comparing the young rifler’s aggressive and flashy playstyle to his own. However, after several painful defeats, NiKo didn’t shy away from criticizing the team’s inability to close out key matches, calling it “unacceptable” for a lineup of such caliber.

For his part, kyousuke remains grounded, emphasizing hard work and focus over pressure. The 18-year-old said he tries not to think about the magnitude of tournaments and instead focuses on enjoying the game and playing with his teammates.

Meanwhile, m0NESY recently highlighted how well Falcons can perform when everything clicks, pointing to their near-perfect coordination, trading, and communication during their best games.

Kyxsan, speaking in another interview during IEM Melbourne, also praised m0NESY — not just for his mechanical skill, but for his communication, which he described as unusually strong for an AWPer. The young star’s calm leadership, he said, often helps keep the team composed in chaotic moments.

Kyxsan’s rapid rise

Kyxsan’s career trajectory explains much of the pressure he now faces.

He first made waves in 2023 with Apeks, leading the underdog team to a surprising semi-final run at the BLAST Paris Major. Later that year, Heroic picked him up to lead their rebuilt lineup.

On HLTV Confirmed in early 2024, kyxsan admitted he sometimes still can’t believe how quickly his career has accelerated — from relative obscurity to captaining playoff-tier rosters. Former Heroic coach Eetu “sAw” Saha praised his vision of the game and leadership style, giving him freedom to call his own way.

That journey led him to Falcons — one of the most expensive and ambitious projects in Counter-Strike history — where expectations are nothing short of championship victories.

What Chengdu revealed about Falcons

The IEM Chengdu campaign offered a clear snapshot of where Falcons stand:

Form and consistency: Falcons are a top-tier team, regularly beating elite opposition and reaching playoffs.

Mental barrier: The team continues to falter in high-pressure matches, especially semi-finals and finals.

Self-awareness: Both NiKo and kyxsan have publicly acknowledged this issue, showing the roster is committed to addressing it.

Tools to fix it: Improved communication (m0NESY), youthful confidence (kyousuke), and an IGL with Major playoff experience (kyxsan) provide the foundation to overcome their psychological hurdles.

The next big test for Falcons will be whether they can bring the same composure and efficiency they show in group stages into championship-deciding matches — and finally prove that the “something” happening in crucial games is no longer holding them back.