NiKo reflects on Budapest Major exit in new vlog: “After beating G2, I truly believed we could go all the way”

NiKo reflects on Budapest Major exit in new vlog: “After beating G2, I truly believed we could go all the way”

Nikola “NiKo” Kovač has released a new vlog in which he opened up about Team Falcons’ run at the StarLadder Budapest Major 2025, admitting that the team’s playoff breakthrough — and especially their win over G2 — made him believe a deep title run was within reach.

“Personally, after making the playoffs and beating G2, I really believed we could go all the way,” NiKo said in the vlog, adding that throughout the event he felt Falcons were improving and “becoming mentally stronger.” 

The comments arrive after Falcons’ tournament ended in the quarter-finals, where they were swept 2-0 by Spirit (13-4 on Nuke, 16-12 on Dust2). 

The G2 series that changed the mood

NiKo’s reference point — the moment he says convinced him Falcons had championship potential — came in the high-pressure series against G2, a match that ultimately decided the final playoff spot. Falcons recovered from an opening-map loss to reverse-sweep the series and secure passage to the arena stage.

In his post-elimination reflections, NiKo framed that breakthrough as more than just a bracket result: it was a psychological shift. According to the vlog recap, he believed Falcons were trending upward as the Major progressed, particularly in terms of composure and mental resilience. 

That theme has also been present in NiKo’s official media appearances. In an HLTV interview during the event, he spoke about Falcons being in a better place mentally compared to earlier in the year, noting that the team had “learned [its] lesson” from the Austin Major and suggesting the group was stronger in mentality even through setbacks. 

A season without trophies — but “very stable”

NiKo also zoomed out beyond Budapest, offering a wider assessment of Falcons’ 2025 campaign. While acknowledging that the year may not look outstanding “in terms of trophies,” he stressed the value of consistency and competitiveness — especially from IEM Cologne onward, where he felt Falcons regularly performed at a high level. 

That “process over silverware” framing mirrors some of NiKo’s other 2025 interviews, where he has repeatedly highlighted internal development, team energy, and fixing communication dips during difficult stretches. 

Budapest ending: Spirit shut the door

Falcons’ playoff run, however, never truly got going in the arena. Spirit’s quarter-final win was defined by a crushing Nuke performance and a Dust2 comeback, sending Falcons home before they could build momentum on stage. 

For NiKo — one of Counter-Strike’s most decorated riflers still chasing a Major trophy — the exit was another painful chapter in a storyline that has followed him for years. And that’s what gives his vlog comments their weight: he isn’t speaking about vague “what-ifs,” but about a specific moment where he felt the pieces were finally aligning.

“After making playoffs and beating G2, I really believed we could go all the way,” he said — a sentence that captures both Falcons’ late-tournament surge and the abrupt reality check that followed in the quarters.