YEKINDAR on facing Falcons: "m0NESY is great — but we’ve got molodoy; NiKo or kyousuke are great, but we have KSCERATO"

YEKINDAR on facing Falcons: "m0NESY is great — but we’ve got molodoy; NiKo or kyousuke are great, but we have KSCERATO"

In the lead-up to FURIA’s important matchup against Falcons at IEM Changdu 2025, YEKINDAR didn’t mince words about the strengths of their upcoming opponents — but also made a point of highlighting FURIA’s own firepower. According to his post-match interview, he said:

“I think Falcons is one of the most dangerous teams right now, especially with the form of their players. I think m0NESY is great but we’ve got molodoy. I think you can say NiKo or kyousuke are great, but we have KSCERATO.” 

This remark carries weight not just as trash-talk but as a carefully positioned statement of intent. Below we unpack what it means in context of FURIA’s journey and the wider competitive scene.

Setting the scene — FURIA’s tournament path & Falcons’ rise

FURIA entered IEM Chengdu after earning a stunning 2-0 victory over The MongolZ in the quarter-finals. YEKINDAR acknowledged that the team “didn’t even think about not reaching semis at least.” 
Meanwhile, Falcons have been labelled one of the most dangerous rosters in CS2, bolstered by the star pair of Ilya “m0NESY” Osipov (AWPer) and Nikola “NiKo” Kovač (Rifler) alongside kyousuke “kyousuke” Kitagawa, making them highly capable in high-stakes matches. YEKINDAR’s recognition of them underlines his respect for their threat level.

On the matchup and mindset

YEKINDAR emphasised several key points in the interview:

• He acknowledged Falcons as “one of the most dangerous teams right now” due to their form and star talent.

• He stressed that FURIA have strong players themselves: “we have molodoy… we have KSCERATO.” By contrasting the names, he elevated his own roster’s capabilities.

• He admitted past wins vs Falcons, but also warned:

  “Even though we won against them the last two times we played, it doesn't mean we are going to automatically win tomorrow… It’s a matter of who’s going to have the better day.”

• Regarding scarcity of victories vs some top squads:

  “What we lacked was having experience to play against Vitality… The more we’re going to lose against Vitality, the happier I’m going to be… at least I know we’re going to get the necessary information and output for ourselves to improve.”

The players mentioned

• m0NESY: A young Russian AWPer now starring for Falcons, widely considered one of the best prospects and major-event performers in CS2.

• NiKo / kyousuke: Veteran talent making up the high end of Falcons' roster. YEKINDAR places them side by side to emphasise the challenge FURIA face.

• KSCERATO: His mention underlines FURIA’s confidence in their own if-not-star top talent, providing internal balance to YEKINDAR’s narrative. HLTV stats show KSCERATO posting a 1.18 rating and 1.19 Rating 2.0 this year.

• molodoy: FURIA’s young rifler — YEKINDAR referenced him specifically: “we’ve got molodoy” — indicating trust in newer talent to step up.

What this reveals about FURIA’s trajectory

• Intentional mindset shift: YEKINDAR said that recent wins at Thunderpick and FISSURE were “not best top-tier teams in the world, but this is the next step for us.”

• Focus on high-calibre events: FURIA’s goal now is “to win events and win higher calibre events.”

• Confidence paired with caution: While confident, YEKINDAR candidly admitted the margin of victory vs Falcons in the past was slim (2v4, etc.), and the upcoming match could go differently.

• Respecting Falcons’ talent: His recognition of Falcons’ roster shows FURIA are not taking them lightly, reinforcing the significance of the matchup.

Strategic significance

• Map-pool and adaptation: FURIA’s recent win over The MongolZ included standout plays by molodoy — a 1v2 through smoke with AK on Mirage that YEKINDAR highlighted.

• Roster depth and flexibility: By naming multiple key players on both sides, YEKINDAR is signalling that FURIA believe their depth matches or even exceeds the star power of Falcons.

• Psychological narrative: He essentially challenged Falcons by saying “you’re great, but we’ve got great too” — a narrative of internal belief boosting team morale.

What to watch

• Match outcome: Will FURIA secure another victory against Falcons? The promise is clear, but execution will matter.

• Clutch moments: FURIA’s previous success hinged on molodoy’s clutch and KSCERATO’s impact — similar moments could determine the match.

• Falcons’ response: With their star players, will Falcons step up and prove YEKINDAR’s statement wrong?

• Psychological edge: FURIA’s internal mindset may give them an edge if they execute calmly and consistently.

Final thoughts

YEKINDAR’s statement serves multiple functions: showing respect for Falcons, promoting belief in FURIA, and signalling readiness for a step up. At a time when FURIA want to establish themselves as a top tier team, the words “we’ve got KSCERATO, we’ve got molodoy” carry as much weight as match results.
For Falcons, it’s an added chip on their shoulders — and for spectators, this encounter between two rising teams becomes a litmus test: who will convert talent to titles? The stage is set, the minds are ready — now the performance must follow.