Falcons Coach Zonic Will Not Attend BLAST Bounty 2026 S1 Finals After Sudden Family Tragedy — Team Also Faces Roster Changes Ahead of Malta LAN

Falcons Coach Zonic Will Not Attend BLAST Bounty 2026 S1 Finals After Sudden Family Tragedy — Team Also Faces Roster Changes Ahead of Malta LAN

Danny “Zonic” Sørensen, the highly respected Danish coach of Falcons, will not be present with his team at the upcoming BLAST Bounty 2026 Season 1 Finals in Malta, the organization and community sources have confirmed. 

The decision comes after Zonic received news of the sudden passing of his brother during the early stages of BLAST Bounty competition. According to his own social media announcement, the veteran coach learned of the tragedy shortly after Falcons’ online opening match against ECSTATIC. Upon receiving the news, Zonic immediately flew home to be with his family during this difficult time. 

“After our game vs ECSTATIC, I learned that my brother suddenly passed away. I’ve flown home to be with my family,” Zonic wrote on X (formerly Twitter). “Tough times, but I’ll try to be back as soon as I can. Proud of the boys for qualifying for Malta.” 

Zonic’s absence marks a significant emotional moment for the Falcons organization and the broader Counter-Strike scene. At 39 years old, Danny “zonic” Sørensen is one of the most experienced coaches in the game, known for his leadership and strategic depth from his years both as a player and coach in top-tier CS:GO and Counter-Strike 2. Prior to joining Falcons, he coached teams including Astralis to multiple Major victories and is widely regarded as one of the most accomplished figures in Counter-Strike history. 

Falcons Roster Adjustments for BLAST Bounty Finals

In addition to Zonic’s emotional situation, Falcons will also compete in Malta without one of their main roster players. Maxim “kyousuke” Lukin will be unable to travel to the event due to unresolved visa issues — a recurring challenge for many players in international esports. 

To fill the gap left by kyousuke, Falcons will bring up Matej “NucleonZ” Trajkoski, a rising talent from their academy team. NucleonZ is expected to join NiKo, m0NESY, TeSeS, and kyxsan as part of the active five competing at the LAN event. 

This combination — two absences in both leadership (coach) and active roster — presents Falcons with a challenging scenario heading into one of the first major LAN events of the 2026 season.

About BLAST Bounty 2026 S1 Finals

BLAST Bounty 2026 S1 is one of the early premier Counter-Strike 2 tournaments of the year, featuring eight top teams who advanced from a competitive online stage. The event’s LAN portion takes place in Malta from January 22, 2026, with teams battling in a single-elimination bracket for the title and prize money. 

The full list of teams at the finals includes:

• Vitality

• FURIA

• Falcons

• Spirit

• Liquid

• Parivision

• GamerLegion

• HEROIC

Falcons’ opponents and their seeding will be determined in the event’s first draft phase, where lower-seeded teams select their upper-seeded adversaries live ahead of match play.

Community and Scene Reactions

The announcement of Zonic’s absence has drawn widespread condolences from the esports community. Fans and fellow players have expressed support across social platforms, recognizing both the personal gravity of his loss and his significant contributions to the scene. Comments on HLTV’s news page and social media highlighted respect for his decision to prioritize family at this time. 

Context on Zonic’s Career and Influence

Zonic’s impact on Counter-Strike spans over a decade. Beyond his coaching roles, he was a competitive player in the early CS:GO era and later became synonymous with tactical excellence during his tenure at Astralis, where he helped guide the team to multiple Major championships. He later joined Falcons, where his leadership and strategic insights were seen as critical to shaping the new lineup. 

His absence at BLAST Bounty 2026 S1 adds an emotional layer to an already uncertain competitive landscape for Falcons, but teammates and fans alike have rallied around the organization’s resolve to continue.