The BLAST.tv Austin Major 2025 Stage 2 was supposed to be a big moment for Falcons, a top-tier Counter-Strike 2 team ranked among the world’s best. With stars like Nikola "NiKo" Kovač and Ilya "m0NESY" Osipov, they were heavy favorites to dominate. However, their campaign ended in disaster, bombing out with a 1-3 record. This article breaks down their struggles, m0NESY’s mixed performance, NiKo’s late collapse, and why the organization’s decisions may have played a role.

Rough start: Losses to B8 and Lynn Vision

Falcons started Stage 2 against B8 on Ancient, a map where they were favored to win. Despite taking the pistol round, they quickly lost momentum, allowing B8 to take control with back-to-back rounds. The final score was a crushing 13-8 loss for Falcons. B8’s Oleksii "alex666" Yarmoshchuk and sniper Danyyl "headtr1ck" Valitov shone brightly, while Falcons’ stars faltered. Emil "Magisk" Reif had a dismal 3.8 rating, and m0NESY wasn’t much better at 4.8. Only NiKo, with a 6.3 rating, showed fight, making key plays with pistols and rifles. 

Next, Falcons faced Lynn Vision, a Chinese team that barely qualified from Stage 1. Despite their top-3 global ranking, Falcons were again favored but lost 13-7 on Mirage. They started strong, reaching a 7-5 score in their defensive half, with NiKo and Magisk performing well. However, their attack was a disaster, winning only two rounds in the second half. Lynn Vision’s 8-2 defensive run sealed the upset. René "TeSeS" Madsen led Falcons’ attack with just five kills in 10 rounds, while m0NESY struggled again, posting a 4.9 rating. The loss raised questions about Falcons’ preparation, with some suggesting they underestimated their opponents.

m0NESY bounces back, but NiKo falters

Facing elimination, Falcons showed some life against OG on June 8. m0NESY stepped up with a solid 6.7 rating, but they still couldn’t secure the win. Their final match against MIBR was make-or-break, and m0NESY delivered again with a 7.0 rating. However, NiKo, who had been their best player early on, fell apart with a dismal 5.9 rating. This unexpected drop-off was a killer blow, and Falcons lost, ending their tournament with a 1-3 record. For a team seen as a Major favorite, this was a massive letdown.

What went wrong?

Falcons’ early losses to B8 and Lynn Vision pointed to sloppy play and possibly underestimating their opponents. m0NESY’s weak start (4.9 average rating against B8 and Lynn Vision) hurt them badly, though he improved against OG and MIBR. NiKo’s collapse against MIBR was even more surprising, as he’d been their most consistent player. The team looked totally dismantled, without a proper synergy and team play. Before the Major they reached three finals in a row and the semis at IEM Dallas 2025, but in Austin all that magic totally disappeared. 

Management’s role in the mess

Behind the scenes, Falcons’ management may have added to the chaos. Reports surfaced that the organization announced player substitutions before the Major, with the club planning to sign Maksim "kyousuke" Lukin for the next season. These roster changes were poorly timed and communicated. This likely shook team morale and focus, contributing to their shaky performance. For an organization with big investments and high expectations, these decisions were a costly mistake.

Conclusion

Falcons’ 1-3 exit from BLAST.tv Austin Major 2025 Stage 2 was a shocking failure for a team expected to contend for the title. m0NESY’s early struggles and NiKo’s late collapse were major factors, but the team’s lack of preparation and management’s mishandling of roster changes played a big part. This disaster serves as a wake-up call for Falcons, who need to regroup and fix their issues if they want to compete at the top level again.