Honestly, I think it's both. NiKo has this weird pattern where every "superteam" he joins becomes overhyped and then crumbles under pressure. FaZe 2017, G2 2023, now Falcons 2025 - all major favorites that bombed out early. Maybe it's not entirely his fault, but there's definitely a psychological factor when you're constantly labeled as "the chosen one" who should win everything. The expectations become suffocating
People are being way too harsh on the team. MIBR played out of their minds, and those clutch situations could have gone either way. That 5v3 retake loss was painful to watch, but it happens. Also, let's not forget Falcons literally won PGL Bucharest just months ago with this roster. One bad tournament doesn't erase that. The "curse" narrative is just dramatic nonsense.
Pimp hit the nail on the head with his "dead team" comment. When players know roster changes are coming regardless of results, mental preparation goes out the window. You can't perform at your peak when you're already mentally checked out or thinking about your future. It's like playing a match knowing it's meaningless - your subconscious sabotages you.
The pressure argument is overblown. These are professional players making millions - pressure comes with the territory. What I saw was poor individual performances across the board, not just from NiKo. m0NESY looked lost on day one, team coordination was off, and their anti-eco rounds were amateur level. Sometimes teams just have off tournaments, no need to create conspiracy theories
Looking at the numbers, NiKo's Major record is actually quite impressive despite no wins - 2 finals, multiple semifinals, consistent playoff appearances over 10 years. Most players would kill for that resume. The "curse" is just selective memory bias. As for Falcons, they went from 0-2 to nearly completing an insane comeback against MIBR in triple OT. That's not choking, that's competitive CS at its finest
NiKo at majors is like me in MM - looks amazing in practice, then chokes when it matters But seriously, man's got the Midas touch in reverse - everything he touches turns to 16-2 losses at majors. Maybe he should try playing under a fake name? "NoKi" might have better luck Also shoutout to MIBR for reminding everyone that CS isn't played on paper - sometimes David just slaps Goliath and takes his lunch money
Y'all missing the real issue - team chemistry. Throwing together individual superstars doesn't guarantee success. Look at how long it took Vitality to gel, or how MOUZ built their identity over time. Falcons expected instant results with a roster that barely had time to develop proper synergy. The Austin Major just exposed their rushed timeline. Give them 6 months and they'll be back stronger.
Well, the results were already there, 2 tough finals against the best team in the world, where did the chemistry go against B8, MIBR?
Two finals proved they had a ceiling — but not consistency. Against B8/MIBR, cracks showed under pressure. That’s not lack of talent, that’s a team still learning how to handle setbacks together.
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