FURIA Esports player Yuri "yuurih" Boian evaluated the team's performance at the IEM Katowice 2025 Play-In stage. In an interview with Bo3.gg, he also shared his emotions after the victory over Wildcard Gaming, discussed women's teams at major events, and assessed the prospects of João "snow" Vinicius.

How difficult was this game for you, and how would you rate your performance from 1 to 10?

The first map didn’t go as planned. We tried some plays, but they didn’t work well because our opponents played differently than expected. It was tough, even though it’s our best map. The third map was also really difficult, but the team played great, so I’m proud of them. As for my own performance, maybe a 6.

The game was very intense. If you could play it again, what would you do differently?

I’m not sure yet; we need to review the game first. Communication plays a huge role in matches like this, so we’ll analyze it, figure out what can be improved, and make adjustments for the next games.

Was the communication issue more about too much unnecessary talk or incorrect information?

Sometimes it's incorrect information, sometimes players don’t fully understand what’s being said. There are always communication challenges, but we just need to improve and be better next time.

You played against Imperial Female. What do you think about them and the women's scene in general?

They were tough opponents. zAAz, in particular, was really strong — she killed me eight times, and I had no chance. They are skilled and smart, but they need more practice and experience in bigger tournaments. I’m rooting for them, and it was a great match.

Do you think women’s teams will compete at the top level this year?

Yes, absolutely. I had never played against a female team before, and this match was really tough. They need more opportunities to compete against strong teams in big tournaments, and with time, they will improve even more.

You’re moving on to the group stage. What’s next—rest or practice?

I don’t know when we play next, maybe tomorrow. If so, we’ll review our match today, analyze our mistakes, and prepare for the next opponent. The goal is to improve and be a better team.

What do you think about snow? He’s been impressive.

Yeah, he’s really young but playing very well at the start of the year. I’m cheering for him to keep improving. He has a bright future in CS.

FURIA defeated Wildcard and advanced to the group stage of IEM Katowice 2025. You can follow the news, schedule and results of the tournament at the link.