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In what was deemed to be a promising showing for Team Falcons as one of the hyped teams to put up a fight against Team Vitality – arguably their most challenging opponent heading into this competition. Now all those talks would be fading into the distance as the Falcons are set for an early break and will now move on from their hopes of getting a chance at the major. No one expected the Falcons to lose this early, especially when they have been winning impressive games and have certainly found ways to win when it matters most. Not this time against MIBR, however, and now it seems that the team is set to get back to the drawing board with the hopes of eventually figuring out their woes and try to solve their struggles moving forward. To be fair, the Falcons are a top pick to watch out for at the beginning of the tournament, and this is going to be quite a sting. The team fell flat when it mattered most, and they could not find ways to answer the call, which says a lot about how it is expected from the team to be playing at the high level like their contender peers do for most of the season. A Disappointing Loss Falcons initially controlled the series with a win at Ancient to conclude a 13-6 rally in the match opener as the T side, showing that they are going to dictate the series. However, the games got a little bit interesting when they pushed for Game 2 at Nuke, where MIBR caught the Falcons sleeping to take a 10-2 lead in the map. Despite a 7-2 run from the Falcons, MIBR worked well to deny them the comeback and claimed a 13-9 finish to tie the series at 1-1, forcing a series-decider to ensure that they would not go down without a fight. As expected, both teams put up a stand in the final map, which proved to be quite fun to watch as it was decided in Inferno – of all maps. Falcons started by winning the first three rounds, but MIBR responded to take an 8-4 leaf by the half and showed that this is going to be a fun ride for both teams. MIBR did not let up in the second half and won the pistol and conversion rounds. Falcons tried to claw their way back with six wins in the next rounds to even it up at 10-10, forcing an overtime. By Round 42, fans were treated to a massive roller coaster finish, but it was MIBR who stole the show with a defuse to win the game. A Disappointing Finish Considering that the Falcons fielded a strong group composed of Ilya “m0NESY” Osipov and Nikola “NiKo” Kovač, the team was definitely expected to win no matter what. However, this ending has shaken a lot of the “favorite” talks at this point, and that no lead is safe when it comes to these majors. For what it’s worth, m0NESY did step up well in the loss with 30 frags and seven assists on 26 deaths. NiKo, however, did not show up for his big game as he only had 18 frags and eight assists against 24 deaths. Now, it is going to be a long, tough break for the Falcons, and this is indeed a tough look for the team at this point in time.

While we all know how tough the competitive nature that StarCraft II brings to the table, it cannot be denied that the game’s impressive effect and skill utilization have opened it up to many different avenues. Surprisingly, this includes a new area of neuroscience research as well, showcasing the massive potential of the game up to this point. It is worth noting that StarCraft has been around for more than a decade. Being a promising game since 2010 and setting the standard of real-time strategy games in the esports stage, it is definitely a game that has defined generational competitiveness over the years. A new study on human behavior and the impact of computers suggests that StarCraft II has become a valuable tool in helping researchers achieve optimal results. So far, recent findings have shown that StarCraft II has helped generate multiple patterns of brain activity for participants and has a lot of great use for other potential research surrounding the same niche. StarCraft II Utilized in a Different Way StarCraft II’s impressive micro-managing has allowed players to come up with diverse approaches to the game. They manage resources, balance army compositions, and also make key decisions while they are under massive pressure. The demand of the game in terms of shifting attention, and recognition of in-game elements, certainly has a lot of massive effects on the neural pathways in the brain. This is the element that the new neuroscience research has delved into so far, and it has opened up a unique opportunity for the SWPS University of Social Sciences and Humanities. “While research on video games is well-established, only in recent years have we begun to systematically explore their potential benefits for cognitive functioning,” said study author Natalia Jakubowska. “At the same time, esports has evolved into a serious discipline, where discussions about individual predispositions—much like in traditional sports—are increasingly common. We became curious whether there might be neurobiological traits that support effective learning or high-level performance in complex games.” According to Jakubowska, the study they embarked on was designed to investigate and observe brain activity whenever participants engage in StarCraft II, and the results have been promising so far. The research focuses on the brain signal called the N2pc, which is an electrical pattern that can only be seen using electroencephalography (EEG), which is equipped to see how attention is allocated to different spaces of the brain. StarCraft II as a Generational Research Tool StarCraft II has been a promising game to the point that it is being applied to key research such as this. It only amplifies the legacy that the RTS title is leaving behind with a lot of rumors of a new StarCraft game on the rise now more than ever. Moreover, it also enforces video gaming as a high potential avenue for huge researches that may have a significant impact in the community. “Lastly, I’d like to share a personal belief: I think games, while not always and not all equally, can be a valuable part of our lives,” Jakubowska concluded. “I don’t believe they are harmful in moderation—quite the opposite. Today’s games are not only entertainment tools; they are also complex learning environments, spaces for decision-making, social interaction, and even cultural expression. I believe it’s time we approached them with more openness—including from a scientific perspective.” There’s more to expect as StarCraft II continues to thrive at this point in time. Who knows, maybe a research will be done with regards to the massive events that StarCraft II participates in.

A lot of loaded contenders in the Counter-Strike 2 scene are making their way to the Austin Major this season with the hopes of notching history in the tournament. However, it seems that a massive favorite is looming over all of them this time around with Team Vitality set as the top pick to win the competition. Kicking off today, the CS2 Austin Major is set to feature the likes of MOUZ, Team Spirit, and Team Falcons – just some of the hottest teams in the league right now that has made their presence felt on some of the big stages earlier in the season. But despite all their strong runs so far, nothing has been better than Team Vitality, who has been riding on a massive winning streak of 30 straight matches so far. To win consecutive matches alone is a tough task in a highly competitive environment such as CS2. Yet, Team Vitality seems to be keen on writing history as they keep on putting up impressive performances night in and night out, which says a lot about their chances of clinching the Austin Major now more than ever. A New Era of Dominance? No team in the history of the whole Counter-Strike franchise has been able to dominate the big stage this way. Well – at least since the days of the legendary Astralis squad in its prime back then. Now, Team Vitality is riding hard with a lot of pressure and confidence at the same time. Vitality, for all its success and dominance in the game so far, isn’t without its challengers. Still, none of these teams have had a winning record against the French squad so far. MOUZ has a 3-15 record against them this year. Team Spirit has gone 1-7, and Team Falcons may be the closest at 5-10. These so-called CS2 juggernauts may be needing some massive tweaks if they are going to ever score a win against Team Vitality, who has been scorching hot against these three teams this season, showing how their dominance is allowing them to take over the CS2 scene as if they are the new face of the franchise moving forward. Well, a win at the Austin Major could tilt the scales into their favor on that regard. After all, no one has ever managed to win a lot of games the way Team Vitality did, which definitely proves that there is indeed more to expect from the team as they move forward with a bigger goal in mind. Can the Streak Stay Alive? The superstar duo of Mathieu “ZywOo” Herbaut and Robin “ropz” Kool has been very vocal about their recent success, crediting the entire squad and putting a lot of trust and spotlight on their supporting cast. Shahar “flameZ” Shushan, William “mezii” Merriman, and Dan “apEX” Madesclaire have all been crucial in helping the squad win a total of six tournaments in a row. The last win in IEM Dallas following a sweep of MOUZ says a lot about how they are still reigning supreme in the game. For the streak, however, to stay alive, they will have to keep on grinding hard and outwit their opponents on the big stage. After all, Team Vitality is in prime position to also become the first team in the history of CS2 to win two Grand Slams in a single calendar year. They now have three chances left to complete that feat this year.

OG, the iconic esports organization renowned for its Dota 2 legacy, has announced a significant overhaul of its European roster. This strategic move is spearheaded by Johan "N0tail" Sundstein, the organization's co-founder and two-time The International champion, who returns to the fold as the head coach. N0tail's appointment marks a pivotal moment in OG's quest to reclaim its former glory in the competitive Dota 2 scene. The past two years have been challenging for OG's Dota 2 division. After a series of roster changes and underwhelming performances, the team failed to qualify for TI in both 2023 and 2024. Recognizing the need for a fresh direction, OG's management decided to rebuild the team from the ground up. This rebuilding process culminated in the formation of a new roster, blending seasoned veterans with promising talents. A Whole New World The new revamp for OG was unprecedented, but it went faster than most people expected it to happen as well. Now it seems that they are keen to see a repeat of their dominant stretch in Dota 2 back then. On loan from Natus Vincere, Indji “Shad” Lub brings experience from the Tier 2 scene and is expected to bolster OG's offensive strategies. Another key addition would be Daniel “Stormstormer” Schoetzau, a German midlaner with a history in international tournaments, Stormstormer has been trialing with OG since April and is now officially part of the team. The support spots are filled by Tamir “daze” Tokpanov and Ivan “Kidaro” Bondarev. Daze is a young Kazakhstani player who previously played for the Natus Vincere academy, while Kidaro is an Ukrainian support player with experience in various Eastern European teams. So far, this diverse lineup reflects N0tail's vision of blending experience with youthful energy, aiming to create a cohesive and dynamic team. Nothing is easy in Dota 2, and everything has to be earned. N0tail, for one, knows how to win it all, and he is definitely going to need to teach all his tricks if the team will even have a chance at winning. “N0tail is going to be taking charge of the team. He's going to be coaching the team, managing the team, and building it in the way he wants it to be built,” team CEO Daniel Sanders said of N0tail’s experience and coaching. “And that means picking up young talent, and really going back to his philosophy of running a team in his image.” On to the Next Challenge N0tail himself expressed his commitment to fostering a team that not only excels in gameplay but also understands the intricacies of Dota 2. He aims to cultivate a squad where communication and strategic thinking are paramount, allowing players to engage in meaningful discussions about the game. With the new roster in place, OG is setting its sights on upcoming qualifiers for major tournaments, including The International 2025 and the Esports World Cup 2025. The team's performance in these events will be a testament to the effectiveness of N0tail's coaching philosophy and the synergy of the newly assembled roster. As OG embarks on this new journey, fans and analysts alike are eager to see how the blend of veteran leadership and emerging talent will impact the team's trajectory in the competitive Dota 2 landscape. The coming months will undoubtedly be crucial in determining whether this new chapter marks the resurgence of OG's dominance in the esports arena.

A well-timed victory by Xtreme Gaming in the Asian Champions League now puts them on the driver’s seat to represent China in the Esports World Cup. The Dota 2 team is now eager to take on the challenge this August and looks to continue their hot groove after finishing strong for the recent Chinese Qualifier event. Coming off massive roster adjustments in which they had to replace position 5 support player Qiancheng “Undyne_” Li with a veteran star in Jiang “天命 (Tian ming)” An, Xtreme Gaming looked good in this campaign in the ACL. It seems that they are finally reaping the benefits of this roster shift after they lost their ESL One Raleigh 2025 slot. This win comes off as a promising groove setter for the team now more than ever, especially with the TI 2025 Regional Qualifiers also coming in hot. The stakes are higher than ever, and it seems that there’s more to expect from Xtreme Gaming with their chances of being the first Asian team who could clinch the EWC title now more than ever. Massive Win to Remember Both Xtreme Gaming and Team Tidebound have been deemed to be the best teams in China over the years. It is definitely destiny that these two teams managed to meet up in the final of the Asian Champions League 2025 and gave fans a promising showdown to remember. Xtreme managed to knock out Tidebound in a 3-2 win in the Grand Finals, walking away with the $100,000 prize money. The ACL, organized by ESL Gaming, DreamHack, and Hero Esports, was held live at the National Exhibition and Convention Center in Shanghai. However, this tournament featured a different pace as it was held only on a single day – with four teams playing in a compact single-elimination format. As one of the strongest teams in China, it is a promising look to see Xtreme Gaming thrive on the big stage. What makes this win even more crucial is the fact that they managed to lock into a spot for the Esports World Cup – because Tidebound was recently named one of the eight directly invited teams to The International (TI) 2025. More Than Just a Win The victory puts Xtreme Gaming in a promising position to be one of the teams to go for a shot at the massive $3 million prize pool in the Esports World Cup. However, Xtreme Gaming's journey to the Esports World Cup is not without challenges. While their regional dominance is evident, their performance in international tournaments has been inconsistent. Notably, despite a strong showing in the Games of the Future 2024, where they clinched the championship by defeating LGD in the grand finals, they faced early elimination at The International 2024, falling to Team Spirit in a decisive 2-1 series. This fluctuation in performance highlights the unpredictable nature of the competitive Dota 2 landscape. This victory underscores their resilience and strategic depth, essential qualities for success on the international stage. The roster's recent changes, including the return of seasoned players like Ame, Xxs, and XinQ, alongside the appointment of veteran coach Xiao8, have revitalized the team's dynamics, bringing a blend of experience and synergy that could prove pivotal in high-stakes tournaments. Now more than ever, it seems that Xtreme Gaming is definitely in need of a chance to prove its worth on the big stage and send its presence to another level as well.

Clément "Clem" Desplanches is sure gaming at a high level this time with the way he is racking up impressive wins in the recent StarCraft II A-Tier tournaments as of late. It cannot be denied that he is starting to build up a strong momentum for his title defense campaign in the upcoming Esports World Cup 2025. This year has been nothing short of elite for Clem, who has been scoring one tournament win after the other. Since the year 2025 tournaments have begun, Clem has either finished as the winner or the runner-up of an A-Tier tournament six times, which is more than any other player this year, with herO and MaxPax having the second most at two. The French wonder kid has taken down one elite star after another, and it is safe to say that this is him getting the gauge of his potential opponents heading into the coming months. With three big A-Tier tournaments left to play before the Esports World Cup, it seems that this will be the last runs that Clem needs to win at the very least. Clem Gunning for Wins Clem claimed his first win in 2025 with a revenge game against MaxPax in the OSC Championship Season 12, where he avenged his loss in the prior LiuLi Cup 2024 Grand Finals. He would go on to finish as a runner-up in the next two tournaments, losing to Cure in the WardiTV Team Liquid Map Contest #13 and then to Serral in the PiG Sty Festival 5.0 – both in the Grand Final stage of the respective tournaments. Since then, Clem has managed to beat MaxPax once more with a victory in the WardiTV Spring Championship 2025, and followed it up with the recent PiG Sty Festival 6.0, where he defeated herO as well. The next three tournaments to look out for Clem are Bellum Gens Elite Stara Zagora 2025 (June 4-7, 2025), HomeStory Cup XXVII (June 27-29, 2025), and the Championship of Russia 2025 (June 21-July 21, 2025). All of these have impressive prize pools compared to the last competitions that Clem played in, so it is easy to expect that he would be eager to play in the aforementioned tournaments. In hindsight, Clem has won or finished as the runner-up in the last six A-Tier tournaments this year, and that says a lot about the impressive pace that he is riding in for possibly a promising win to look out for. Driving the Pace The Esports World Cup 2025 tips off on July 7th, with games for Dota 2, Rennsport, and Valorant kicking off on the next day. StarCraft II games, on the other hand, doesn’t begin until July 22, which means that Clem will be either opting to skip the Championship of Russia or push through a tight schedule heading into the massive tournament. It can be remembered that Clem took home the big trophy of the inaugural run of the Esports World Cup last year, beating his rival Serral in a massive 5-0 sweep in the Grand Finals. In that run, Clem walked off with $400,000 in prize earnings, while Serral placed second and earned $150,000. With a lot of teams expected to show up and challenge Clem’s dominance, the French star’s hopes of winning and defending his title stand tall at this point.

OG is one of the most successful Dota 2 teams out there, and it cannot be denied that there are a lot of expectations on the team when it comes to their winning chances. But with their recent struggles, coach Maurice “KheZu” Gutmann has now decided to move on from his team in search of better strides. A prominent figure in Dota 2’s competitive scene, KheZu was initially a player before transitioning to a coaching job. Just seven months after serving as OG’s coach, the German pro saw how the team struggled in his lead. Considering how the Western European scene of Dota 2 is a competitive landscape that shows no mercy, it was kind of expected. However, KheZu moving on from the team is really quite a worrying look now more than ever. We have seen how he has been a pivotal leader for the team, but it seems that the struggles were too much for him and now he is looking to move on from the team with the hopes of landing with more, greener pastures. A Timely Parting of Ways KheZu’s move from OG has been considered a timely change of scenery as the Western Europe roster of the team is still in a rebuilding phase. The organization is also currently expanding its team to bigger heights and is signing a secondary squad in Peru, named OG.LATAM. KheZu was supposed to lead the Western Europe team, but it seems that he’s not eager to do so after all those struggles. Despite his decision to move on, OG founder Johan “N0tail” Sundstein has a lot of praise for the coach, claiming that he’s positively surprised by his work and is really fond of the former YouTube caster. “I think KheZu was the most surprising out of all, because we didn't really work much with him in the past. We cast and talked with him, but haven't seen this side of him, where he's trying to step up and be a driving force, a leader, a coach,” N0tail said of KheZu. “To me, he's very smart. He's emotionally very intelligent, more than Ceb, in my opinion.” KheZu was a leader of young talent – Nuengnara “23savage” Teeramahanon, Leon “Nine” Kirilin, Adrian “Wisper” Cespedes Dobles, Matthew “Ari” Walker, and Jian Wei “xNova-” Yap. All of these players have been quite a promising talent to watch, and they honed their talents under KheZu’s lead. A Run of Mishaps Despite all that talent, however, OG hasn’t really found a promising groove in their games over the past few months and could not buy a single win. The year 2025 hasn’t been theirs for the taking so far, even when they had a promising start at BLAST Slam I before finishing at the bottom. The team would inevitably be disbanded after all those struggles, and one can say that KheZu is really made the best out of his run with the team. It just so happens that OG was in a tough stretch in the past few months, which has certainly affected his leadership and the team’s overall groove in the game. OG is expected to name a new coach anytime soon, as well as detailed updates from its restructured Western European roster. KheZu, on the other hand, has not made any decisions or announcements on social media regarding his future.

Reports of a new StarCraft title being in the works have brought out the hype for the community as it seems that the Activision Blizzard title is finally set to come up with a new game for fans to enjoy. However, it is revealed that the original developer of the first two titles will not be returning to develop the said 2020s installment. Nexon, a South Korean gaming studio, has acquired the rights to develop the next installment in the StarCraft franchise. Considering the fact that it has been a long time since we have last seen a StarCraft game in development, it may be high time for the game to get its next title and revive the hype of the game once more – even relive the memories of the classic RTS title. It is worth noting that Nexon has only acquired the rights to develop a game within the StarCraft franchise as a whole, and not the whole intellectual property, meaning that they will not get to develop more than one game. This is an elating feeling for many fans out there who have been waiting for a new installment in the StarCraft franchise, and this is the big announcement that they have been waiting for. Never Heard of Nexon Nexon is famous as a gaming developer, believe it or not. It is known for developing the likes of DnF, Maple Story, and Mabinogi. The company won the bid over other prominent game developers such as NC Soft, Netmarble, and Krafton. While none of these companies ring a bell to almost every single player in the gaming scene, there’s still some good reason to expect bigger from Nexon. Nexon has recently worked on releasing games such as The First Berserker: Khazan, Dave the Diver, and Mabinogi Classic. Their track record isn't perfect, but at least they're not that bad of a developer. At worst, there may well be a StarCraft mobile game in development and not an actual sequel to the highly acclaimed StarCraft II. In that case, Nexon will definitely receive a backlash from StarCraft’s loyal fans. At this point, there’s still few details to work around with, but at least there’s bigger hope that fans will be getting a new StarCraft title in the years to come – whether it is a mobile game or not. New StarCraft Hype, 14 Years Later For the first time, Blizzard will not be at the helm of developing the StarCraft title. It is one of the most successful games of all-time, and it cannot be denied that SCII was the epitome of greatness in RTS scene, especially with the fact that it is the only real-time strategy title that has a massive fan following in the esports world. The next game in the highly beloved strategy series will be produced by Nexon, a South Korean gaming studio known for its success in the mobile gaming scene. According to sources, Activision Blizzard and Nexon will discuss details regarding full-scale IP collaboration this week. It is expected that it will be yet another mainline game in the StarCraft series. Considering that StarCraft II was released 14 years ago, it is certainly overdue for a follow-up in the franchise (much like how Bungie suddenly followed up a release for Marathon decades after its previous release). As one of the most recognizable franchises ever, there is indeed a lot of expectation for the next StarCraft game in development in the long run, and one can say that this is a huge opportunity for Nexon to leave a strong presence in the global gaming market. Partnering with a title such as StarCraft is definitely a good chance for them to earn a big break.

Virtus.pro was nowhere to be found in the previous edition of the Esports World Cup. However, the team may well be gunning for one of the prestigious titles in StarCraft II as the team has now moved to sign Kim “Classic” Doh Woo as their ace in the game and represent the squad in the coming months. The news broke out through a blog post on the Virtus.pro website earlier this week, and it garnered mixed impressions from the team’s fans considering that they haven’t been successful in almost any esports run this year so far. Signing Classic is a promising move that will give them better hopes of at least cracking one esports trophy at this point. The Esports World Cup is slated to begin this July 8th, and will go all the way to August 24th. There will be seven weeks of esports action across different games in Saudi Arabia, with each week featuring multiple games simultaneously. For Virtus.pro, this is a chance to show that they still have some grit in them and can still come up with a competitive set of players in the long run. Bringing in the Classic Experience Classic has been one of the renowned players in StarCraft II, competing at a professional level since 2010 when he began his career with STX SouL. He would then move on to SKT1 after the latter team disbanded and stayed there for three years. Since then, Classic has been jumping form one team to another, including the likes of MKers, Alpha X, and Twisted Minds. One of the biggest feats that we have seen from Classic in his StarCraft run was back in 2014 – when he finished first in the Global StarCraft II League Season 2: Code S. It was a massive run where he topped off the final against his rival Eo ‘soO’ Yun-su in six games, claiming a massive prize of ₩70,000,000 (roughly $69,000) in the win. While he hasn’t been much active in the last two years, the most recent achievement he’s had was a third-place finish in the 2023 GSL Season 3: Code S, where he represented Twisted Minds. Classic had a promising run in the game but dropped the game against Cloud9’s Koh ‘GuMiho’ Byung-jae, 1-3. He did, however, earn a slot in the subsequent ESL SC2 Masters 2023 Winter. Reviving a Legacy For Virtus.pro, signing Classic is a huge move that will give them a chance to elevate their status in the esports world. As one of the highly-decorated teams in the esports world, one can say that this is a chance that the team cannot pass up, especially if they are looking to earn some key wins on the big stage. As emphasized by Virtus.pro CEO Nikolai Petrossian, this is a chance for the team to set expectations and revive their status in StarCraft II. “A year ago, we attempted to revive our legacy in StarCraft II, but the circumstances weren’t in our favour. Now, we’re returning with a more accomplished player who boasts an impressive track record, including top-tier tournament victories,” Petrossian said in the signing of Classic. “We expect Classic to qualify for the Esports World Cup and deliver a strong performance at the event itself, as well as at other major competitions within the esports ecosystem.” For now, this will be a shot in the dark – a gamble that Virtus.pro is willing to make. If it pays off, then the team may have just found its next face in the StarCraft world – and a new home for Classic in the years to come.

Sleep is for the weak, they said, and it seems that David ‘Parker” Nicho Flores has some assessment to work on his game as he suddenly fell asleep during Mosquito Clan’s push for a big campaign in the FISSURE Special for Dota 2. So far, it has been a trending topic in the esports world, and many people are even calling it “the Parker incident” as of the time of writing. Online tournaments mean being at home and playing the game you love. However, that isn’t the case for Parker as he unceremoniously fell asleep right even before the match began. This was one of the rare incidents in the game, and one can say that this is indeed an isolated case that may not ever happen again – at least for now. So far, Mosquito Clan ended up with a promising run in the tournament, but it seems that it will be starting to make some second thoughts on playing Parker again at the very least. After all, you can’t actually expect someone to win big games if they keep on falling asleep in key games, let alone before it even begins. The Parker Incident Coming in as a substitute player for Mosquito Clan’s Dota 2 esports team after he had to replace Yheremi ‘payk’ Arroyo, Parker was expected to be a boost for the team with a crucial showdown versus OG brewing hot in the third day of the FISSURE Special. However, the game admins would later initiate a 10-minute pause after Parker was reported to be AFK. Estimated to be around the time of the draft phase in which players get to select their heroes and ban potential opponent picks, Parker was not responding and Mosquito Clan claimed that they could not contact him at the time. After 41 seconds of in-game run time, MC would go on to forfeit the match, forcing to hand OG an easy 2-0 win without any blood spilled. Mosquito Clan released a statement later regarding the incident. “By the time of the match against OG, it was already around 5 AM in Peru, and Parker wasn’t prepared in advance to play Dota all night,” Mosquito said in the social media platform X. “Unfortunately, at the most crucial moment, he simply didn’t have the energy to finish the game – the human factor is always unpredictable. We would also like to apologize to the organizers of Fissure Special for this accidental technical loss, as well as to the fans who were looking forward to the match.” Who is Parker? Unfortunately, Parker has a reputation of not being able to compete well at a high level. Formerly a player for HEROIC, Parker was benched last year after the team claimed that he showed a lack of desire to win when they played in the grand finals of the South American regional qualifier for ESL One Bangkok 2024. It was reported that Parker argued with the strategy that the team employed in the middle of the game against beastcoast, which was a pivotal part that proved to be the defining moment of the championship. After that incident, Parker would eventually leave HEROIC as he did not take the benching move lightly. It can also be remembered that he left Infinity by his own decision after the team opted to designate him as a substitute after he displayed “a lack of commitment to his teammates and staff."

Entering his 16th year in the pro Counter-Strike scene, Nikola “NiKo” Kovac has been one of the most prolific players that fans have seen over the years. He has established his dominance in the game and has been hailed as the legendary player that many fans have loved to watch dominate the game on the big stage. At the age of 28, the Bosnian star has been one of the reputable players in the Counter-Strike franchise – being one of the few players who have gone through playing the first generation Counter-Strike, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, and now CS2. NiKo has shined bright in all three games, showing how great he has been over the decades. But despite all of those great feats at an individual level, NiKo has been eluded from winning a single Major in the game – in all games. Sure, there’s a lot of great games played by the star, but that has all led to zero Major championships, and not being able to win a single massive tournament at the top of the Counter-Strike scene is not a good look at his legacy. NiKo and the Chase for Majors NiKo isn’t a winless star. He is known for being able to carry a lot of powerhouse teams to success – winning 13 S-Tier tournaments with the likes of G2 Esports and FaZe Clan. At this point, one can say that the Bosnian star is really a great player in his own right. But not being able to win the most prestigious of all tournaments in Counter-Strike is really a tough break – even for the so-called best rifler in the game. After all these years, NiKo has not managed to get a single Major to himself, and now that he’s at the helm with Team Falcons, the star believes that he can still come up with a win and finally end that nightmarish drought that has haunted his legendary Counter-Strike career for years. “I consider myself one of the best riflers in the game, but still there are some things that I need to achieve in order to consider myself even higher. So, yeah it's all about the work and the results eventually.” said NiKo about his chase for greatness in the game. “We obviously know that success is going to take time – it just requires time – but we have a clear goal and a clear plan. And obviously the better results and the sooner they come, the better it is; but our goal is to reach our full potential by the end of the season for the Austin Major that is happening in May.” NiKo and the Falcons Team Falcons, unfortunately, hasn’t enjoyed all the rainbows and sunshine to start 2025. For what it is worth, it has been a roller coaster one so far – but there’s at least potential in their chances of winning. NiKo’s initial outing hasn’t been fun – losing out at the 9th-16th place in the BLAST Bounty Spring 2025. That’s not a good finish for a team that has the best rifler in CS history. They did improve in the later runs – finishing second in PGL Cluj-Napoca 2025 after they finished in 13th-16th place in IEM Katowice 2025. There are high expectations when you have the best player in the game, and this new project with the Falcons could well be the chance for NiKo to come up with a promising chance to win his first Major in a very long while.