Falcons have secured a playoff berth at PGL Astana after defeating The MongolZ in the tournament’s 2-1 bracket. The series ended with a 2-1 scoreline, marking a successful start to the team’s new era under the leadership of Finn “karrigan” Andersen.
Overcoming early setbacks under new leadership
The organization acquired karrigan to replace former in-game leader Damjan “kyxsan” Stoilkovski. This roster move was executed because the previous lineup consistently failed to translate strong group stage performances into arena match victories throughout 2025 and early 2026. Following an initial defeat to 9z earlier in the current tournament, Falcons needed a win in this progression match to secure their advancement.
A tight series decided on Mirage
The qualification series began on Dust2, where Falcons claimed a convincing 13-8 win. The MongolZ answered back on Inferno with a narrow 13-11 victory, forcing the match to a third and final map.
On Mirage, The MongolZ established a heavy 10-4 lead. However, Maksim “kyousuke” Lukin delivered a highly effective performance for the Falcons, preventing elimination. The young Russian player maintained a high level of play across all three maps and initiated the comeback on the decider. Fueled by kyousuke’s output, Falcons managed to erase the six-round deficit, forced the game into overtime, and eventually secured a 16-12 win.
The playoff picture takes shape
With this result, Falcons advance to the arena matches. They join Spirit, 9z, and MOUZ as the first four teams to qualify for the eight-team playoff stage, which begins on Friday.
