Aurora recently debuted their new international Counter-Strike roster at the Esports World Cup 2026 in Paris. Following a narrow 2-1 defeat to FURIA, in-game leader Damjan “kyxsan” Stoilkovski shared his perspective on the match and the ongoing development of the team. The organization recently shifted away from an all-Turkish lineup, bringing in kyxsan to replace Engin “MAJ3R” Küpeli, while also adding head coach Ashley “ash” Battye and Jimi “Jimpphat” Salo.
A close defeat against FURIA in Paris
The series against FURIA saw Aurora take early leads on both the first and third maps before ultimately dropping the series. kyxsan expressed frustration with the result but recognized the inherent potential of the newly formed squad.
Well, I think it’s frustrating way to lose. I feel like we had that one,” kyxsan stated. “We had good chance to win the first map and also the third map. We had good lead on both of them, but we just couldn’t close out both of the maps.
The in-game leader pointed to specific tactical missteps on their Mirage T-side. He explained that a combination of slow pacing and individual mechanical errors cost them crucial rounds.
The decision to join Aurora
Prior to signing with Aurora, kyxsan evaluated multiple options after his departure from Falcons. Contractual obligations and a lack of roster movement across other organizations led him to his current team.
There were at least few top teams interested, but because of contract things, because of some teams deciding not to make change, because of different reasons, Aurora was like the most obvious choice for me,” kyxsan explained.
He emphasized Aurora’s history of high placements and the strategic advantage of building an international roster. This new direction allowed the organization to acquire Jimpphat, a player kyxsan views as one of the best anchors in the game. The overall hunger and motivation of the players were also key factors in his decision to sign.
Building a comfortable environment under Ash
A core component of Aurora’s new structure is the addition of head coach Ashley “ash” Battye. According to kyxsan, the coach has provided him with the necessary freedom to lead the team effectively from the start.
Even since my first meeting with ash, he told me that he wants me to be kyxsan,” he said. “That was really important for me to hear because the IGL needs to be comfortable because he’s the one leading the game, and if he’s not comfortable then things get harder for him but also for everyone else.
The in-game leader praised the coach for his balanced approach to managing the squad. While previous coaches he worked with often focused heavily on single aspects of the game, kyxsan stated that ash performs well in both tactical preparation and mental conditioning for the players.
He’s really good tactically. He’s helping me, he’s helping the team with everything. And also, he’s really good at kind of preparing the team mentally,” kyxsan concluded.
