Following a comfortable victory against Aurora in the IEM Cologne semi-final, FURIA secured their spot in the tournament’s grand final. Speaking after the match, Mareks “YEKINDAR” Gaļinskis expressed gratitude for the opportunity while maintaining a strict focus ahead of the ultimate series.
Feels great,” YEKINDAR said. “Super grateful for this opportunity for FURIA, for my teammates, and from all the fans that are here. Everybody is partly a part of this and very happy to be here, but job not finished.
Finding rhythm and managing the economy
When asked if this is the highest level FURIA has reached, YEKINDAR suggested the team actually performed better last year. He pointed out that the roster entered this tournament lacking confidence, but they eventually found their footing as the event progressed.
Everything clicked during the major,” he explained. “You start getting this momentum and rhythm, and at the end of the day I feel like everything is dependent on the rhythm and momentum.
A central factor in their semi-final success against Aurora was clear communication and strict economic management. YEKINDAR highlighted specific moments that swung the series, including a crucial weapon drop from Gabriel “FalleN” Toledo to Kaike “KSCERATO” Cerato. Winning a specific eco-round situation completely shifted the momentum in FURIA’s favor.
He also referenced the tactical necessity of economy management on Nuke, ensuring they did not allow Aurora to build momentum and run away with the half after an early lead.
FalleN’s final run in Cologne
With FalleN currently on a farewell tour in Cologne, YEKINDAR touched on the veteran’s influence on the server. While the team is not focusing heavily on the emotional aspect of the farewell, FalleN’s presence provides a clear mental advantage for the roster.
It just gives us confidence that we have a person who won everything,” YEKINDAR said. “It’s all about this mindset and he’s definitely sharing some of that.
Preparing for Team Spirit or Falcons
Looking ahead to the grand final, FURIA will face either Team Spirit or Falcons. YEKINDAR stated the team does not have a preference regarding their opponent, though he predicted Team Spirit would ultimately advance.
FURIA recently played both teams at a tournament in Astana, providing them with recent tactical data. Reflecting on those previous encounters, YEKINDAR identified the primary issue FURIA needs to resolve to secure the trophy in Cologne.
Key takeaways for us, we didn’t close the games,” YEKINDAR noted. “Both of those games we had the upper hand. Against Spirit, there was a heavy lead on Mirage which we lost. And against Falcons, there were many key moments where we crumbled a little bit in the clutches and in the late game. So, this is going to be our focus for tomorrow’s grand final.
The Grand Final in Cologne is played at 17.00 (CEST). You can see the full interview with YEKINDAR down below.
