Falcons sign kyousuke to replace Magisk

<h2>Team Falcons have officially announced a roster change in their CS2 lineup.</h2><p>17-year-old Russian player Maxim "kyousuke" Lukin, also known as SEMEN BAKIN, has taken the place of Emil "<a href="/en/players/magisk" target="_self">Magisk</a>" Reif. Previously part of Spirit Academy, kyousuke is considered one of the most promising young talents.</p><p>Updated Falcons roster:</p><p>Nikola "<a href="/en/players/niko" target="_self">NiKo</a>" Kovač</p><p>Ilya "<a href="/en/players/monesy" target="_self">m0NESY</a>" Osipov</p><p>René "<a href="/en/players/teses" target="_self">TeSeS</a>" Madsen</p><p>Damjan "<a href="/en/players/kyxsan" target="_self">kyxsan</a>" Stoilkovski</p><p>Maxim "<a href="/en/players/kyousuke" target="_self">kyousuke</a>" Lukin</p><p>This move confirms Falcons' intention to build a roster focused on long-term potential. The team continues its rebuild after BLAST.tv Austin Major and aims to strengthen its firepower.</p>

Vitality – champions of BLAST.tv Austin Major 2025

<h2>Vitality bounce back after losing the first map and claim the BLAST.tv Austin Major 2025 title</h2><p>The grand final in Austin lived up to all expectations: tension, drama, and a clash of two forces — European composure versus Asian courage. The MongolZ started strong, but in the decisive moments, it was Vitality’s experience and structured play that made the difference.</p><p>The match kicked off on&nbsp;<a href="/en/wiki/overview-map-mirage" target="_self">Mirage</a>, The MongolZ’s map pick. The Mongolian squad took the map with confidence: aggressive T-side, disciplined CT setups, and minimal mistakes — 13:5 in their favor. ZywOo and&nbsp;<a href="/en/players/apex" target="_self">apEX</a>&nbsp;looked shaken, while&nbsp;<a href="/en/players/910" target="_self">910</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="/en/players/senzu" target="_self">Senzu</a>&nbsp;dominated in every aspect.</p><p>On&nbsp;<a href="/en/wiki/overview-map-dust2" target="_self">Dust2</a>, picked by Vitality, the momentum shifted. The French side took control, set the pace, and turned the match around.</p><p><a href="/en/wiki/overview-map-inferno" target="_self">Inferno</a>, the decider, turned into a real test of resilience. The MongolZ had a strong start, but Vitality adapted in time. Their sharp teamplay and composure in the final rounds secured the championship for the Europeans.</p><p>Result: Vitality are back on top, and&nbsp;<a href="/en/players/zywoo" target="_self">ZywOo</a>&nbsp;is the undisputed hero of the final. The MongolZ leave Austin without the trophy but with the highest respect — the team made history as the first Asian squad to reach a Major grand final, leaving a lasting mark on CS2.</p>

BLAST.tv Austin Major 2025 Semifinals: European consistency and the unpredictable Asian style

<h2>On June 21 in Austin, two semifinal clashes took place, deciding the participants of the tournament’s grand final.</h2><h3>Vitality — MOUZ: 2:1</h3><p>The French five once again proved they are one of the strongest lineups in the world. The match started with a confident win for Vitality on&nbsp;<a href="/en/wiki/overview-map-mirage" target="_self">Mirage</a>&nbsp;— 13:8. However, on&nbsp;<a href="/en/wiki/overview-map-inferno" target="_self">Inferno</a>, MOUZ came alive. Despite a rough start, they pulled off an impressive comeback, winning 13:4. The final map,&nbsp;<a href="/en/wiki/overview-map-train" target="_self">Train</a>, turned into a true tactical battle where Vitality showed calm, discipline, and solid team play. That composure allowed them to close out the series and advance to the final.</p><h3>The MongolZ — paiN: 2:0</h3><p>The Mongolian squad continues to make history. For the first time ever, a team from Asia will play in a Major final. The match against paiN didn’t present much of a challenge — The MongolZ dominated both maps. Mirage ended in a rout — 13:5, and on&nbsp;<a href="/en/wiki/overview-map-anubis" target="_self">Anubis</a>, the South Americans couldn’t find a way to fight back — again 13:5. With every match, this young Mongolian roster looks more confident and dangerous.</p><h3>Summary</h3><p>The grand final will feature the reigning champions and tournament favorites — Vitality, led by&nbsp;<a href="/en/players/apex" target="_self">apEX</a>&nbsp;— against the Major’s biggest sensation, The MongolZ, powered by rising stars&nbsp;<a href="/en/players/910" target="_self">910</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="/en/players/senzu" target="_self">Senzu</a>. It’s not just a battle for the trophy, but a clash between two worlds: the established European elite and the rapidly emerging Asian CS2 scene.</p>

Vitality and The MongolZ reach the semifinals: NAVI and FaZe say goodbye to the Major

<h2>The BLAST.tv Austin Major 2025 quarterfinals ended with a surprising twist and a confident performance by the favorites.</h2><h3>Vitality vs NAVI: 2:0</h3><p>The French squad showcased discipline and class.</p><p><a href="/en/wiki/overview-map-mirage" target="_self">Mirage</a>&nbsp;ended 13:9 in their favor, and on&nbsp;<a href="/en/wiki/overview-map-nuke" target="_self">Nuke</a>, despite resistance from NAVI, Vitality stayed focused and closed out the match 13:11. NAVI are out of the tournament, unable to break through their opponent’s defense despite strong efforts from AWPer&nbsp;<a href="/en/players/w0nderful" target="_self">w0nderful</a>.</p><h3>The MongolZ vs FaZe: 2:0</h3><p>The tournament sensation — The MongolZ eliminated FaZe without dropping a single map. A confident win on Mirage was followed by a hard-fought battle on&nbsp;<a href="/en/wiki/overview-map-anubis" target="_self">Anubis</a>, where the Mongolian team closed it out 13:11.</p><p><a href="/en/players/910" target="_self">910</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="/en/players/senzu" target="_self">Senzu</a>&nbsp;were the heroes of the match, while&nbsp;<a href="/en/players/s1mple" target="_self">s1mple</a>, in his return to tier-1 play, showed glimpses of form and is already looking ahead to upcoming tournaments.</p><p>In the semifinals, Vitality will face MOUZ, while The MongolZ take on paiN. NAVI and FaZe exit the event, and for the first time in CS2 Major history, Asia is represented in the top 4.</p>

BLAST.tv Austin Major 2025 Quarterfinal Results

<h2>Spirit leave the tournament without living up to their favorite status, while FURIA, despite showing great fighting spirit, fell just short of the semifinals.</h2><p>MOUZ vs. Spirit (2:1)</p><p>In a tense series, MOUZ defeated the reigning Major champions Team Spirit 2:1. After a rough start on&nbsp;<a href="/en/wiki/overview-map-mirage" target="_self">Mirage</a>&nbsp;(21:25), the team bounced back on&nbsp;<a href="/en/wiki/overview-map-dust2" target="_self">Dust2</a>&nbsp;(13:9) and closed it out on&nbsp;<a href="/en/wiki/overview-map-nuke" target="_self">Nuke</a>&nbsp;(13:10). A big part of the win was due to an excellent performance by&nbsp;<a href="/en/players/spinx" target="_self">spinx</a>, who consistently secured crucial rounds.</p><p>For Spirit, the loss was especially painful considering the high level of&nbsp;<a href="/en/players/donk" target="_self">donk</a>, whose individual brilliance wasn’t enough to prevent elimination.</p><p>paiN vs. FURIA (2:1)</p><p>The Brazilian derby went in favor of paiN, who prevailed 2:1. FURIA looked strong on Nuke (13:6), but paiN struck back on&nbsp;<a href="/en/wiki/overview-map-anubis" target="_self">Anubis</a>&nbsp;(13:8) and clinched the win in overtime on the deciding&nbsp;<a href="/en/wiki/overview-map-inferno" target="_self">Inferno</a>&nbsp;(16:12).</p><p>The standout player was&nbsp;<a href="/en/players/nqz" target="_self">nqz</a>, whose AWP had massive impact throughout the series.</p>

SAW return to a fully Portuguese lineup

<h2>After four months of experimenting with an English-speaking roster, SAW have officially closed the international chapter and shifted their focus back to a native Portuguese core.</h2><p>The team has welcomed two new players from Rhyno — Adones "<a href="/en/players/krazy" target="_self">krazy</a>" Nobre and António "<a href="/en/players/aragornn" target="_self">aragornN</a>" Barbosa. They will replace Jan "<a href="/en/players/cej0t" target="_self">cej0t</a>" Dyl and Oscar "<a href="/en/players/azuwu" target="_self">AZUWU</a>" Bell, who were released in early June following a disappointing run. SAW underperformed at their last two LAN events of the season (IEM Melbourne and MESA Nomadic Masters Spring) and failed to qualify for the Austin Major — a turning point for the organization.</p><p>Notably, aragornN had already appeared in SAW's lineup back in 2023, stepping in for captain Christopher "<a href="/en/players/mutiris" target="_self">MUTiRiS</a>" Fernandes in November when he temporarily left the active roster. As for krazy, he had been part of Rhyno since September 2023 and helped the team reach the grand final of the IESF World Championship 2024 in Riyadh.</p><p>SAW are currently ranked 46th in the global VRS standings, and their updated roster is as follows:</p><ul><li>Christopher "MUTiRiS" Fernandes</li><li>João "<a href="/en/players/story" target="_self">story</a>" Vieira</li><li>André "<a href="/en/players/ag1l" target="_self">Ag1l</a>" Gil</li><li>Adones "krazy" Nobre</li><li>António "aragornN" Barbosa</li></ul>

CS2 News – June 18, 2025

<h2>paiN and Astralis place their trust in their captains and aim for victories in the near future</h2><h3>biguzera extends contract with paiN</h3><p>28-year-old paiN captain Rodrigo "<a target="_self">biguzera</a>" Bittencourt has officially extended his contract with the Brazilian organization he has represented since 2019. The deal was signed during the current tournament, shortly after paiN reached the playoffs of the Austin Major for the first time in their history. The new contract runs through the end of 2026, providing stability and strengthening the team’s position on the international scene.</p><h3>HooXi signs full contract with Astralis</h3><p>Danish in-game leader Rasmus "<a target="_self">HooXi</a>" Nielsen has officially joined Astralis after a successful stint as a stand-in. The organization confirmed he will remain on the roster permanently. Despite recent challenges and rumors of internal restructuring within the CS division, the club expects HooXi’s experience to bring much-needed stability and restore the team's former confidence.</p><h3>What’s next?</h3><p>paiN is preparing for a crucial match against FURIA at the BLAST.tv Austin Major, while Astralis continues to work with their new IGL, hoping to improve their results and climb back up the global rankings. Both teams are betting on their captains to lead and inspire under the pressure of CS2’s competitive scene.</p>

Roster Changes in HEROIC After BLAST.tv Austin Major 2025 Exit

<h2>After a disappointing run at the Austin Major, HEROIC have kicked off a serious roster shake-up.</h2><p><a href="/en/players/xfl0ud" target="_self">xfl0ud</a>&nbsp;has been benched despite showing solid form, making way for&nbsp;<a href="/en/players/nilo" target="_self">nilo</a>, who returns to the active lineup after a period on the sidelines.</p><p>Coach sAw and AWPer&nbsp;<a href="/en/players/sunpayus" target="_self">SunPayus</a>&nbsp;are both leaving the organization to join G2, replacing&nbsp;<a href="/en/players/hades" target="_self">hades</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="/en/players/taz" target="_self">TaZ</a>&nbsp;respectively.</p><p>What’s next? According to reports, Danish coach TOBIZ is expected to take over the coaching role, while young talent&nbsp;<a href="/en/players/gr1ks" target="_self">gr1ks</a>&nbsp;is set to fill the AWPer slot — likely on a full three-year deal.</p><p>The rebuild at HEROIC is in full swing — and this might just be the beginning.</p>

Vitality, FaZe Clan and NaVi — the next playoff contenders at the Austin Major

<h2>The third day of Stage 3 at the BLAST.tv Austin Major 2025 was packed with intense action.</h2><p>At this point in the tournament, teams are on the verge of either securing a playoff spot or facing a last chance to avoid elimination. By the end of the day, three more squads — Vitality, FaZe and NAVI — clinched their places in the final stage. Meanwhile, six other teams find themselves on the edge, with two wins and two losses each.</p><h3>Vitality secure playoff berth</h3><p>After a shaky start, the French organization bounced back to claim three consecutive wins. Their key match came against Virtus.pro, where Vitality dominated with two back-to-back 13:6 victories.&nbsp;<a href="/en/players/zywoo" target="_self">ZywOo</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="/en/players/ropz" target="_self">ropz</a>&nbsp;were once again the standout performers, showing solid team play and consistency throughout the stage.</p><h3>FaZe fight their way through</h3><p>FaZe Clan entered Day 3 with a 2-1 record and comfortably handled The MongolZ, winning both maps without dropping a round.&nbsp;<a href="/en/players/s1mple" target="_self">s1mple</a>&nbsp;in particular impressed, stating after&nbsp;<a href="/en/blog/roster-changes-in-faze-clan-as-of-may-5-2025" target="_self">joining FaZe</a>&nbsp;that he’s committed to returning to his peak form — and he’s already making good on that promise.</p><h3>NaVi — a strong comeback</h3><p>Natus Vincere also ended Day 3 with a 3-1 score. After a loss to Spirit, the “Born to Win” bounced back with a dominant performance against G2.&nbsp;<a href="/en/players/jl" target="_self">jL</a>&nbsp;was in excellent form, making a crucial impact in securing the victory. As a result, NAVI are now officially through to the playoffs.</p><h3>1-3 teams on the brink</h3><p>Three teams have been eliminated after finishing with a 1-3 record: Aurora, Lynn Vision and 3DMAX.</p><p>What’s next</p><p>The final day of Stage 3 will be decisive for the remaining teams. Legacy will face MOUZ, The MongolZ will go up against G2, and Virtus.pro will try to stop the Brazilians from paiN. These matches will determine the final playoff lineup at the Austin Major 2025.</p>

Results of Day 2 of Stage 3 at BLAST.tv Austin Major 2025

<h2>Day two of Stage 3 has wrapped up in Austin, where teams continue fighting for a spot in the playoffs—and ultimately, for the title at one of the biggest events of the year.</h2><p>While some squads are still battling for a playoff berth, others have already either booked their place in the final stage or were sent home, just short of making it to the big stage.</p><h3>Eliminated from the tournament (0–3)</h3><p>Two teams exited BLAST.tv Major 2025 after going winless in Stage 3:</p><p>Team Liquid lost all three matches, including a decisive Bo3 against MOUZ (1–2), despite the incredible performance by&nbsp;<a href="/en/players/ultimate" target="_self">ultimate</a>, who ended the match with a 71–42 K/D and a 1.41 rating. He carried his team and delivered countless highlight moments, but&nbsp;<a href="/en/players/spinx" target="_self">spinx</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="/en/players/torzsi" target="_self">torzsi</a>&nbsp;helped keep MOUZ alive and in the playoff race. This clash turned out to be one of the most thrilling matches of the entire Major. On the final map,&nbsp;<a href="/en/wiki/overview-map-mirage" target="_self">Mirage</a>, the teams couldn’t settle it in regulation and played three overtimes before MOUZ closed it out 22–19.</p><p>Nemiga Gaming also couldn’t handle the pressure and finished 0–3 after falling to paiN in a full Bo3. Though the match was competitive across all three maps, the CIS team couldn’t contain the Brazilian duo&nbsp;<a href="/en/players/dav1deus" target="_self">dav1deuS</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="/en/players/nqz" target="_self">nqz</a>, who were impactful throughout. For&nbsp;<a href="/en/players/1eer" target="_self">1eeR</a>&nbsp;and his squad, it was their first Major appearance, and they still managed to show solid potential.</p><h3>Qualified for playoffs (3–0)</h3><p>Two teams secured a playoff spot after sweeping through Stage 3:</p><p>Team Spirit looked dominant, not dropping a single map—including a clean win over NAVI in a Bo3. As usual, the young phenom&nbsp;<a href="/en/players/donk" target="_self">donk</a>&nbsp;led the charge and kept his squad fully motivated.</p><p>FURIA exceeded expectations, going 3–0 and sending Virtus.pro to the lower bracket, where they’ll now face Vitality.</p><h3>Still in contention</h3><p>The MongolZ, FaZe, NAVI, G2, Virtus.pro, and Vitality (2–1), along with Legacy, Lynn Vision, 3DMAX, paiN, Aurora, and MOUZ (1–2) are all still in the running for playoff qualification. Decisive matches will be played across days 3 and 4 of Stage 3, where the remaining playoff spots will be determined.</p><p>Stay tuned for more updates as we approach the final battles that will decide the complete playoff lineup for BLAST.tv Austin Major 2025.</p>

Falcons sign kyousuke to replace Magisk

Team Falcons have officially announced a roster change in their CS2 lineup.

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