Falcons have been dealt a setback ahead of BLAST Open Rotterdam 2026, as Maksim “kyousuke” Lukin will miss the opening match against NRG due to visa issues, the organization confirmed just one day before the game. His availability for the rest of the tournament remains uncertain, with Matej “NucleonZ” Trajkoski once again stepping in as a stand-in after previously filling the role on LAN.
A familiar scenario: NucleonZ steps in again
This is not the first time NucleonZ has replaced kyousuke. A similar situation occurred during the BLAST Bounty Season 1 Finals, where the Russian player also missed the event due to visa complications. On that occasion, the stand-in delivered a strong performance: Falcons reached the grand final, defeating Liquid and Vitality before falling to PARIVISION in a three-map series. That run further reinforced trust in NucleonZ as a reliable substitute.
Team captain Damjan “kyxsan” Stoilkovski previously addressed the visa situation:
There are a lot of Schengen events this year, so it was impossible to get kyousuke for all of them.
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Falcons to start with a changed lineup
Falcons will field the following lineup against NRG:
- Nikola “NiKo” Kovač
- René “TeSeS” Madsen
- Ilya “m0NESY” Osipov
- Damjan “kyxsan” Stoilkovski
- Matej “NucleonZ” Trajkoski (stand-in)
This means the team once again has to adapt right before the start of the event — a factor that could significantly impact their performance, especially against unpredictable but dangerous opponents like NRG.
Poor timing before a key event
The visa issue comes at the worst possible moment. This is Falcons’ first event since PGL Cluj-Napoca 2026, where they were eliminated in the quarter-finals. Rotterdam was meant to be an opportunity to bounce back and re-establish themselves as title contenders. Instead, the team now enters the tournament under pressure and with disrupted preparation.
Community reaction
Fans have already reacted to the announcement, with responses ranging from jokes to cautious support:
- “Good luck”
- “Wooooooo”
- “lol”
Some members of the community also expressed concern about the recurring nature of kyousuke’s visa issues, which are starting to look like a systemic problem for the team.
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What’s next?
Falcons will kick off their BLAST Open Rotterdam campaign against NRG on March 18 at 12:00. Whether kyousuke will be able to join the team later in the tournament remains unclear. One thing is certain: Falcons will once again have to improvise, and their ability to quickly adapt with a stand-in could define their entire run in Rotterdam.
