Falcons have advanced to the Esports World Cup 2026 quarter-finals after a dominant 2-0 victory over The MongolZ in the Round of 16. The world’s No. 1 team crushed their opponents 13-3 on Inferno before closing Dust2 13-9. Maksim “kyousuke” Lukin delivered another exceptional performance, finishing the series with a 1.78 rating and 113.8 ADR. The defeat ends The MongolZ’s run in Paris.
Falcons start the playoffs with a dominant victory
Falcons entered the playoffs after a strong group-stage campaign. They opened the tournament with a 13-6 victory over K27 before defeating Astralis 2-0 to move closer to the knockout stage. However, the team reached the playoffs, setting up a Round of 16 meeting with The MongolZ.
The Mongolian side also had to overcome difficulties on its way to the knockout stage. The MongolZ started with a 13-7 victory over magic but then lost 1-2 to NAVI. They responded with a convincing 2-0 win over paiN to secure their playoff ticket. The Round of 16 proved far more one-sided. Falcons controlled the series from the start and needed only two maps to reach the quarter-finals.
Falcons dominate Inferno and finish the series on Dust2
The series began on Inferno, The MongolZ’s map pick. Falcons immediately took control and built a commanding 9-3 advantage in the opening half. There was no comeback after the side switch. Falcons won four consecutive rounds to close Inferno 13-3 and take a 1-0 lead.
Dust2 was more competitive. Falcons held a narrow 7-5 advantage at halftime, while The MongolZ continued to fight after the break. Still, the favorites remained in control during the decisive rounds. Falcons eventually secured six rounds in the second half and closed Dust2 13-9. The victory completed a convincing 2-0 sweep and sent them into the quarter-finals.
kyousuke and m0NESY dominate The MongolZ
Maksim “kyousuke” Lukin was the clear standout player of the series. The Russian rifler finished with 44 kills and only 22 deaths across two maps. He also recorded 113.8 ADR, 81.6% KAST and an outstanding 1.78 rating. Ilya “m0NESY” Osipov was close behind. The AWPer posted 37 kills and 17 deaths, finishing with a 1.72 rating and 84.2% KAST.
Nikola “NiKo” Kovač added a 1.18 rating, while Finn “karrigan” Andersen finished at 1.15. Usukhbayar “910” Banzragch was the only The MongolZ player to finish above 1.00, recording a 1.02 rating.
Falcons remain No. 2 in the VRS
The victory also strengthened Falcons’ position in the projected Valve Regional Standings. They gained 25 points, increasing their total from 1,964 to 1,989. Despite the increase, Falcons remain No. 2 in the projected ranking. The MongolZ lost five points following the defeat. Their total drops from 1,685 to 1,680, while they remain at No. 15.
Falcons respond to previous losses against The MongolZ
The result also gave Falcons an important victory in a difficult head-to-head matchup. Before this series, The MongolZ held a 3-2 advantage in matches between the two teams. Their most recent meeting came at PGL Astana 2026. The MongolZ won that three-map series after taking Mirage 16-12 and Inferno 13-11, while Falcons claimed Dust2 13-8. This time, Falcons left no room for another upset. Their dominant 2-0 victory brings the head-to-head record closer and, more importantly, eliminates The MongolZ from EWC 2026.
Teams react after the match
Falcons celebrated their successful start to the knockout stage and confirmed their place in the next round:
Starting Playoffs the right way with a W over The MongolZ. Quarter-Finals bound.
The MongolZ acknowledged the end of their campaign and thanked their supporters:
Our run at EWC 2026 has come to an end. Thank you to everyone who supported us.
The team also congratulated Falcons following the defeat.
What’s next?
Falcons advance to the Esports World Cup 2026 quarter-finals after a dominant opening performance in the playoffs. With kyousuke and m0NESY both producing exceptional numbers, the tournament favorites continue their pursuit of the title. For The MongolZ, the tournament is over. Their EWC 2026 campaign ends in the Round of 16 following the 0-2 defeat.
