The Stage 1 quarter-final between HEROIC and FURIA concluded with a hard-fought 2–1 victory for FURIA, as the Brazilian side once again demonstrated resilience and clutch composure on LAN. After trading dominant map wins, FURIA held their nerve on the decider to eliminate HEROIC and move on in the BLAST Bounty 2026 Finals bracket. For FURIA, it was another survival test passed. For HEROIC, a painful exit after briefly seizing control of the series.
Road to the matchup — discipline versus volatility
HEROIC entered the quarter-final with confidence in their map pool and recent form. Their approach was built around controlled pacing, strong setups, and the expectation that disciplined Counter-Strike could neutralize FURIA’s explosive tendencies.
FURIA arrived with a reputation already shaped by close series and high-pressure wins. While not always dominant, the roster had consistently shown the ability to deliver in deciding moments — a trait that would once again prove decisive.
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Mirage — 13:3. HEROIC strike first
On their own pick, HEROIC delivered a commanding opening map. Mirage quickly became one-sided as HEROIC controlled mid, shut down FURIA’s defaults, and snowballed the economy out of reach. FURIA struggled to find any rhythm, and HEROIC closed the map 13:3 with authority, setting the tone early in the series.
Dust2 — 13:2. FURIA answer back
Dust2 flipped the script entirely. On their pick, FURIA came out aggressive and uncompromising, winning opening duels and denying HEROIC any breathing room. The Brazilian side dismantled HEROIC’s defenses round by round, racing to a dominant 13:2 victory and completely resetting the momentum ahead of the decider.
Nuke — 13:9. Composure decides the series
The deciding map delivered the most competitive Counter-Strike of the match. Both teams traded rounds through the early and mid stages, with HEROIC attempting to reassert structure and FURIA leaning into individual impact. As pressure mounted, FURIA proved sharper in late-round situations. Cleaner executions, better clutch conversions, and stronger economic management allowed them to pull away and close Nuke 13:9, sealing the series.
Player of the match — Danil molodoy Golubenko
FURIA’s young star was the standout across all three maps:
- 1.62 rating
- 91.2 ADR
- 88.7% KAST
- +6.36% swing
molodoy delivered constant impact, anchoring FURIA through volatile moments and stepping up decisively on the final map.
Teamplay breakdown — resilience over control
FURIA secured the win through adaptability and composure under pressure. Even after a heavy opening loss, the team rebounded instantly and never allowed the series to spiral away. HEROIC showed their ceiling on Mirage, but inconsistency across the remaining maps — particularly in high-pressure rounds — prevented them from converting early dominance into a series win.
VRS impact
- FURIA: +15 points — strengthening their grip at the top of the rankings
- HEROIC: +24 points — a gain despite elimination, reflecting competitive performance
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Tournament implications
With this victory, FURIA advance further into the BLAST Bounty 2026 Finals, continuing a run defined by resilience and decisive late-map play. The team once again proved that they are at their most dangerous when pushed to the limit. HEROIC exit the tournament with mixed feelings: flashes of dominance, but ultimately undone by FURIA’s ability to absorb pressure and strike back when it mattered most. FURIA move on — tested, composed, and still very much in the title race.
