The Brazilian powerhouse FURIA continues its legendary 2025 run. In the IEM Chengdu semifinal, YEKINDAR’s squad dismantled Falcons 2–0 (13–5 Inferno, 13–11 Mirage), displaying an elite level of structure, synergy, and individual brilliance. This victory not only booked their ticket to the grand final against Vitality but also solidified their position as a new global powerhouse in Counter-Strike.
Road to the Semifinal
- FURIA — From Doubt to Domination
For FURIA, this event has been the ultimate confirmation of their rebirth. After convincing wins over Lynn Vision (2–0), G2 (2–0), and The MongolZ (2–0), the team showed a perfect balance between aggression and discipline.
The star lineup of FalleN, YEKINDAR, KSCERATO, yuurih, and molodoy has never looked more complete. FalleN’s new leadership approach — calm, structured, and deeply strategic — allows each player to shine.
YEKINDAR, after months of adaptation, has become the driving force of FURIA’s offense, while yuurih and KSCERATO consistently post top-tier ratings in every series.
- Falcons — A Favorite That Fell Short
Falcons entered Chengdu as one of the main title contenders. Led by kyxsan and powered by m0NESY and NiKo, the European mix looked unstoppable after a flawless streak of wins over Spirit (2–0), TYLOO (2–0), and Astralis (2–0).
Blending Serbian leadership, Russian precision, and Danish structure, the team hadn’t dropped a single map all tournament — until now. Against FURIA, they met their limit. The Brazilians broke them down mentally, tactically, and structurally.
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Map by Map
- Inferno — Brazilian Storm (13–5)
FURIA picked Inferno to dictate the pace — and it paid off immediately. yuurih dominated Banana, KSCERATO ruled mid, and FalleN orchestrated rotations with surgical precision, suffocating Falcons’ economy. Falcons looked lost; even m0NESY, usually the team’s savior, couldn’t find his rhythm (28–28, 0.93 rating). The first half ended 10–2, with FURIA demolishing every defensive setup. A crushing 13–5 put the Brazilians firmly in control.
- Mirage — The Final Stand (13–11)
Falcons finally showed resistance on their own pick. NiKo opened with four consecutive entry kills, while kyxsan executed smart mid-round fakes to tie the score 9–9. But FURIA’s composure and experience prevailed. YEKINDAR clutched a vital 1v2, molodoy locked down post-plants, and FalleN controlled the tempo until the final round. The series closed 13–11, a clinical finish to a dominant performance.
Player Statistics for the Match
Player of the Match — Yuri “yuurih” Santos
- K–D: 36–26
- ADR: 92.0
- KAST: 78.6%
- Rating 3.0: 1.42
yuurih was the embodiment of stability. His positional awareness and clutch presence made the difference. He neutralized NiKo on Inferno, won crucial duels on Mirage, and served as the silent engine powering FURIA’s machine-like execution.
Valve Regional Standings (VRS) Impact
- FURIA: +11 pt → 1962 → 1973 pt (#1 World)
- Falcons: –18 pt → 1933 → 1915 pt (#3)
With this win, FURIA not only advanced to the IEM Chengdu grand final but also officially became the new world No.1 in Valve Regional Standings, overtaking Vitality ahead of the StarLadder Major Budapest 2025. Falcons, despite the loss, remain a top-3 contender globally and continue to be a symbol of Europe’s rising generation.
Tactical Breakdown and Team Evaluation
FURIA — The Blueprint of the New Brazilian System
FURIA are no longer just an emotional, instinct-driven squad. Their current structure is among the most refined in the world:
- FalleN commands the game with mathematical precision;
- YEKINDAR opens space with fearless unpredictability;
- KSCERATO provides mechanical consistency;
- yuurih adapts as the team’s universal anchor;
- molodoy holds clutch situations with icy calm.
This match proved FURIA are now capable of winning big finals through discipline, not chaos — a fully realized evolution of Brazilian Counter-Strike.
Falcons — A Painful Lesson Before the Major
The loss will serve as a turning point for kyxsan’s team. Their strength lies in depth and talent, but their weakness remains overreliance on m0NESY. In this series, he couldn’t find his impact (0.93 rating), and his teammates faltered under pressure. Still, Falcons’ foundation is solid — a young, ambitious roster that will only grow stronger heading into the 2026 season.
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Grand Final of Generations: Vitality vs FURIA
FURIA become the second finalist of IEM Chengdu 2025, setting up a historic clash with Vitality — a showdown already dubbed the “Battle of Eras.”
ZywOo vs YEKINDAR. ropz vs KSCERATO. apEX vs FalleN.
A duel of philosophies — discipline versus fire, experience versus innovation. Both teams have already secured their positions as top contenders for StarLadder Major Budapest 2025, but now only one question remains:
Who will end 2025 as the best team in the world? Falcons, meanwhile, finish the event in 3rd–4th place, continuing to shape the legacy of the new European era. Their potential remains immense — but this time, Brazilian passion prevailed.
