G2’s quarter-final defeat against Falcons at BLAST Rivals 2026 Season 2 attracted attention for more than just the 1:2 result. During the broadcast, the organizers repeatedly showed slow-motion replays of r1nkle’s missed shots, prompting British analyst hawka to criticize the decision and describe it as “diabolical.”
Slow-motion replays of r1nkle spark criticism
One of the notable moments of the series came when r1nkle failed to convert an opportunity with the AWP. The broadcast subsequently revisited his missed shots in slow motion, drawing additional attention to the Ukrainian AWPer’s mistake.
The slow-motion replays of r1nkle missing his shots are diabolical from BLAST.
hawka’s criticism was directed less at the AWPer’s performance and more at how it was presented. In his view, repeatedly highlighting an individual mistake was excessive, especially considering the pressure players already face after disappointing matches.
A difficult series for G2
G2 opened the match with a 13:11 victory on Dust2, but Falcons completely seized the initiative afterward. karrigan’s team dominated Mirage 13:2 before closing out the series with a 13:8 victory on the deciding Anubis.
r1nkle finished the match with a 38–39 K–D record and a 1.05 Rating 3.0, making him G2’s highest-rated player. Despite several unsuccessful moments with the AWP, the Ukrainian delivered the team’s strongest overall statistical performance, while MATYS and huNter- ended the series with ratings of 0.76 and 0.63, respectively.
TeSeS was G2’s biggest problem
TeSeS was the standout player of the series. The Dane finished the three maps with a 49–32 K–D record, 81.9 ADR, and a 1.36 rating. He also received 88% of the votes in the Player of the Match poll.
the slow-mo replays of r1nkle whiffing is diabolical from blast 😭 https://t.co/G56HtY3pd0
— Alex Hawkins (@hawka_cs) November 13, 2026
Falcons looked considerably more consistent after the opening map. m0NESY finished with a 1.20 rating, followed by kyousuke at 1.13, NiKo at 1.05, and karrigan at 1.04. On G2’s side, r1nkle was the only player to finish the series with a rating above 1.02.
Pressure continues to mount on r1nkle
hawka’s reaction quickly sparked a broader discussion about how such replays affect players. In the replies, users pointed out that r1nkle had already been under increased scrutiny since joining G2, with almost every mistake from the AWPer becoming another reason for criticism.
hawka later clarified that he did not blame r1nkle for the situation. He noted that the Ukrainian had earned an opportunity to join G2 and had spoken appropriately about his transfer in public interviews, meaning he should not take all the negativity surrounding his performances personally.
G2 exit another tournament
The defeat against Falcons brought G2’s BLAST Rivals 2026 Season 2 campaign to an end. The team managed to secure only Dust2 before losing two consecutive maps and missing out on a semi-final spot.
For Falcons, the victory meant another step toward the trophy. For r1nkle, however, the match became another example of how quickly one unsuccessful moment can dominate the conversation. This time, the discussion focused not only on his missed shots but also on the broadcast’s decision to highlight them.
