Falcons captain Finn “karrigan” Andersen admitted that the team have struggled to win their own map picks despite regularly defeating opponents on their preferred maps. Speaking in an interview with HLTV after defeating FaZe 2:1 at IEM Beijing 2026, the Danish in-game leader expressed frustration with the situation and explained why the victory could help Falcons build momentum.
The team secured a place in the Group A lower-bracket semifinals after winning Ancient 13:3, losing Anubis 10:13 and closing the deciding Mirage 13:7.
Falcons continue to struggle on their own map picks
karrigan acknowledged that the team have repeatedly encountered difficulties when playing maps they selected themselves. The latest example came against FaZe, when Falcons lost Anubis despite previously performing well on the map when opponents picked it.
The captain explained that the situation was frustrating, particularly because Falcons had managed to win several maps selected by opposing teams.
Despite the difficulties, karrigan believes that winning matches remains the priority while the team work to improve their performances.
We just need to take the small wins we get and transform them into some momentum.
The victory over FaZe allowed Falcons to remain in contention for the IEM Beijing playoffs after losing their opening match against Natus Vincere.
Falcons were prepared for Ancient and Mirage
The Falcons captain also discussed the preparation for the series, revealing that the team had anticipated potential map choices from FaZe.
According to karrigan, Falcons expected their opponents to select either Ancient or Mirage because of their recent tendency to target maps they believed could expose weaknesses.
The preparation proved successful on Ancient, where Falcons secured a convincing 13:3 victory. However, the team were unable to close Anubis, their own pick, and had to play Mirage to decide the series.
Falcons eventually won the third map 13:7, securing their second map victory of the match on a map they had prepared for their opponents to select.
karrigan reflects on facing frozen for the first time
The match also marked the first time karrigan faced David “frozen” Čerňanský as an opponent since leaving FaZe to join Falcons.
The Danish captain admitted that competing against former teammates felt unusual after spending such a long time with the organization. However, he explained that he had experienced similar situations throughout his career, including during his previous moves between FaZe and MOUZ.
karrigan also praised the performance of FaZe, noting that the team played well despite the defeat. In his assessment, several mistakes during crucial moments allowed Falcons to take control of the deciding Mirage.
The result eliminated FaZe from IEM Beijing 2026, while Falcons advanced to the next round of the lower bracket. The team will need another victory to keep their playoff hopes alive.
