Falcons AWPer Ilya “m0NESY” Osipov believes Maksim “kyousuke” Lukin may be overthinking his responsibilities during official matches despite maintaining strong individual form in practice. Speaking in an interview with HLTV during the media day at IEM Beijing 2026, m0NESY explained that the young rifler sometimes puts unnecessary pressure on himself to communicate and make decisions.
The interview comes after Falcons finished fourth at Thunderpick World Championship 2026. The team have spent the past two weeks preparing for their next tournament, focusing on communication, confidence and basic teamplay.
m0NESY believes kyousuke is overthinking his role
According to m0NESY, the recent difficulties for kyousuke are not related to his mechanical abilities. The AWPer explained that his teammate continues to perform well during practice and FACEIT matches, but official competition brings additional responsibilities.
And maybe sometimes he overthinks and he thinks that he’s forced to say something, to always do something. But everything that he needs, most of the time, is to just focus on his crosshair and be himself.
m0NESY also noted that individual performance involves more than aim, including communication and decision-making. He believes kyousuke may feel obligated to constantly provide information because of his important positions within the team.
The AWPer added that the coaching staff and teammates are working together to help kyousuke. He also dismissed suggestions that winning a Major early in his career had affected the rifler’s motivation.
Falcons focus on basics after Thunderpick struggles
m0NESY admitted that Falcons have struggled with confidence and decision-making in recent matches. He specifically mentioned their performances against BetBoom and Aurora at Thunderpick World Championship 2026, where the team failed to maintain momentum after winning the opening maps.
I think sometimes we should remember our strengths, strengths that we had when Finn joined our team, strengths that we were building together as a team.
The AWPer explained that Falcons have been working on their communication and teamplay during the break between tournaments. He emphasized the importance of supporting teammates, making quick decisions and avoiding unnecessary risks.
According to m0NESY, the team need to trust their intuition rather than become overly focused on avoiding mistakes. He believes returning to these fundamentals could help Falcons regain their previous level.
m0NESY wants Falcons to consider Cache
Another topic in the interview was Cache, a map that Falcons currently do not use in their competitive pool. m0NESY expressed interest in playing it, particularly because of the opportunities available to AWPers.
For me as an AWPer, I think this map is fantastic to play.
He explained that Cache provides opportunities for aggressive AWP plays and could offer additional flexibility during the veto process. However, he did not confirm that Falcons are currently practicing the map.
When asked about a possible introduction of Cache, m0NESY suggested it could happen either before or after the Singapore Major, depending on the time available for preparation.
Falcons prepare to face NAVI at IEM Beijing
Falcons will begin their IEM Beijing 2026 campaign against Natus Vincere on November 2. The tournament will not feature Vitality or Spirit, two teams that have caused problems for Falcons during the season.
However, m0NESY does not believe their absence makes the competition easier. He emphasized that Falcons must maintain the same level of concentration regardless of their opponents.
The AWPer also said he enjoys facing NAVI, the organization where he developed earlier in his career. He highlighted the opportunity to compete against his former teammates, including Valeriy “b1t” Vakhovskiy.
Falcons enter IEM Beijing looking to improve their results after several unsuccessful attempts to secure another tournament trophy.
