Team Falcons star player Nikola “NiKo” Kovač shocked fans during his livestream when he responded to a direct question with: “Yes, I will 100% become an IGL.” This statement immediately sparked a wave of discussion within the CS2 community, as NiKo has spent nearly his entire career known as one of the strongest riflers in the world, rather than as a team captain.
NiKo’s Path to the Role of Captain
NiKo is one of the most renowned and successful players in Counter-Strike history, who first rose to fame during his time with FaZe Clan. Together with the team, he won several major tournaments, including:
- ELEAGUE Premier 2017
- Esports Championship Series Season 4 – Finals
- EPICENTER 2018
He later joined G2 Esports, where he reached new heights, winning:
- PGL Major Stockholm 2021 – 2nd place
- BLAST Premier: World Final 2022
- Intel Extreme Masters Katowice 2023
- Intel Extreme Masters Cologne 2023
- BLAST Premier: Fall Final 2024
- BLAST Premier: World Final 2024
At the start of 2025, NiKo became part of Team Falcons. With his new team, he claimed 1st place at PGL Bucharest 2025, but at the summer BLAST.tv Austin Major 2025 the squad finished only 20th–22nd. Overall, Falcons’ performances this season have so far fallen short of high expectations.
A New Challenge for NiKo
The current captain of Team Falcons is Damjan “kyxsan” Stoilkovski. Throughout his career, NiKo has always played as a rifler — the main shooter and one of the team’s key fraggers.
The role of an in-game leader (IGL) involves much more than just individual skill. It requires managing strategy, making split-second decisions in-game, adapting to opponents, and motivating the team. For NiKo, this will be a new challenge, as captaincy demands a different approach to the game and can often affect personal performance.
What It Could Mean
A potential change of captain in Team Falcons could be a turning point for the roster. On one hand, NiKo’s authority and experience could inspire the team and provide it with fresh strategic vision. He knows how to win at the highest level and has the ability to take responsibility in decisive moments.
On the other hand, the IGL role often shifts focus away from personal gameplay, and there’s a risk NiKo could lose some of his individual impact. Additionally, any leadership change can cause internal tension, especially if the current captain has not yet reached his full potential.
Whether NiKo will succeed as an IGL remains to be seen. One thing is certain: his words have already added intrigue to the 2025 season and could mark the beginning of a new chapter in Team Falcons’ history.
