FISSURE Playground 2 kicked off with a major sensation: Falcons not only defeated Virtus.pro in the opening round of the Swiss stage but utterly crushed them with a 2:0 scoreline. The series lasted less than an hour and clearly demonstrated the difference in preparation and form between the two teams.
Match Chronology
- Mirage (13:1, Virtus.pro’s pick)
Virtus.pro started the series by picking their favorite map — Mirage, but from the very first rounds it became clear this was going to be a disaster. Falcons won 11 rounds in a row in the first half, completely destroying their opponent’s economy. m0NESY controlled mid with ease, TeSeS left no chances in clutches, and kyousuke was winning almost every duel. The single round VP managed to take looked accidental, and it wasn’t nearly enough to avoid a crushing 1:13 defeat.
- Ancient (13:2, Falcons’ pick)
On their own pick, Falcons looked even more fired up. Kyousuke and m0NESY alternated highlights, dismantling every attempt by Virtus.pro to reach the bombsites. The first half ended 11:1, effectively sealing the map. A couple of small successes from ICY and fame only delayed the inevitable, but the outcome was unchanged — 13:2 and a 2:0 sweep for Falcons.
Player stats for the match
Player of the Match
The brightest star of this series was Maxim “kyousuke” Lukin, who showcased a world-class individual performance:
- K-D: 35–18 (+17)
- ADR: 126.7
- Rating 3.0: 1.96
Kyousuke completely broke Virtus.pro’s game with his entry kills and confident plays in key moments. His aggressive style and pinpoint aim made him the central figure of the match.
Team Performance in the Match
Falcons
All five Falcons players displayed both unity and individual class. TeSeS (23–9, rating 1.93) was the second hero of the match, clutching rounds and providing confidence on defense. m0NESY (32–14, rating 1.87) played with the comfort of a true AWPer, turning map control into VP’s nightmare. Kyxsan (20–18, rating 1.12) dictated the tempo effectively, while NiKo (19–16, rating 0.90), despite a quieter statline, put in tremendous supportive work. Falcons functioned like a well-oiled machine, and that was the key to their demolition.
Virtus.pro
For VP, this was nothing short of a collapse. ICY (21–24, rating 0.99) was the only one who tried to put up a fight, but without proper backup, it looked hopeless. Fame (18–27, rating 0.90) and FL1T (14–25, rating 0.75) lost most of their duels. The biggest disappointments were Perfecto (11–26, rating 0.46) and t0RRO (11–27, rating 0.50), who looked completely helpless against Falcons’ aggression. VP failed to find rhythm, strategy, or individual impact.
Previous Encounters
Falcons and Virtus.pro have a history of close battles: at BLAST Open Lisbon 2025, VP emerged victorious in tense overtimes (22:20 on Inferno, 19:16 on Ancient), while Falcons managed to take one map on Mirage. This time, however, the “hawks” delivered a long-awaited revenge, sending a clear signal that they are ready to seriously contend for the title.
Current Form of the Teams
- Falcons
The squad continues to show positive momentum. A streak of recent wins and such a dominant start to the tournament prove that the team is in excellent shape. For fans, it’s especially rewarding to see that after the summer transfers, the roster is now playing at its full potential.
- Virtus.pro
For VP, this isn’t the first disappointment in recent months. The team looks disorganized, and even the players’ individual level hasn’t been enough to prevent shaky performances. A defeat this severe raises major questions about their readiness for the rest of the Swiss stage.
Falcons made a loud statement at FISSURE Playground 2 by crushing Virtus.pro 2:0 (13:1; 13:2). Kyousuke’s dominance, backed by the entire team’s flawless execution, turned the series into a one-sided show.
Virtus.pro, meanwhile, find themselves in crisis — their play was chaotic and ineffective. They still have a chance to recover in the Swiss stage, but after such a disastrous start, confidence in the team has plummeted. Falcons, on the other hand, are moving forward confidently and can now be considered serious favorites of the group stage.
