{"id":243261,"date":"2026-08-22T14:24:31","date_gmt":"2026-08-22T11:24:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vpesports.com\/cs\/?p=243261"},"modified":"2026-08-22T14:24:31","modified_gmt":"2026-08-22T11:24:31","slug":"karrigan-and-niko-praise-kyousuke-after-falcons-sweep-mongolz-at-ewc-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/vpesports.com\/cs\/karrigan-and-niko-praise-kyousuke-after-falcons-sweep-mongolz-at-ewc-2026\/","title":{"rendered":"Karrigan and NiKo Praise kyousuke After Falcons Sweep Mongolz at EWC 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Team Falcons continued their strong run at the Esports World Cup 2026 in Paris, securing a decisive first-round playoff victory against The Mongolz. The match ended with a clean 2-0 sweep, propelling the international roster into the quarterfinals. Following the win, both captain Finn karrigan Andersen and teammate Nikola NiKo Kovac offered high praise for the performance of Maxim kyousuke Lukin, pointing to his impact as a key factor in the team’s success.<\/p>\n

The victory marks a significant recovery for the squad after what karrigan described as a very poor start to the season at BLAST Bounty Summer 2026. The team’s current LAN form is notable, as they have not dropped a single map since the final of their previous Major championship.<\/p>\n

The match against The Mongolz was a showcase of Falcons’ firepower, particularly on the opening map. Inferno proved to be a one-sided affair, with Falcons cruising to a 13-3 victory. The second map, Dust2, was more competitive, but Falcons maintained control to close it out 13-9 and seal the series. The result sets up a quarterfinal clash against Legacy.<\/p>\n

NiKo, speaking on a stream hosted by insider Sebastien krL Perez, reflected on the team’s motivation coming into the event. He noted that the team had gone almost two months without playing an official match, which fueled their desire to present an improved version of Falcons. He expressed satisfaction with their performance so far, while also acknowledging that there are still many areas for the team to refine. NiKo specifically pointed to the team’s ability to bounce back from their earlier struggles at BLAST Bounty Summer 2026 as a source of pride.<\/p>\n

kyousuke’s Standout Performance Draws Veteran Acclaim<\/h2>\n

The central narrative of the post-match discussion was the individual brilliance of kyousuke. In a post-match interview, karrigan directly connected the young player’s performance to his previous accolades. He stated that kyousuke’s showing against The Mongolz demonstrated exactly why he was the best player at the Major. Karrigan expressed immense pride in the team’s LAN consistency since that Major final, but he was quick to emphasize that the journey to earning true respect in the playoff environment is still a long one.<\/p>\n

When asked about his role in unlocking kyousuke’s potential, karrigan deflected the credit, suggesting the question was better directed at the player himself. However, he did elaborate on their strong working relationship. He highlighted the importance of enjoying the process, especially when spending half the year together on the road. Karrigan believes he has helped reintroduce a sense of fun into the game, which can sometimes become overly serious, and he expressed great pride in his teammate’s development.<\/p>\n

NiKo provided a more detailed assessment of kyousuke’s character and potential. He was asked directly if kyousuke could become the next NiKo, and he answered affirmatively, citing the player’s immense skill and young age. NiKo explained that kyousuke’s brilliance might be even more apparent on a team where he had more individual space, but sharing the server with a player of m0MESY’s caliber naturally distributes the responsibility. He described kyousuke as a very good, unselfish person and a true team player who absorbs feedback like a sponge. NiKo noted that kyousuke is open to criticism and new knowledge, actively trying to understand everything the team and coach communicate to him. He specifically highlighted kyousuke’s performance on Inferno, saying he was magnificent and destroyed everyone, making it an easy map for the team.<\/p>\n