Third place is not a title, but the match between Aurora and FURIA at PGL Major Astana 2025 turned out to be a bright and intense conclusion to the lower bracket. Both teams were highly motivated: Aurora — to confirm their breakout performance at the Major, and FURIA — to finish the tournament on a high note. After a three-map battle, Aurora secured a 2:1 victory, with Wicadia undoubtedly being the standout player.
Map Results
Anubis — FURIA 13:10 Aurora
Aurora picked Anubis, but things didn’t start well. FURIA played aggressively on defense, taking the first half 9:3. Despite a comeback attempt in the second half, Aurora couldn’t close the gap. Several clutch mistakes cost them the map — 13:10 for FURIA.
Inferno — Aurora 13:6 FURIA
On their own pick, Aurora looked dominant. From the first rounds, woxic controlled the map with his AWP, while XANTARES reliably closed out clutches. Aurora took 10 rounds in the first half and easily closed the map after the side switch — 13:6.
Dust2 — Aurora 13:6 FURIA
The decider map turned into a show from Wicadia. His aggressive mid control, sharp aim, and perfect timing tore through FURIA’s setup. Aurora led 8:4 at the half and finished the game without much resistance. Final score — 13:6.
Player Stats at the Tournament
Wicadia’s form was especially impressive — not only did he top the scoreboard, but he also made key decisions that shaped the outcome of several rounds.
FURIA: A battle without closure
FURIA started strong, winning Anubis thanks to solid coordination on defense and proactive plays from arT and yuurih. It looked like a solid foundation for a series win, but the team crumbled on Inferno. Their T side lacked variety, and rounds were lost due to poor coordination and misreading Aurora’s setup.
Dust2 was the final blow: Aurora completely took over the map, and FURIA failed to respond. While molodoy showed promise, the team overall lacked stability and mental resilience.
The match highlighted that while FURIA has potential, without tactical flexibility and a solid plan under pressure, they’re not ready to compete at the top level consistently.
Community Reactions
The match sparked plenty of discussion on HLTV, with most users expecting FURIA to win comfortably beforehand:
“FURIA free” – f0rest
“Aurora are cooked” – xfl0ud
“Ez4Furia 2:0 – fallen 1.80 rt” – shinmonzip
Map veto decisions also drew criticism:
“Aurora is here because they decided to ban Inferno instead of Train… WHY THE HELL DID THEY BAN INFERNO? IT’S ONE OF THE MAPS THEY CAN PLAY!” – Talfa
“Aurora lost mentally. Their Train is ok. In this case Train looks a lot better than playing first pick of your opponent on map 3.”– karrigan
However, after the match, public opinion shifted — Aurora proved they belong among the top teams, even winning respect from earlier skeptics.
Aurora Gaming finish the tournament in third place, taking home $150,000 and the admiration of fans. This match was another step toward cementing their status as a top-tier team. Meanwhile, FURIA leave in fourth place with $87,500 and many open questions about the road ahead.
