Team Falcons have officially announced that Danish player Emil “Magisk” Reif has been moved to the bench. The news was shared via a post on the organization’s official X (formerly Twitter) account. His spot in the starting lineup will be taken by a young talent from Spirit Academy — Russian player Maksim “kyousuke” Lukin, who has recently been showing impressive form.
Team Achievements
Despite the unexpected roster change, Team Falcons have had a fairly successful season. The squad finished as runners-up at PGL Cluj-Napoca 2025, Intel Extreme Masters Melbourne 2025, and BLAST Rivals Spring 2025. They also secured a 3rd–4th place finish at IEM Dallas 2025 and celebrated a long-awaited victory at PGL Bucharest 2025 — the team’s first major LAN title since their rebuild.
However, the team’s performance at BLAST.tv Austin Major 2025 was their worst of the year. Falcons were eliminated in the Elimination Stage with a 1–3 record, finishing in 20th–22nd place, a result that raised many questions internally.
Magisk and kyousuke’s Stats
Over the past three months, Magisk recorded some of the lowest numbers of his career:
- Rating – 0.97
- DPR – 0.62
- KAST – 73.9%
- IMPACT – 0.88
- ADR – 67.8
These numbers reflect a drop in form, particularly during the team’s overall decline in May and June. Despite his experience and past consistency, Magisk has not been the same impact player lately.
Meanwhile, his replacement — kyousuke — has been performing impressively on the Tier-2/3 scene with Spirit Academy:
- Rating – 1.37
- DPR – 0.70
- KAST – 76.5%
- IMPACT – 1.56
- ADR – 97.4
These stats highlight his aggressive playstyle, consistent damage output, and presence in key rounds. However, it’s important to note that these numbers were achieved outside of Tier-1 competition, where the opponents are tougher and the pressure significantly higher. Now, kyousuke faces the biggest challenge of his career: proving he can translate his form to the highest level of Counter-Strike.
Current Team Falcons Roster
- NiKo
- TeSeS
- kyxsan (IGL)
- m0NESY
- kyousuke
- zonic (coach)
Community Reaction
The decision to bench Magisk sparked intense discussion within the community. User Rain wrote: “Thank you for everything, magisk, much love to you.” Others were more critical. “Benching the only guy who performed at the Major is criminal,” said omar0ski. Another fan, brandon, added: “Didn’t deserve it, only one trying.”
Many fans were left confused by the move, as Magisk is still considered one of the most experienced and decorated players in modern CS. On the other hand, some commentators believe that refreshing the roster with younger talent could positively impact Falcons’ future playstyle.
A Fresh Start Through Talent
Benching Magisk is not just a farewell to a scene legend — it’s a strategic move aimed at long-term success. Kyousuke is a dynamic young talent with excellent individual form who could bring more aggression, unpredictability, and energy to the Falcons lineup — traits that were sorely lacking at the last Major.
With a deep roster, an ambitious coach in zonic, and renewed energy, Falcons now have a real shot at climbing back to the top. If kyousuke can successfully transition to Tier-1 competition, this roster change could mark a turning point in the team’s history.
