FURIA is reportedly moving forward with the internationalization of its roster. According to Gamer Arena, rumors suggest that Felipe “skullz” Medeiros may be benched and replaced by Mareks “YEKINDAR” Gaļinskis. If this transfer goes through, it will mark the second major change in the team’s direction in recent times — following the replacement of chelo with the Kazakh AWPer molodoy.
FURIA and Team Liquid’s Performance
FURIA struggled to achieve consistency throughout 2024, failing to make a significant impact at most events and only securing two semifinal finishes:
- YaLLa Compass 2024 — 3–4th place
- Intel Extreme Masters Rio 2024 — 3–4th place
Unfortunately, 2025 has been even more disappointing — the team hasn’t reached a single semifinal, a far cry from the dominant and stable FURIA we saw in 2020.
As for Team Liquid, the story is quite similar. Their only notable achievements in 2024 were:
- 1–4th place at BLAST Premier: Fall Groups 2024
- 5–8th place at Perfect World Shanghai Major 2024
READ MORE: s1mple close to FURIA — sensational rumors from Brazil about the CS legend’s transfer
YEKINDAR vs skullz
Mareks “YEKINDAR” Gaļinskis is a young Latvian rifler who rose to prominence with Virtus.pro and later Team Liquid, where he has been benched since December 2024. Despite being inactive for a few months, his individual skill remains strong.
Felipe “skullz” Medeiros, a young Brazilian talent, joined FURIA in July 2024 after his stint with Team Liquid. While his individual performance has been decent, FURIA’s management reportedly believes that YEKINDAR is a better fit for the rifler role due to his more aggressive playstyle. Moreover, YEKINDAR offers flexibility by potentially stepping into the IGL role if needed.
YEKINDAR`s stats
skullz`s stats
Community Reactions
As of now, there are no official comments from professional players regarding the potential replacement of skullz by YEKINDAR. Fans and analysts alike are waiting for an official statement from the organization, which would likely spark broader discussion not only among the CS community but also among players within and outside the team. For now, this remains in the realm of speculation.
What Could Change?
This move could significantly affect FURIA’s in-game dynamics. YEKINDAR is known for his high-tempo, aggressive style and leadership qualities he previously showcased with Team Liquid. This step also signals a new chapter in Brazilian CS history, as FURIA appears ready to move away from the tradition of fielding exclusively Brazilian lineups.
FURIA seems determined to explore fresh options to improve results and is no longer limiting its recruitment to just Brazilian players. If YEKINDAR does join, the potential new lineup would be:
- yuurih
- KSCERATO
- FalleN
- YEKINDAR
- molodoy
