How FURIA Conquered the FISSURE Playground 2 Title: From Bold Experiment to Victory at a Tier-1 Event
When FURIA announced the signing of Danil “molodoy” Golubenko and the return of Mareks “YEKINDAR” Gaļinskis in April 2025, the esports community was divided. Some saw it as a risky experiment, others as a desperate attempt to shake up a stagnant team. Skeptics shook their heads: too many changes, too much time needed for adaptation, and too high expectations from Brazil’s best team. But on September 21, when FURIA lifted the FISSURE Playground 2 trophy in Belgrade, it became clear: this risk had become their triumph. Here’s the story of how the Brazilian team, with a new roster, cultural blend, and fresh approach, returned to the top of CS2.
The Experiment That Changed Everything
FURIA is a brand with history, but in recent years the team had been experiencing a real decline. Titles on the international stage remained a dream, and major victories seemed like distant past. In spring 2025, the organization decided on radical changes: a new player, new roles, new style. Two names came into focus – the young AWPer from CIS molodoy and the experienced Latvian YEKINDAR, returning from inactivity after being kicked from Liquid. The legendary FalleN refused the role of primary sniper, taking on rifler duties while maintaining captaincy. This was a bold move that could either destroy the team or take it to a new level.
FURIA didn’t just change the roster – they rethought their philosophy. The mixture of Brazilian passion and CIS players’ aggression, united by trust and clear role division, became the key to success. This experiment turned into a story that will be discussed for a long time to come.
Chronicle of the Path: From Signings to Trophy
To understand how FURIA rose to the podium, let’s trace the key stages of their transformation:
- April 11, 2025: FURIA signs Danil “molodoy” Golubenko from AMKAL, replacing chelo. On the same day, it’s announced that FalleN is transferring the primary AWP role to the newcomer, while he transitions to rifler and IGL position. This decision causes controversy: can the legend give up his iconic sniper role?
- April 23-24, 2025: YEKINDAR joins as a stand-in replacing Skullz. FalleN explains the choice: Mareks will bring aggression and experience, and also help molodoy adapt thanks to the absence of a language barrier (both speak Russian). This becomes the first step toward creating a “bridge” between Brazilians and CIS players.
- May 2025: Molodoy debuts at major LAN tournaments – PGL Astana 2025 and BLAST Open London. The team shows itself worthily, but titles are still far away. This is the time of first trials and chemistry formation.
- June 2025: The team reaches Major playoffs. YEKINDAR actively helps molodoy with communication, gets into good form himself, and FURIA offers him a full contract. In interviews, players admit that chemistry is starting to work.
- July-August 2025: Another playoff run at IEM Cologne and BLAST Open London 2025.
- September 2025: FISSURE Playground 2 in Belgrade becomes the moment of truth. FURIA proves they’re ready not just to compete, but to win.
Path to Trophy: Key Matches and Moments
FISSURE Playground 2 became a real test for FURIA. The team had already shown potential at previous tournaments, but the title still seemed out of reach. However, in Belgrade they demonstrated character, skill, and team synergy.
FURIA confidently passed the group stage, and in the first playoff round faced Astralis. The semifinal against Falcons became a real test. The series ended 2:0 in FURIA’s favor (16:12 on Train, 13:11 on Nuke), but the fight was tense. The main factor of victory was molodoy himself, who outdueled m0NESY in personal encounters 14:3.
The final became an epic battle stretching six hours and five maps, but on the decisive Dust 2, the Mongolians had no strength left and gave the victory to FURIA.
Molodoy became tournament MVP, showing not only a high 1.22 rating in playoffs, but also very bright, confident play, making crucial frags. The FISSURE victory also strengthened FURIA’s positions in the VRS ranking, lifting them to second place.
Behind the Scenes: Doubts, Criticism, and Faith in Success
FURIA’s path wasn’t cloudless. The new roster raised many questions throughout the journey:
- Skepticism around molodoy: Critics believed the 19-year-old AWPer was too young and not ready for tier-1. The AWP transfer from FalleN also raised doubts – could the legend be effective without his “signature” device?
- Language barrier: Molodoy didn’t speak English even at a basic level, which could lead to communication errors. While YEKINDAR became the “bridge,” helping with translations and adaptation, fans still worried.
- Team chemistry: Yuurih and KSCERATO admitted they initially didn’t know what to expect from the newcomer. But after the first practices, it became clear: “This guy is good.” Molodoy brought a fresh, aggressive style that “energized” the team.
Admittedly, even now all these questions seem extremely logical, and that FURIA managed to handle them is a remarkable achievement. How did they manage to build a system where the entire mechanism not only started but confidently ran?
Why It Worked
FURIA achieved success thanks to several factors:
- Clear roles and trust: FalleN passed the AWP to molodoy, focusing on leadership. This allowed each player to flourish in their role without unnecessary pressure.
- Brazil + CIS chemistry: YEKINDAR and molodoy repeatedly noted that the mentalities of the two regions are very similar, despite serious cultural differences. The guys immediately found common ground – there were no domestic problems, and they shared a responsible approach to training, motivation to win and grow together.
- Aggression and freshness: Molodoy brought a daring style, while YEKINDAR added his view of CS that he acquired playing for VP with Jame. This allowed FURIA to create a great balance between chaos and well-prepared rounds with original setups and executes.
Hunger for victories: Molodoy dreamed of his first title, YEKINDAR wanted to prove his return, and the Brazilians thirsted to regain former glory. This motivation became their fuel.
What's Next? New Trend in CS2
FURIA’s success is a signal for the entire CS2 scene. The right approach to roster formation without regard to language barriers, attracting young talents, and flexibility in roles could become the new standard. Teams like MIBR are already looking at similar experiments, inviting a CIS duo – kl1m and Qikert.
Someone might say this approach isn’t new at all, but if you remember previous “mixes” from different regions, they were often created to simplify life in qualifications. Here FalleN himself found his successor and is currently trying to pass on as much knowledge and experience as possible. Mareks also didn’t end up here by chance and primarily received not so much a gameplay but a communication role. Taking him on test rental was also a brilliant decision, as was the subsequent signing of a full contract.
Certainly, luck played a part here, but name at least one team that doesn’t depend on it. The main thing is that despite controversial decisions – they all aren’t devoid of logic and common sense. FURIA didn’t forget that forming a real roster and “Fantasy assembly” are not the same thing.
FURIA's Lesson: Risk, Trust, Triumph
FURIA’s story in 2025 is an example of how bold decisions and faith in the team can rewrite the script. They proved that:
- Risk is justified if there’s a clear vision
- Young talents can shine if given a chance and support
- Communication and trust are more important than any skill
- Unconventional solutions are often underestimated, but they’re exactly what changes the game
FURIA didn’t just win a trophy. They showed what a modern CS2 team looks like: hybrid, daring, united. This title is not the end, but the beginning of a new era for the Brazilian legend.
Author: Alex
Alex is an author and esports observer with more than seven years of experience. He specializes in analyzing new releases in the world of computer games, gaming services, and in-game economies. Alex shares practical experience and an expert perspective on the development of gaming, helping readers understand complex mechanics and stay up to date with the latest news.
