FalleN on the victory over 9z Team in the Major quarterfinals: “That was our toughest match so far.”
FURIA captain Gabriel “FalleN” Toledo, in an interview at the IEM Cologne Major 2026, commented on the team’s advancement to the semifinals, assessed 9z Team’s performance, and shared his thoughts on playing in the arena.
On the match against 9z Team
They played very well. It was our toughest match so far. I think they could very well have advanced—they played very well. They’ve shown strong play in every match at this tournament. It’s just that at some point, we kept believing we could get back into the game. We played very well on defense on Mirage, and we also played very well on defense on Overpass. So, I think sometimes things just don’t click for a team, and that’s what takes them out of the running.
On playing at the arena
LANXESS is a place where, it seems to me, people from all over the world gather to take part in this Counter-Strike celebration. Look: it’s a match between FURIA and 9z Team—teams from completely different continents—and the arena is still packed to the brim. So yeah, this is probably one of the best places to play Counter-Strike, if not the best. It’s amazing to be here.
On the difference between who I am now and who I was ten years ago
The difference is that back then, it felt like I was still trying to prove myself, still trying to win as much as possible. I was trying to lead that first team to the top of the global Counter-Strike scene, and now I’m trying to do it again, but with a different team. And I know that lifting that Major trophy above my head is part of that mission. So maybe I’ll be able to do it one more time.
On the upcoming semifinal against Aurora Gaming
It’s going to be a crazy match. We have a lot of respect for these guys. They’re very friendly and very strong players. They’ve also had some struggles in the playoffs, just like we have lately. So it’s going to be a wild match. It’ll be a pleasure for us to play against them, and hopefully the best team wins.
Earlier, FURIA defeated 9z Team 2-1 and secured a spot in the semifinals of the IEM Cologne Major 2026. The team’s next opponent will be Aurora Gaming. The match will take place on June 20 at 4:45 p.m. Moscow time.
