Mauisnake: “kyousuke is one of the most unteachable players”
Analyst Alex “Mauisnake” Ellenberg criticized Team Falcons rifler Maxim “kyousuke” Lukin on the Hot Take Point Made podcast for his attitude toward development, but did not support the idea of trading the player and assessed his prospects for 2027.
On kyousuke’s attitude toward improvement
I don’t see any ability to learn in him. It would seem that playing alongside people like zonic, NiKo, and karrigan, he could only improve. But kyousuke is one of the most unteachable players. That’s why I’d say he’s become a problem for Team Falcons: in some aspects, he’s clearly regressed. And I definitely think that fame has gone to his head too quickly. Just take, for example, the videos where he and m0NESY are throwing money around in clubs. He takes such deep vapes that it’s as if he’s deliberately trying to damage his own brain. It’s madness. I’ve seen players from other Tier 1 teams take the occasional puff during breaks, but kyousuke vapes nonstop. <...>
I don’t think he prioritizes his development. Team Falcons bought him out from Team Spirit Academy for millions of dollars—there wasn’t even this much hype surrounding m0NESY’s transfer. kyousuke probably cares about two things: money and Counter-Strike. He’s already succeeded in both, so he most likely thinks he’s on top of the world.
On kyousuke’s slump and potential
I still disagree [with the idea of selling kyousuke. — Ed.]. He’s 18 years old, and he’ll learn from his own experience that he’ll have to go through a slump before getting back into shape. I’m counting on his comeback—though perhaps not in 2026. Judging by how things are shaping up, I don’t think the Major in Singapore will go well for Team Falcons. But if kyousuke doesn’t make the top 10 players of the year in 2027, it will be one of the most egregious cases of wasted potential we’ve ever seen. And I’m betting that won’t happen.
Earlier, analyst Jacob “Pimp” Winneke suggested that Team Falcons trade kyousuke and return Nikola “NiKo” Kovač to his usual position. Team Spirit’s former captain, Leonid “chopper” Vishnyakov, also discussed the player’s slump. At the most recent tournament, the Thunderpick World Championship 2026, Team Falcons finished in fourth place.
