YEKINDAR: “The truth is, I enjoyed being the in-game leader, but I wasn’t sure if it was worth it.”
FURIA’s CS2 rifler Marek “YEKINDAR” Galinskis, in an interview at StarLadder StarSeries Fall 2026, shared his thoughts after the victory over MIBR, discussed the division of responsibilities between himself and Gabriel “FalleN” Toledo, and also spoke about his current roles and career prospects.
On his feelings after the victory over MIBR
On Inferno, I made a critical mistake in one of the most important rounds, which prevented us from taking control of the game. Our defense wasn’t very successful, even though the score was 7–5 in our favor before the side switch. We could have played better, but it was our debut match at the event, and that often happens on the first map. I’m really glad we ended up winning, because we really needed this result.
On the division of responsibilities between the player and FalleN
I wanted to say that I’ve completely stopped calling plays and hope I won’t have to take on that role again in the future. We tried to figure out whether this role suited me personally and us as a team, and I came to the conclusion that I don’t want to be the in-game leader—it’s too much stress. I asked FalleN to take back the lead on the two maps where I’d been making decisions, and he agreed without hesitation. Of course, if I want to call a play, I’ll do it, but most of the time—and especially in difficult situations—he’s back in charge of that now. The overall game plan and key decisions during the match are now FalleN’s responsibility, and I can just lend a hand or make minor adjustments. This works really well for me, because when I’m feeling the game, I can always step in and make a play, and when I’m lost, I can rely on my real captain.
On my roles and career prospects
The truth is, I enjoyed being the in-game leader, but I wasn’t sure it was worth it. I’ve mentioned this before: I feel like I’m too good at my role to shift gears and take on the captain’s responsibilities of creating space on the map and giving instructions. For an in-game leader, it’s standard to take on a more supportive role within the team, and that’s very difficult to balance with my primary responsibilities. At this stage of my career, I feel like I want to focus on my usual tasks and roles, and as for the future—you all know how things go.
Earlier, FURIA defeated MIBR in the opening match of StarLadder StarSeries Fall 2026, after which they lost to Team Vitality in the semifinals and dropped into the lower bracket. Today, September 19, at 3:30 p.m. Moscow time, Marek “YEKINDAR” Galinskis’s team will face MOUZ in a do-or-die match to stay in the tournament.
Photo: Esports Foundation.
