Falcons Dominate G2 to Win PGL Bucharest Final

On April 13, 2025, Falcons finally reached the top of the Counter-Strike world, claiming their first-ever tier-one LAN title with a dominant 3-0 victory over G2 Esports at PGL Bucharest 2025. Backed by Saudi investment and powered by a rebuilt roster featuring Nikola “NiKo” Kovač and the HEROIC core, Falcons delivered a clinical performance on Mirage (13-5), Nuke (13-7), and Ancient (13-8).

While the team’s win was historic, it was Abdul “⁠degster⁠” Gasanov who stole the spotlight. In what is likely his final tournament with the organization, the Russian AWPer delivered a career-defining performance that earned him the HLTV & 1XBET MVP medal, marking both his first trophy and first MVP award.

From Near Elimination to Champions

Falcons’ road to glory wasn’t smooth. After a disastrous 0-2 start in the group stage, many had already counted them out. But under the leadership of coach Danny “zonic” Sørensen and the sharp calling of Damjan “kyxsan” Stoilkovski, Falcons turned things around in spectacular fashion.

Their resilience was tested throughout the playoffs, facing elite teams like The MongolZ, FaZe, and G2. The team’s ability to adapt mid-series and punish every mistake became their signature. Falcons entered the grand final looking confident, and they played like it.

On Mirage, G2 made early missteps, losing multiple 5v3 rounds. degster capitalized with a 1.79 rating, setting the tone. On Nuke, G2 opened with a 3-0 lead, but Falcons quickly adjusted, exposing gaps in the defense to close the map 13-7. Ancient was closer, but Falcons’ firepower and discipline proved too much, finishing the series in style.

degster's Farewell: One Last Dance, One Big Trophy

Perhaps the most compelling storyline of the tournament was degster’s personal journey. Entering PGL Bucharest knowing he would likely be replaced by Ilya “m0NESY” Osipov, degster had every reason to fade quietly into the background. Instead, he delivered one of the best performances of his career.

After a rough start (0.64 average rating over five maps), degster bounced back, averaging 1.27 rating across the next 12 maps, including standout matches against The MongolZ (1.87), FaZe (1.62), and G2 (1.79). He finished the event as the highest-rated Falcons player in playoffs (1.21) and outperformed m0NESY head-to-head (1.27 vs. 1.00).

In an emotional post-match interview, degster said: “It’s my first trophy, I worked so much for that… You guys will be in my life forever.”

The 23-year-old sniper now leaves Falcons with his legacy secured, and likely no shortage of offers from other tier-one teams.

Falcons' New Era Begins

With this victory, Falcons have become only the fourth team to win a tier-one CS2 title in 2025, signaling the arrival of a true contender. Their earlier runner-up finish at PGL Cluj-Napoca showed potential—PGL Bucharest proved it.

However, the celebration is also a crossroads. The expected addition of m0NESY could shake up the dynamic, and benching degster after this MVP performance will raise eyebrows. Still, the organization’s bold roster moves are paying off, and they now look ahead to future events as one of the most dangerous teams in CS2.

Conclusion

PGL Bucharest 2025 was more than just a tournament win for Falcons—it was a statement. From rock bottom to raising the trophy, they proved their resilience, talent, and hunger. And while the spotlight shines brightly on the team’s future, degster’s swan song in Bucharest will be remembered as one of the greatest individual redemption arcs in Counter-Strike history.

As one chapter ends and another begins, the CS2 world watches closely. Falcons have landed—and they’re here to stay.