FURIA’s YEKINDAR Says Thunderpick Win Fueled Their Playoff Surge at PGL Bucharest

The grind to the playoffs

FURIA’s journey through the Bucharest group stage was anything but smooth. The five‑man roster—FalleN, YEKINDAR, yuurih, KSCERATO, guerri, and molodoy—opened with a clean 2‑0 sweep of DENDELE CS on October 24, only to tumble 0‑2 to Natus Vincere the next day.

The tide turned on October 27 when FURIA dispatched TYLOO 2‑0, setting up a decisive showdown with Liquid on the final day of group play. A 2‑0 victory over the English side not only secured a 3‑2 record but also vaulted the squad into the playoffs, the “bare minimum” YEKINDAR admitted after the win.

Overall, FURIA posted a 7‑4 map scoreline, a modest edge that reflects both their resilience and the lingering inconsistencies that have plagued them all year.

Nuke showdown: a seven‑round surge

The Liquid match unfolded on Nuke, a map where FURIA’s T‑side exploded for seven consecutive rounds—a rarity that YEKINDAR called “very good.” “We got seven rounds on Nuke on T side, which was very good,” he said, noting how the burst forced Liquid onto the back foot.

On the CT side, however, FURIA slipped. YEKINDAR recounted a critical split where yuurih and KSCERATO were out of position while FalleN and molodoy pushed Heaven, allowing Liquid to seize the round.

In hindsight, YEKINDAR stressed the importance of patience: “In a perfect situation, you wait a little bit, try to understand, make a plan together.” Still, the five‑round swing proved decisive, and the Brazilian side walked away with the map and the playoff ticket.

Confidence from a trophy run

The Thunderpick World Championship win in Malta still reverberates through the squad. He added that even against a strong opponent like Spirit, FURIA “were very close to beating them” in the group stage.

Despite the optimism, the player acknowledged lingering flaws. “Starting the game quiet and sloppy and a little indecisive” has haunted them, often costing first maps in best‑of‑threes.

Looking ahead

With the playoffs slated from October 29 to 31, FURIA enters the knockout phase on a two‑match winning streak. Their next opponent remains to be announced, but the Brazilian side knows the road ahead is steep. “It would be nice to go finals, maybe win this tournament after Thunderpick,” YEKINDAR said, acknowledging the “stronger competition” that awaits.

If they can iron out early‑map jitters and keep the momentum from Nuke, FURIA could turn their “bare minimum” qualification into a deep run, proving that the Thunderpick trophy was more than a flash in the pan. The Bucharest crowd will be watching closely to see whether confidence translates into conquest.