Official: kyousuke Joins Team Falcons

On June 23, 2025, Team Falcons officially announced the signing of 17-year-old Maksim "kyousuke" Lukin from Spirit Academy. He will replace Emil "Magisk" Reif, who has been moved to the bench following the team’s underwhelming performance at the BLAST.tv Austin Major.

Background of the Transfer

Rumors surrounding kyousuke’s transfer first surfaced in April, with an agreement between Falcons and Spirit reportedly reached in May. According to media reports, the deal may have cost Falcons around $2 million.

Rapid Rise and Achievements

During his time with Spirit Academy, kyousuke impressed both fans and analysts alike. He achieved a remarkable 1.29 rating in tier-2 events, helped his team reach 32nd place in the VRS rankings, and secured back-to-back wins at the BetBoom LanDaLan #1 and #2 tournaments.

His talent caught widespread attention — kyousuke received six “Bold Predictions” nods in HLTV’s Top 20 Players of 2024, including endorsements from star players ZywOo and m0NESY. NiKo also spoke highly of the young rifler, saying in an interview that kyousuke “reminds me of myself — his shooting style and flair for flashy plays are very similar.”

Falcons’ New Roster

Following this roster move, Falcons’ updated lineup now consists of:

• NiKo
• kyxsan
• TeSeS
• m0NESY
• kyousuke
• zonic (coach)

Kyousuke is expected to make his debut at IEM Cologne, which runs from July 23 to August 3, 2025.

What This Means for Falcons and kyousuke

With this transfer, Falcons are clearly investing in young, high-impact talent to strengthen their future prospects. kyousuke, though still a teenager, now has the opportunity to prove himself at the highest level. For Falcons, the signing signals a bold shift toward aggressive play and long-term growth. For kyousuke, it’s the ultimate test — to meet the expectations and help establish Falcons among the elite teams in CS2.