MIHAJA
FURIA Win Thunderpick Again
The Thunderpick World Championship 2026 took place at the BLAST Arena Studios in Malta from 14 to 18 October, with a $1,000,000 prize pool on the line. FURIA went unbeaten through the event:
- Opening Match – beat BetBoom Team 2-0
- Winners’ Match – beat Legacy 2-1
- Semi-final – beat Aurora Gaming 2-0
- Grand Final – beat BetBoom Team 3-2
However, the final was anything but easy. FURIA took Dust2 13-6, but BetBoom hit back by winning Ancient 19-16 in double overtime and then Nuke 13-9. With their backs against the wall, FURIA won Mirage 13-11 and then closed out Cache 13-6 to lift the trophy.
As a result, FURIA took home $500,000, and KSCERATO was named MVP of the event with a 1.34 rating across 12 maps. It also means FURIA have now won the Thunderpick World Championship two years in a row, after beating NAVI 3-2 in the final of the 2025 edition, which was also held in Malta.
“Malta Is Like a Second Home for FURIA”
Speaking after the final, FalleN first reflected on the comeback and the team’s packed schedule:
“It’s a demonstration that you can come back with hard work. We are practising on the same days as game days, every day practice and tournament, because we don’t have time. So it’s a busy schedule.”
Then, he turned his attention to Malta:
“I’m very happy to be here in Malta. I have some friends here. My physiotherapist, Milos, my friend, is here, and his son. And you know, Malta is like a second home for FURIA. They’ve been so supportive to us overall, Malta and GamingMalta. They have been helping for many, many years already. So we need this back-to-back to finish up the last year. It’s an honour for me.”
Why Malta Feels Like Home
Those words aren’t just a polite thank you. FURIA’s connection with Malta goes back years. In March 2023, the Brazilian organisation announced a new base in Malta, in Mellieħa, and said it would relocate its Counter-Strike team there. At the time, co-founder and co-CEO Jaime Pádua said FURIA were “now becoming an active part of the esports ecosystem in Malta”.
Since then, FURIA have spent plenty of time on the island. Now, with two Thunderpick titles won on Maltese soil, it’s easy to see why FalleN calls it a second home.
Malta as an Esports Destination
FalleN’s praise comes at a time when Malta is hosting more top-level esports than ever. In June 2025, GamingMalta and BLAST signed a multi-year deal running until 2027. The agreement brings at least nine Tier 1 Counter-Strike 2 and Dota 2 events to the island, along with a 1,000 m² studio for BLAST.
Since then, the list of big events in Malta has kept growing:
- BLAST Bounty – three editions of the Counter-Strike 2 finals have been played in Malta, with another coming in January 2027
- BLAST Slam – Dota 2 has also come to the island as part of the deal
- Thunderpick World Championship – two editions in Malta, in 2025 and 2026, both won by FURIA
So when one of the most respected players in Counter-Strike history calls Malta a second home, it’s a sign that the work is paying off.
FalleN’s Final Year
This win means even more given where FalleN is in his career. Back in April, he announced that he would retire at the end of 2026, bringing an end to a career that started back in Counter-Strike 1.6.
Along the way, FalleN won back-to-back Majors with Luminosity and SK in 2015 and 2016, and became one of the most influential figures in the game. With FURIA, he has also mentored the next generation, helping to develop young talents like molodoy.
That’s why his words carry so much weight. With only a few months left in his career, FalleN chose to use his big moment to thank Malta.
Final Thoughts
It’s not every day that a legend of the game calls Malta a second home. For the local esports scene, FalleN’s words are a reminder of how far Malta has come, from FURIA setting up in Mellieħa to hosting some of the biggest Counter-Strike events in the world.
Of course, the challenge now is to keep that momentum going. With BLAST Bounty returning in January 2027 and more events on the way, we can’t wait to see which teams make Malta their home next.
Congratulations to FURIA on the back-to-back, and best of luck to FalleN in his final few months. Stay tuned to Esports Malta for more!
