Team Falcons closed out their ESL One Bangkok 2024 run in joint 5th–6th place after a hard-fought loss to Team Liquid in the lower-bracket quarter-finals. Despite a solid showing, the team fell short of their usual high standards, leaving players and fans with mixed emotions.
Sneyking on Maintaining Consistency
Jingjun "Sneyking" Wu, one of Team Falcons’ stalwarts, shared his thoughts in an interview during the event. He attributed the team’s long-standing consistency to two main factors:
"First, we have an incredible coach in Aui_2000. He helps us pinpoint our mistakes during matches so that we don’t repeat them. Second, we have players with strong mental resilience and skill. If you’re not afraid to lose and hungry to win, you don’t give up after defeats. Losses only make us more determined to succeed."
Malr1ne on the Team’s Recent Performance
Mid-laner Stanislav "Malr1ne" Potorak took to Telegram to candidly address the team’s results and his own mindset after the tournament:
"I showed up three days late to comment—just wasn’t in the mood. What can I say? We lost, and it was tough. The end of the year has been rough for us, especially the last two tournaments. We managed to pull through at DreamLeague, but things have been sliding since. I feel like the team needs a bit of a reset—a breather, you know.
As for streaming, I don’t think it’s happening for now. I’ll focus on my personal life and some proper rest before coming back. To our fans, thank you for your support. I’m sorry for the disappointment, but I promise I’ll return with fresh victories next year."
The Match Against Team Liquid
Reflecting on their elimination match, Sneyking described it as one of the closest games they’ve played:
"Obviously, we’re disappointed. It was such a close game—we led for so long but made some critical mistakes that turned it around. When a game goes that late, anyone can win. It’s painful that it wasn’t us, but I hope we gave the fans a great show.
One of the biggest issues was losing players just before Roshan spawned. That gave the opponents key advantages and completely shifted the momentum. It’s something we’ll need to review and improve."
A Legacy of Excellence
Despite their recent struggles, Team Falcons remains one of the most accomplished teams in Dota 2. In their last 12 tournaments, they secured seven championships and placed in the top three 11 times. However, their recent finishes—7th–8th at BLAST Slam I and now 5th–6th at ESL One Bangkok—indicate the need for adjustments.