Insider Gaming spoke to Falcons’ rifler René ‘TeSeS’ Madsen before the start of their BLAST Open Rotterdam 2026 campaign, which sees the roster aim to recover from an error-ridden start to the team’s Counter-Strike year.
A quarter-final exit at PGL Cluj-Napoca to Parivision once again highlighted the team’s difficulties in closing advantageous scenarios, but after skipping ESL Pro League Season 23, Falcons are hoping to put to bed their characteristic mistakes.
“We tried to pinpoint the crucial things that we can improve on, everything from discipline to communication, and also helping each other when we’re dead.”
TeSeS on Falcons’ focus before Blast Open Rotterdam
Obviously, you guys skipped Pro League. What were you working on during that time when everyone else was at the event or playing online?
Well, we tried to pinpoint the crucial things that we can improve on, everything from discipline to communication, and also helping each other when we’re dead, for example.
I think one of the most important points was probably the discipline part and considerations in crucial rounds when we want to play more as a team and have a better connection with each other.
Going back to Cluj, what were the specific things you were looking at after that series with Parivision?
We definitely lost some crucial rounds and some advantages that we never should have. So, of course, we had to figure out how to improve that, first of all, and that’s what we tried to do.
Also, we weren’t able to help each other in the server when we were playing, and not connecting with each other. That’s probably a few main things.
“I’m working on prioritizing myself a little bit more. Not sacrificing all the time.”
TeSeS on being less selfless to find form
Individually, you’ve had a tough couple of events. What are you working on? Do you think that’s more of a team issue, that you’re struggling to have impact, or do you think it’s more about how you work together?
I don’t think the amount of hours is what I need to work on, but I don’t think it’s the team either. I think it’s mostly up to myself when we’re playing and the priorities I need to have when we’re playing.
When we started out with this team, I was all in for the team, and there was nothing I wouldn’t do. I was able to sacrifice everything. We found out pretty quickly that this is not how I can work or how it works for this team.
Now I’m working on prioritising myself a little bit more. Not sacrificing all the time, but also putting myself into good situations and being able to close out rounds pretty well.
I haven’t shown this too much in tournaments yet, but I know I have it. I know I can do it, and that is what I want to show.
That’s interesting. What does that mean? In terms of specifics on a map, are you going to take over some roles or take more aggressive peaks, or do you want to take more responsibility in the server?
There’s not going to be any role changes, but there’s definitely going to be more options for myself to be able to set me up or be able to play on more parameters than what we have done in the past.
As you said, you’ve been a very selfless player for Falcons, and had the most success in a team that was very system-based rather than individual-based. Do you think it’s more frustrating for you to see those kinds of errors when players are kind of overpeeking, overheating, because you understand how to play good system-based Counter-Strike?
Yeah, I think it’s frustrating for anyone, not just me. I’ve also done it myself. I’m not perfect either. So I think every time you watch it back, you’re like, why would I ever do that? And I think everyone in the team is like that.
So I don’t think putting your mind to frustration is the solution. That’s at least what I want to do in my CS career: try to help each other fix these things. I know everyone has it in them. We just need to fix it.
“That’s maybe why we throw away some of these clutch situations, because we lose overview in the round, or we’re not taking the best decision available.”
TeSeS on Falcons’ issues in the clutch
In terms of the team dynamics, we’ve seen this issue emerge where it’s been difficult to rein in the players. Is there something that has been instilled in the last couple of weeks within the players where kyxsan is going to be able to have the control to say, ‘No, don’t go for that,’ or to have more say in the round?
I think it’s more an overall thing in the mid-rounds and the situations where the people that have an overview when they’re dead, for example, anyone can help, like peek on each other, go back, play time, play 1-1, and stuff like this. This is what we have tried to work on since Cluj.
Before this Cluj event, and also at Cluj, we haven’t been doing it that much, and we haven’t been that comfortable with it, and that’s maybe why we throw away some of these clutch situations, because we lose overview in the round, or we’re not taking the best decision available.
This is one solution we’re going with. At least in practise, it’s been going a lot better, but we also need to be able to do it in the mid-game.
“Our map pool right now is a little bit all over the place.”
TeSeS on falcons’ current map pool issues
In terms of the map pool, are there any reflections coming out of Cluj?
Yeah, our map pool right now is a little bit all over the place, also for ourselves. We can have really good games on certain maps, and the next day, it can be the complete opposite.
But I also think that’s how it is nowadays in this competitive environment. Some teams can make a really good game plan against you on your best map, and sometimes you just run into a wall, but we definitely need to learn our map pool.
From the outside, you can see it’s a bit weird, but we’re trying to do it step by step like any other team.
Obviously, Pro League took place. I’m sure you guys were working hard, not sitting on your sofa watching it, but did you get to see any of it, or were there any reflections from the event that you took away?
No, I didn’t watch too much of it. Obviously, I saw NAVI won, Astralis got third place. I’m surprised that Spirit didn’t make it further. I think that’s probably the main thing.
Going into NRG in your first match, how are you feeling about those guys?
It’s a decent match-up, obviously not the strongest opponents that are here, but no matter how we look at it nowadays, we cannot underestimate anyone.
So it’s an exciting game, and we’ll just see how it goes. We will do some preparations tonight and be ready for the game tomorrow morning.
Do you think Falcons can overcome their clutch problems? You can discuss that on Insider Gaming’s Discord!
For more Counter-Strike news, see how NAVI secured the ESL Pro League Season 23 trophy.
Darragh is an Esports Journalist for Insider Gaming specialising in Counter-Strike. He loves to explore how esports teams work, or why they very often do not.
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