Falcons edge FaZe at IEM Beijing despite karrigan's map-pick frustration

Falcons needed three maps to beat FaZe at IEM Beijing, a result that left captain Finn "karrigan" Andersen satisfied with the win but uneasy about how his side is getting there.

Speaking to HLTV after the match, karrigan explained that Falcons had prepared specifically for two scenarios: FaZe picking Ancient or picking Mirage, anticipating that their opponents might go for what he called "punish picking" given recent form. In the end, he said Falcons "hit all the three maps we were really prepared for today", suggesting the preparation held up even though the scoreline was close.

The map that caused the most trouble was Anubis, Falcons' own pick. Karrigan pointed out the irony directly, telling HLTV: "We can't win our own map pick lately. And I think it's a little bit frustrating, because Anubis has been a good map when people pick against us, now we picked it, and now it didn't feel as good today."

Despite that unease, karrigan framed the result pragmatically rather than as cause for alarm. "For me, it is as long as we grind and we win the games, it doesn't matter how, because right now we just need to take the small wins we get and transform them into some momentum," he said.

The match also carried a personal subplot: it was karrigan's first time facing David "frozen" Čerňanský as an opponent since leaving FaZe for Falcons. Asked about the reunion, karrigan said it felt strange looking across the server at former teammates, but downplayed the novelty given his own history of moving between FaZe and MOUZ before returning to FaZe and then joining Falcons. "It was no new different territory for me," he told HLTV.

He was nonetheless complimentary about FaZe's performance on the day, crediting them with a strong showing that ultimately came undone in key moments. "It was a very fun game, and I think they actually played great today, and they just did some mistakes in crucial moments, and that's why maybe ran away with it on Mirage," karrigan said.

The win keeps Falcons moving forward at IEM Beijing, though karrigan's comments make clear the team sees its map-pick execution as an area still needing attention heading into their next assignments at the event.