FalleN reflects on retirement after FURIA exit FISSURE Playground 3

Gabriel “FalleN” Toledo says FURIA need to rediscover their team chemistry after a 2-0 quarter-final loss to G2 ended their FISSURE Playground 3 campaign in Suzhou. The defeat comes during the final months of the Brazilian veteran’s professional Counter-Strike 2 career, with FalleN set to retire at the end of 2026.

Speaking to HLTV after the match, FalleN said FURIA are still trying to find the level of teamwork needed to compete consistently for tournament wins. He also admitted that his remaining events feel different now that the end of his playing career is approaching.

FURIA had a chance to take control of the quarter-final on Ancient. FalleN’s team built an 11-7 lead, but G2 recovered and eventually won the map 16-14 after overtime.

The second map was far more comfortable for G2. FURIA managed only three rounds on their own Dust2 pick as G2 closed it 13-3 and completed the series sweep.

FalleN felt losing Ancient left FURIA with little room to recover. “I think we lost some crucial rounds on the first map,” FalleN told HLTV. “It could have gone our way, and on Dust2 they simply played much better than us.” FURIA had also lost to eventual champions Legacy earlier in the tournament before reaching the playoffs.

The 35-year-old gave a mixed assessment of FURIA’s current level. He said there are matches where the team looks close to competing for titles, but other performances expose mistakes in how players read and handle important rounds.

FalleN pointed specifically to the need for better synergy. FURIA are working to rebuild the coordination required to compete at the highest level rather than treating the Suzhou defeat as an isolated result.

The team entered FISSURE Playground 3 as the defending champion after winning the previous edition in 2025. That victory was part of a successful run that also included trophies at IEM Chengdu and BLAST Rivals 2025 Season 2.

FalleN announced at IEM Rio in April that he will retire from professional play at the end of 2026, closing a competitive career spanning more than two decades. With that deadline getting closer, he told HLTV that he is more aware of how little time remains. 

However, he said his responsibility to FURIA still comes first and that he is trying to keep the emotions around retirement from affecting his work with the team. “I know it’s coming to an end, and I want to make the most of it and do the best I can,” FalleN said.

FURIA will have little time between events. The team is scheduled to return at StarLadder StarSeries Fall 2026 in Barcelona, beginning September 17 against MIBR.