KSCERATO: “I think [Anubis is] a good map for us because you can do a lot of stuff with aggressive players.”

I sat down with KSCERATO ahead of FURIA‘s opening duel versus HEROIC at BLAST Bounty Winter 2026. We talked about the new map rotation, his plans for the 2026 season, and set some expectations for their upcoming matches.

How are you doing today?

KSCERATO: I’m doing good. Look at the sun. The sun is so good. So Brazil like.
Sophie: I was gonna say that’s good because I’ve heard the weather there has been pretty bad.
KSCERATO: Yeah, there’s a storm coming through. There was a storm, Harry. If there’s a name, it’s bad.
Sophie: That’s it. I mean, I guess it’s kind of different to the last time we were in Malta. Like, yeah, we had some rain, but it was mostly sunny, right?
KSCERATO: Yeah, I’m used to sunny here, but now it’s kind of bad.

Sophie: Yeah. Okay. Well, hopefully that’ll improve over the next couple of days. So the very first thing I wanted to ask you, I wanted to touch on the end of last season. Obviously, I think you guys had a little bit of a disappointment at the Budapest major. What was it like after that major?

What were those conversations like, given those high expectations that you guys had?

KSCERATO: I think the conversation was the end of the year. So we won four tournaments, three in a row. So it was quite hard to keep it up because we played three best-of-fives. So it was really hard to keep the energy up at the end of the year. But even though it was the Major, I think we did a good job. I think it was not what we expected to do, but Major is Major. Everything can happen.

Sophie: Yeah, exactly. Because I guess it’s kind of hard to keep, as you say, the momentum going through such a busy schedule. Now that you guys have hopefully had a little bit of a break kicking off a new season now.

How are you gonna continue the momentum that you had in 2025 into this year?

KSCERATO: I think we had to keep doing what we’re doing, believe in ourselves mostly, and also understand the game as we are understanding the last season.

Sophie: Absolutely, yeah. Because I guess, I mean, that sort of brings me on quite nicely. I wanted to ask you guys about bringing in Anubis now.

I know Train was a really strong map for FURIA. How do you feel about Anubis?

KSCERATO: I mean, we kind of like the Anubis map. I think it’s a good map for us because you can do a lot of stuff with aggressive players. Like, YEKINDAR, molodoy, me. Everyone knows how to play the map. And he kind of used to it because looks like it comes like out three months ago. Doesn’t look like almost one year. But I don’t like this map personally. I think it’s a map that the position that I play is quite, quite hard to play. It’s pretty techno and also getting a little bit of lucky also. But I think. That’s not changed. So I don’t understand that.

Sophie: Yeah, that’s. I mean, I think I and everybody else was expecting Cache, right? I thought that was gonna happen.

KSCERATO: I wasn’t expecting Cache because I think there’s not like competitive enough. I played like 2 Cache in this holidays. I don’t think it is that good for competitive, but I know this. They had to make a one change or two times for sure because the side is so hard. It’s so T-sided. So I think that they had to keep it like even. Not even, but not to, not to decide. But I think it’s still a good map. But I think for watchers, is a good map to watch. Better than Train, I would say. But to play like in tournaments, I think Train is better.

Sophie: Yeah, absolutely. Yeah, for sure. Okay. So just to talk a little bit about the tournament so far. Obviously you’ve got off to the start that I think a lot of people expected, right? We expected this strong start. You had a little bit of a scare on this Dust 2 in the last best-of-three that you played.

What do you think happened during that game?

KSCERATO: I think there is a game. I think they’re hitting hard, actually. They are really good players and also a good team. Strategically talking, even though you know what they are doing, it’s hard because they just click your hair, your head, and that’s it. So, yeah, it was quite hard. But I’ll say I was not afraid of it because I know that we have potential to come back.

Sophie: Yeah, absolutely. And I was just going to say that we saw Molodoy really like, he really showed up in that map on an individual level. So I know that he’s not actually physically in Malta with you.

KSCERATO: He was in Serbia.

Sophie: Ah, okay.

So does that make a difference when you guys are physically separated to like being together on LAN?

KSCERATO: You mean online tournaments or? Yeah, I mean, I think it’s good because the schedule is so busy right now. A lot of tournaments, a lot of travels and it keeps us like close to our families and also kind of reset the mind after the tournament. After the match or for example, I live here in Malta, so I finished the match. I think I didn’t play good the third map, but it was a hard match. And after that I just take my dog and chill, you know, so go for a walk and etc. So for me it’s good. I like it.

Sophie: Yeah, that’s good. What kind of dog do you have?

KSCERATO: I have a German Spitz.

Sophie: Really? That’s so cute. I love dogs. I’m very into that. That’s great. Okay, so I wanted to talk about… I think it’ a little bit later today. I don’t think people have picked yet. So one team is going to pick FURIA to play against in the next stage of the tournament.

Are there any teams you want to pick you guys?

KSCERATO: Which is, what options?…

Sophie: Bear with me one moment. So it’s going to be HEROIC, PARAVISION, Team Liquid and GamerLegion who are picking.

KSCERATO: I’ll say just for Overpass Fantasy, I’ll say Jame, Parivision. Because for sure will be Overpass, and FalleN and Jame on Overpass should be cool.

Sophie: Yeah, absolutely. Okay, cool. So I just had one. One last quick question for you..

Obviously, FURIA had such an amazing season last year. Tell me about what your goals are for 2026, and where you want to be by the end of this year?

KSCERATO: Oh, that’s a hard question. Not gonna lie. But mainly I would say that is winning more tournaments. I think that’s really important. Also keep the individual skills complaint, I’ll say. And also grow up as a professional.

Sophie: Excellent. Okay, cool. Thank you so much. I appreciate it.

KSCERATO: Thank you so much.

Sophie: Okay. Yeah, brilliant. Okay, cool. Yeah, I think that was. That was everything that I needed from you.

OUTTAKE: KSCERATO and Sophie talk ESL Krakow & Polish Weather

Sophie: So thank you so much. And I’m going to be in Poland in a couple of weeks, so hopefully I’ll see you on media day there.
KSCERATO: Okay. In Krakow maybe?
Sophie: Yes, exactly.
KSCERATO: All right. How’s the Poland. Poland weather?
Sophie: Cold, man. It’s like minus 10.
KSCERATO: It’s super minus 10. That’s not made for Brazil.
Sophie: It is not.
KSCERATO: Minus 10. No way.
Sophie: It’s not even made for English. So I don’t know.
KSCERATO: Thank you so much.
Sophie: Okay, cool. Bye.
KSCERATO: Bye. Minus time, bro.

The BLAST Premier Bounty S1 is the second BLAST CS event hosted in Malta as part of their multi-year deal with GamingMalta.