New FlyQuest era with coach AZR misses start at DracuLAN

It's a false start for FlyQuest in their pre-Budapest Major tour of Europe in Romania this week, with the squad shockingly downed on day one of DracuLAN 2 as new coach Aaron "AZR" Ward gets to grips at the helm.

FlyQuest took on unknowns BASEMENT BOYS who upset the Aussies 2-1 (9-13, 13-8, 16-14) in a performance that could only be described as embarrassing coming from the Oceanic squad who we haven't seen on the server in almost a month.

A clean enough win on Dust 2 in the bag, FlyQuest took a risk in letting Train through—previously the squad's permaban—but BASEMENT BOYS were quick to punish, tying the series at a map a piece.

On Mirage, FlyQuest were incredibly slow starters dropping the half 8-4, and while they showed more life on their T side than of recent, they were unable to keep the Ukrainian squad off map point. BASEMENT BOYS completed the upset in overtime, meaning the OCE squad and event top-seed will need to fight through the lower bracket.

In the latest worst-kept secret for the OCE squad, AZR was announced as the new head coach for FlyQuest shortly before the team's first match at DracuLAN 2 on Sept. 29. Speculation over the link between FlyQuest and the 32-year-old has been rife for the past fortnight.

The former Renegades, 100 Thieves, and EXTREMUM core member has spent the year away from active play. Following his time with Sprout in 2023, the veteran Aussie captain led the first iteration of TALON's return to CS in 2024.

However, apart from an upset best-of-one win over FlyQuest at the Shanghai Major APAC RMR and a short period competing in Europe, AZR achieved very little with the team and stepped away following the org's departure weeks before their OCE debut at the DFRAG Invitational.

• Read more: TALON pulls out of CS2 weeks before OCE LAN debut

Now, AZR links up with the top OCE squad. His return includes a welcome reunion with ex-teammate Justin "jks" Savage—almost five years after the latter departed the 100 Thieves core for Complexity—and team manager Chris "GoMeZ" Orfanellis.

FlyQuest, the top-seeded team at DracuLAN, is treating the event as both preparation for the StarLadder Budapest Major and as a chance to pick up vital VRS points for the season ahead.

The OCE squad currently sits fourth in the Asia rankings and would need a minor miracle to knock off TYLOO for the sole Stage 2 spot in Hungary. Otherwise, they'll begin their Major run in the opening stage.

AZR and FlyQuest will take on Metizport later tonight in DracuLAN 2's lower bracket at 1am AEST.