TeSeS on IEM Cologne Major win: "I have no words... I was expecting other trophies first!"

Team Falcons took an almighty curse to the Cathedral of Counter-Strike this week, and they've finally broken it with an incredible 3-0 (13-8, 13-8, 13-8) victory over FURIA in Sunday's grand final.

After 18 majors attended and two failed attempts in grand finals before, superstar rifler NiKo lifted the Chalice in front of a full house in the Lanxess Arena. He was scintillating in the series sweep, while teammate and tournament MVP m0NESY took full control of each map.

But it's karrigan who Danish support TeSeS thanks the most for the team's performance. Just 60 days into his Falcons tenure, karrigan — who looked down and out with a flailing FaZe outfit that missed qualifying for Cologne — turned it around in one of the great comeback stories of the esport.

DFRAG spoke with an over-the-moon TeSeS just after winning the major to detail what went right for the squad, and why karrigan's addition has made the difference.

TeSeS, a major champion and in astonishing fashion, congratulations! How does it feel to claim the second trophy with Falcons after a year and a half, and it happens to be the big one? Not just a major but a major in Cologne!

"I have no words. I'm just super happy... like it's just insane. Yeah, I would expect the other trophies to come first and not this one.

"We brought Karrigan in so we didn't have many expectations in short term, [but] taking this win in Cologne in this arena is just... wow. It's an excellent team, so I'm just super happy."

As you said, it's only 60 days into the karrigan Falcons era. How has playing with him for this short time changed your playstyle, your mental, the mental of the team? You guys just look so much more resilient.

"It's definitely the mentality. When we come into these close games and we know it's coming to overtime, everyone has a belief that everything is going to be fine and no matter how stupid of a round we lose, we'll be there the next round and we'll bring it to overtime or we'll come over the line at some point.

"It's just the mentality and confidence he's bringing and right now we are just believing 100% in everything. So this is what we showed this tournament."

After the Rio 2022 grand final and then with HEROIC kind of blowing up, did you feel after that had happened that maybe that was your last chance, that you'd missed out on something like this?

"No, of course it was not my last chance. I knew I was going to go for it and go all in for the future, and I was lucky that HEROIC kept me and we made an international roster that went on to do pretty well until we parted ways and got bought out.

"So yeah, a very lucky situation that I got to play for Falcons and now I'm really, really happy that I'm getting to stay here and play with this amazing team and I'm just...I'm grateful."

A perfect end to the season for you, now some time off I'm sure? When does your mindset shift to next season, to Singapore?

"I don't know man. Now we have three weeks off and the expectations from everyone is going to be even higher than before. So, extra pressure, but it sounds more fun! Let's do it and I'll be ready for it when it starts.

We still have more coming from the IEM Cologne Major; stay tuned to dfrag.gg and our new and improved YouTube channel!

Interview conducted by N3bu1a. Edited and produced by Nicholas "Taffy" Taifalos