Aurora’s captain MAJ3R spoke to HLTV after their victory over the Falcons in the Esports World Cup 2025 semifinals.
After a slow and difficult start to the season, Aurora came into the Esports World Cup 2025 at full throttle. Our players defeated FaZe, HEROIC, and Falcons one after another to reach the Grand Final. There, they will face MongolZ.
The Grand Final clash against MongolZ will take place on Sunday (24.08.2025) at 13:00.
Captain MAJ3R spoke to HLTV following their uplifting semi-final result.
How are you feeling after that series?
I feel a little tired after because it’s late, but it was a really good match to play, I really enjoyed it. I’m very happy that in the end we won it. Congratulations to Falcons for the match, because I think for the fan it was a beautiful match to watch.
I noticed during the game you had a lot of energy, a lot of gestures towards the crowd. Did it give a little bit of extra fire knowing there were so many Falcons fans rooting against you?
Yes and no. I think when you have a lot of support behind you like this, it can be an advantage and also a disadvantage for them, because it also puts pressure on you. I knew that we have the potential and the weapons to beat them, I also knew that they are a really good team with good individuals. I told my guys that today if we win, it’s not individually, we must win as a team, and I think we did great as a team today. I’m proud of that.
It does feel like you have had some individual resurgence amongst your team, woxic with some great clutch moments and XANTARES was obviously huge today. Why do you think you have hit your peak again?
I think we started really well this year and after that we had a break, so maybe the break slowed us down. We also didn’t add XANTARES for one month and we played with xfl0ud, and we practiced all the maps with xfl0ud and changed a lot of things. Then when XANTARES came back we rechanged everything, so it was a lot of work you know.
It depends on our form. Today I’m really glad that we played good Counter-Strike, and you know that Counter-Strike can be like, when you are on a bad day and you lose, everyone criticizes you, and when you win everyone salutes you. I understand that and I just try to to my job, I just try to be good as a leader and a player in my team. I’m very glad that today we won and that we have a chance to win a trophy, and I will give everything I have in my heart and my body to do that. Hopefully I can achieve that.
You’ve got The MongolZ tomorrow, a team who have overall had your number. They’ve beaten you more times than you have beaten them, and a year ago they played you in the Skyesports Championship final and beat you. How are you feeling about that matchup?
Playing against them is always a spicy match. I think it’s one of the teams this year who progressed the most, they play really good Counter-Strike and are really good individually. This is their biggest weapon, it’s not only two or three stars, but all five players are shooting really well, I think this is their strength. So we will see, it’s going to be a good match for us and we will give everything for a win.
What would it mean to you to win this tournament?
Yes… a lot. Let’s see if I can, but for sure I will give everything I have in my body, in my mind, every part of energy in my spirit, I will give everything. If I’m champion I’m in it, it’s for me, and if I don’t, it means I miss something. That’s life, you know? I accept it now, but for no regrets I will give everything I have.