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Team Falcons have confirmed a late roster change ahead of the BLAST Bounty 2026 Season 1 Playoffs, with Maxim “kyousuke” Lukin ruled out of the event due to unresolved visa complications.

The Saudi-backed organisation announced the news on social media, confirming that academy player Matej “NucleonZ” Trajkoski will step in as a stand-in for the playoffs in Malta. The decision means Falcons will head into their first LAN of 2026 without one of their most exciting young talents.

Visa Issues Rule Kyousuke Out Of Malta

According to the official statement, kyousuke was unable to resolve his visa situation in time for the BLAST Bounty Finals, which run from January 22 to 25 in Malta. As a result, the Russian rifler will not travel with the team and will miss the opening LAN appearance of Falcons’ 2026 campaign.

Kyousuke had been a key part of Falcons’ qualification run, posting a strong 1.28 rating across four online maps against ECSTATIC and Monte. The 17-year-old also finished second in the Rookie of the Year race and narrowly missed out on a spot in HLTV’s Top 20 Players of 2025, underlining the impact of his absence.

NucleonZ Earns Call-Up From Falcons Force

To fill the gap, Falcons have promoted Matej “NucleonZ” Trajkoski from their academy side, Falcons Force. The 18-year-old from North Macedonia will make his debut at a top-tier international LAN, marking a major step up in his young career.

NucleonZ joined Falcons Force when the academy roster was launched in September 2025 and has shown steady development since. He recorded a 1.13 rating at the Red Bull GIBAWAY JOURNEY event in Sweden last November, finishing joint-highest in the group stage alongside Vladimir “VENO” Stankovic. The BLAST Bounty playoffs will be his first test against elite-tier opposition.

Falcons said the decision reflects the organisation’s confidence in its academy system and the progress NucleonZ has made over the past few months.

Falcons’ Lineup For BLAST Bounty Playoffs

With the change confirmed, Falcons will field the following roster in Malta:

  • Nikola “NiKo” Kovač
  • René “TeSeS” Madsen
  • Ilya “m0NESY” Osipov
  • Damjan “kyxsan” Stoilkovski
  • Matej “NucleonZ” Trajkoski

The team qualified for the BLAST Bounty Finals by beating ECSTATIC and Monte online, and their first opponent will be determined once the online stage concludes.

Community Reaction And Bigger Questions

The news quickly sparked discussion across the Counter-Strike community, with fans debating why visa issues continue to affect Russian players at international events. Some pointed to previous cases involving long-term residency solutions, while others questioned why Falcons were unable to resolve the situation in time.

Regardless of the debate, the timing creates an opening for other teams in the bracket. Falcons, now running a stand-in, could be seen as a more vulnerable pick for underdogs when the playoffs begin.

Even so, the organisation insists it will compete with full focus and determination, backing its academy call-up to rise to the challenge on one of CS2’s early LAN stages of the year.

What This Means For Falcons At BLAST Bounty

Losing kyousuke is a clear setback, especially given his recent form and growing reputation. However, the presence of veterans like NiKo and m0NESY provides stability, and NucleonZ’s promotion adds an unpredictable element that opponents will have limited data on.

BLAST Bounty Malta will offer a first real test of Falcons’ depth and academy pipeline, while also giving NucleonZ a rare chance to prove himself on a big stage.