FalleN: The emotions of being close to retirement are complicated; I try to put them aside and help my teammates every day.

After being eliminated by G2 at FISSURE Playground 3, Gabriel “FalleN” Toledo reflected on the team’s loss, their matchup with Legacy, and a packed travel schedule. He admitted that, with retirement getting closer, he is trying to keep his emotions to one side and make the most of every match he has left.

Interviewer: Your run at FISSURE came to an end in the quarterfinals against G2. Looking back on that series, where do you think things started to slip away, especially on Dust II?

FalleN:I think we lost some key rounds on the first map. Those rounds could have gone our way, and on Dust II, they were just much better than us. We didn’t have many chances there, so I think we had to win the first map to really have a chance in the series.

Interviewer: You also faced Legacy earlier in the tournament and ended up losing to them again. How have you processed that result? In this match, were there any recurring issues that you just couldn't solve?

FalleN: Playing against Legacy is never easy. They played excellent CS, and there are definitely lessons we can take from that match to prepare for the next time we face them.

Interviewer: You've had a very packed schedule lately, going from Paris to Porto and then to China. How have you been dealing with it? Do you think it affected your energy, preparation, or performance at this event?

FalleN: It’s hard to judge these things because, of course, when you come to a tournament wanting to win, dealing with all the travel is a bit easier. But flying everywhere every week is definitely tough, especially when the event locations are so far apart.

For us, it was important to come to China. This is a tournament worth attending, and once we decided we were going to play, we were happy to come.

Interviewer: You still have several events left to play this season. How close do you think the team is to putting together a title-winning run? What still needs to improve for that to happen?

FalleN: Sometimes I feel like we're not that far from winning a tournament, but other times it feels like we're actually very far away. It depends on the match.

There are rounds we lose, situations we misread, or moments where we don’t find the best solution. The key is to find the kind of chemistry you need to compete at this level and actually win tournaments, so we’re working to get that chemistry back.

Interviewer: With only a few months left before your retirement, has that changed the way you experience tournaments? Do you find yourself appreciating these events differently?

FalleN: In a situation like this, the emotions are always complicated, because there are only a few events left before it all ends now, right? I hadn't really thought much about that before, but at the same time, I understand my responsibility to the team, and I know how much everyone relies on me to put in the work.

I try to put my emotions aside and do the best work I can every day to help the team. But it’s definitely a little different, because I know all of this is coming to an end, and I want to make the most of it and do everything I can.