FURIA are one win away from retaining the Thunderpick World Championship trophy. They beat Aurora 2–0 on Saturday, October 17, taking Dust2 13–8 and Inferno 13–10 to reach the 2026 final. BETBOOM will stand between them and a second consecutive title.
Nine straight rounds, then a crucial call
Aurora won the opening three rounds on Dust2. FURIA answered with nine in a row to lead 9–3 at the break. As Hotspawn reported, KSCERATO and YEKINDAR combined for 42 kills on the map. Aurora narrowed the gap after switching sides, but FURIA held on for 13–8.
Inferno followed a similar pattern. FURIA built an 8–4 halftime lead before Aurora fought their way back into the contest. According to HLTV’s match report, a pistol stack on the B site halted that recovery and handed FURIA the initiative again.
The score was tied at 10–10. In his HLTV interview, yuurih credited YEKINDAR with calling the rotation from A to B. Coordination between yuurih and molodoy, backed by a FalleN flash, helped FURIA win the force-buy. They conceded no further rounds.
A return to the final after a change in approach
This is FURIA’s first title decider since the IEM Cologne Major. Speaking to Dust2 Brasil, yuurih linked the improvement in communication to a serious team discussion after Pro League. He said the players had become calmer in their response to mistakes.
The run comes amid a crowded schedule. On Friday, FalleN told HLTV that FURIA had been practising on match days to compensate for the lack of time between tournaments. He also stressed the confidence that winning a trophy could restore.
FURIA have already found that reward in Malta. In the 2025 final, they lost the first two maps to NAVI before winning the next three to claim the title. Sunday brings the chance to retain it.
FURIA vs BETBOOM: start time and coverage
BETBOOM earned their place by beating Falcons 2–1. After losing Anubis 5–13, they recovered to win Dust2 16–14 and Mirage 13–7.
The final is scheduled for Sunday, October 18, at 15:00 UTC, or noon in Brasília, according to the BLAST schedule. The Malta tournament has a total prize pool of $1 million. The organizer’s announcement lists live coverage on Thunderpick’s Twitch, Kick and YouTube channels.
