Falcons extend m0NESY's contract until 2030 ahead of Malta event and PGL Major Singapore title defence

Team Falcons have extended Ilya "m0NESY" Osipov's contract until 2030, ending speculation about the 21-year-old Russian AWPer's future. The Saudi Arabian organisation announced the deal on Monday, 12 October. It came two days before Falcons open their campaign at an eight-team, US$1 million world championship event in Malta. Financial terms were not disclosed.

A teaser that looked like a goodbye

Falcons released the news in a video whose caption thanked Osipov by his full name. Many fans first read it as a farewell, but it turned out to be the start of the announcement. The extension ends talk that he might leave for another top team.

m0NESY joined Falcons from G2 Esports in April 2025 in one of the biggest transfers of that year. HLTV reported that he has averaged a 1.29 rating since joining.

The Cologne Major title and MVP

His biggest achievement with Falcons came in June 2026, when they won the IEM Cologne Major. They beat FURIA 3-0 in the grand final, and m0NESY was named MVP of the event. HLTV lists it as his only trophy with the organisation so far.

Falcons' latest event ended less happily. They were swept by Team Spirit in the ESL Pro League Season 24 quarter-finals in Katowice, and Vitality went on to win the title.

A busy end to 2026

Falcons are in Group A of the Malta event, which runs from 14 to 18 October at BLAST's studio in Malta. They open against Ninjas in Pyjamas on Wednesday, 14 October, at 9.30pm Malaysia time. Aurora Gaming and 9z Team are the other teams in the group. Each group of four uses a double-elimination format, the top two from each group reach the playoffs on 17 and 18 October, and the winner receives US$500,000.

After Malta, Dot Esports reports that Falcons are set for IEM Beijing from 2 to 8 November and then an eight-team event in Hong Kong from 11 to 15 November. They have reportedly turned down an invitation to PGL Masters Bucharest.

Defending the Major in Singapore

The biggest target is the PGL Major Singapore, where Falcons will defend their Major title in the first CS2 Major held in Southeast Asia. The tournament runs from 24 November to 13 December, with the main event at the Singapore Indoor Stadium. Invitations will be based on Valve's Regional Standings update on 2 November.

Falcons are one of the strongest European teams in the standings, and HLTV's projection currently places them among the six teams that would start directly in Stage 3. Keeping m0NESY under contract means their star AWPer stays in the side through the Major and into the next few seasons.

Key takeaways

• Team Falcons announced on 12 October that m0NESY's contract now runs until 2030.
• The 21-year-old AWPer joined from G2 Esports in April 2025 and was MVP when Falcons won the IEM Cologne Major in June 2026.
• Falcons open the US$1 million Malta event against Ninjas in Pyjamas on 14 October at 9.30pm Malaysia time.
• IEM Beijing and a Hong Kong event follow in November before the PGL Major Singapore, which starts on 24 November.
• Major invitations are based on Valve's Regional Standings update on 2 November.

FAQ

How long is m0NESY's new Falcons contract? It runs until 2030. Falcons did not disclose the financial terms.

When did m0NESY join Team Falcons? In April 2025, from G2 Esports.

When do Falcons play next? On Wednesday, 14 October 2026, against Ninjas in Pyjamas at the Malta event, from 9.30pm Malaysia time.

Sources: HLTV, Dot Esports, Esports.gg, TalkEsport