Priya Venkatesh has been following the money in esports since before brand deals were considered legitimate marketing. She got pulled into the scene through competitive fighting games and eventually found herself more interested in the contracts and partnerships behind the tournaments than the matches themselves. These days she focuses on how brands navigate esports sponsorships, where the smart money is going, and which deals are actually built to last versus the ones that look good in a press release.
Team Falcons have extended Ilya “m0NESY” Osipov ’s contract through 2030, retaining the Russian AWPer after he helped the team win the IEM Cologne Major and claimed the event’s MVP award. The organisation announced the multi-year agreement on Monday, October 12, according to HLTV.
The extension gives Falcons continuity around one of its central players as it builds on its first Major title. Neither Falcons’ announcement nor HLTV’s report disclosed the financial terms of the agreement.
m0NESY joined Falcons in April 2025 from G2 Esports in what HLTV described as a blockbuster move. He has averaged a 1.29 rating during his time with the team, according to the outlet.
The 21-year-old waited for his first trophy with Falcons, but the breakthrough came on the biggest stage: the team won the IEM Cologne Major in June, and m0NESY was named the tournament’s MVP. His extension keeps that star power in place as Falcons pursue further titles.
Falcons’ roster also includes Finn “karrigan” Andersen , Nikola “NiKo” Kovač , René “TeSeS” Madsen and Maksim “kyousuke” Lukin , with Danny “zonic” Sørensen as coach. The club’s wider Counter-Strike project and roster have featured in coverage of Falcons’ CS2 ambitions , while its Major campaign put its headline talent in the spotlight.
The Cologne victory gives Falcons a title to defend, with the next edition of the Major set to take place in Singapore, according to HLTV. The extension means m0NESY will remain part of the team’s plans as it targets that defence.
Falcons’ next event is the Thunderpick World Championship , which begins on October 14. IEM Beijing is also on the team’s calendar ahead of the Major. The team’s Cologne success was covered in reporting on Falcons’ Major-winning run ; its immediate focus now shifts to the Thunderpick tournament.