"There’s Time for Me to Win Big Events" – kyxsan

Damjan "kyxsan" Stoilkovski is the new IGL of Team Falcons. The Saudi Arabian organization has built a formidable roster to achieve the results that were missing. The 24-year-old North Macedonian is leading a squad featuring the ex-HEROIC core (kyxsan, degster, TeSeS), Magisk, and NiKo, with zonic as the coach.

Under his leadership, HEROIC was named the 8th best team in the world in 2024 by HLTV.org. That, combined with his constant evolution and growth, secured him a new challenge—once again with an organization that has high expectations. He broke onto the scene with BLUEJAYS, an all-North Macedonian roster, and in just a few years, he earned his place in the Tier 1 scene, determined to stay.

Despite numerous regional and lower-tier tournament wins, along with his success with the national team at the IESF World Championship, the biggest trophies have still eluded him. We spoke to kyxsan ahead of IEM Katowice, a historic tournament that often marks the true beginning of the competitive season.

You joined HEROIC to fill the shoes of Casper "cadiaN" Møller, one of the most recognized in-game leaders in CS. Now that you’ve had time to reflect, how do you feel about the past year and your time with HEROIC?

“I’m glad I had the chance to play for HEROIC. I enjoyed my time there, even though it was difficult at times throughout the year—mostly because we played so many events and, as a new team, we obviously needed time to compete against the best. I think we improved as the year went on and were moving in the right direction, and our results toward the end were much better than before.”

Once again, you’ve joined an organization with high expectations—this time, Team Falcons. What’s different about this challenge, and how have you grown compared to when you joined HEROIC?

“I’d say it’s somewhat similar—it’s a new team again, and everything needs to be built from scratch. I learned a lot during my time in HEROIC and have more experience now, so that should benefit both me and my team in the future.”

You, degster, and TeSeS arrived as a trio, while Magisk and Zonic were already in Falcons and have a long history of working together. With the addition of NiKo, what does the team dynamic look like? How are you all fitting in together?

“Even though we come from different teams, we fit together pretty well. We’re on the same page for most things, both inside and outside the game.”

Foto: HLTV.org

Every IGL has their own approach—some are structured, others more loose and reactive. How would you describe your leadership style, and how does it blend with the team’s current system?

“I think it’s important for us as a team to be able to play different styles of CS. Adapting during the game, depending on what’s happening on the server, is a really valuable skill that not many teams have. That’s definitely one of our focus points.”

What are your thoughts on the current CS2 meta? Do you feel it plays to your strengths as an IGL?

“I’d say the game is evolving a lot—every single day. You see teams coming up with new things very often, and other teams are quick to notice and implement them into their own system. The only thing I dislike is MR12; I think it makes the game a lot more random.”

BLAST Bounty 2025 Season 1 was your first tournament of the year, and you didn’t have much time to prepare. Now, as you head into IEM Katowice, how has preparation been, and how confident do you feel?

“We had some time to practice after BLAST Bounty, so that definitely makes us feel more prepared and confident for Katowice.”

On a More Personal Note:

What expectations do you have for yourself and your team this year?

“I expect us to be a consistent team that reaches the playoffs in most events. I’d also love to win a Tier 1 trophy, as that’s something I still haven’t achieved.”

Your career has shown steady growth, but the biggest trophies still seem to elude you. You’ve had success with your national team at the IESF World Championship and won lower-tier tournaments, but the biggest titles are still ahead. How do you feel about that? Do you feel any pressure?

“Of course, I’m not satisfied that I haven’t won a big event yet, but I don’t feel pressure because I haven’t been in Tier 1 for that long. Also, most Tier 1 IGLs are older than me, so I definitely think there’s still time for me to win these kinds of events.”

Many players from our region (Southeast Europe) dream of playing alongside stars like NiKo and other regional legends. Now that you have that opportunity, how does it feel? What’s your relationship with NiKo like?

“It’s definitely a pleasure to play with NiKo. He’s one of the players almost everyone looks up to—especially if you’re from the Balkans. He’s a really nice guy outside the server too, and I’m happy to be on the same team with him.”