The MongolZ delivered a dominant performance against Natus Vincere, securing a decisive 2-0 victory (Mirage 13-6, Ancient 13-6) in the final quarter-final matchup of ESL Pro League Season 21. This impressive win marks their second Big Event top-four finish in 2025, reinforcing their rise in the competitive scene.
With this victory, the Mongolian squad now prepares to take on Vitality in the semi-finals, where they will face off against a team riding a nine-match win streak. The challenge ahead is substantial, as Vitality, led by Mathieu “ZywOo” Herbaut, has been in exceptional form throughout the tournament.
Natus Vincere opted for Mirage as the opening map, relying on familiar ground to establish early control. Their strategy initially worked, as they jumped to a 4-0 lead. However, a pivotal moment saw Sodbayar “Techno” Munkhbold disrupt their momentum by aggressively pushing through a Molotov to deny a bomb plant. From that point onward, The MongolZ took command of the defensive side, allowing NAVI only a single successful round after a highlight moment from Ihor “w0nderful” Zhdanov’s Deagle.
After switching to the T side, The MongolZ continued their dominance by securing a second-round force buy, which set the pace for the rest of the match. Despite some resistance from NAVI, Garidmagnai “bLitz” Byambasuren’s team thrived in high-pressure situations, overturning numerous unfavorable scenarios to lock in a commanding 13-6 win. Interestingly, despite NAVI winning more opening duels (11-8), they struggled to convert those advantages into round victories.
The second map, Ancient, proved to be even more one-sided. NAVI found themselves in a difficult financial position from the start, which limited their ability to counter The MongolZ’s offensive plays. Without the necessary utility to contest map control, Aleksib’s squad quickly fell behind 6-2. The MongolZ capitalized on every weakness, maintaining a comfortable lead throughout to close out another emphatic 13-6 victory and punch their ticket to the semi-finals.
One of the standout performances of the match came from Ayush “mzinho” Batbold, who showcased his individual brilliance with a dominant 23-kill display and an astounding 1.97 rating on Ancient. His mechanical prowess was on full display, including an impressive spray transfer that visibly frustrated Mihai “iM” Ivan, who reacted by striking his monitor in frustration.
Although calling NAVI’s current situation a crisis might be an overstatement, the team is undoubtedly struggling to find its rhythm. Tensions within the squad were already visible during the group stage, with moments of frustration surfacing throughout the tournament. Despite assurances from head coach Andrey “B1ad3” Gorodenskiy that internal disagreements are not a cause for concern, the team’s body language and cohesion on the server tell a different story.
In the post-match interview, the Ukrainian coach acknowledged that NAVI failed to establish control over the series, stating that they struggled to build synergy and react quickly to their opponent’s game plan. The MongolZ consistently dictated the pace, leaving NAVI unable to adapt effectively mid-round. Finding quick solutions and making real-time adjustments proved to be a major issue, contributing to their one-sided defeat.
NAVI will have little time to regroup, as they are set to compete at BLAST Open Lisbon in less than a week. Whether they can resolve their ongoing issues before then remains to be seen, but their current form suggests there is plenty of work to be done if they hope to remain competitive against the top teams in the world.
