MOUZ have successfully booked their place in the ESL Pro League Season 21 grand final after an intense showdown against Spirit, clinching victories on Nuke and Ancient while dropping Dust2 in between. This marks the second consecutive major final appearance for MOUZ under the leadership of Ludvig “Brollan” Brolin, following their championship win at PGL Cluj-Napoca just weeks prior. The team now awaits their final challenger, which will be determined in the semi-final matchup between Vitality and The MongolZ.
Heading into the match, MOUZ showed confidence in their Nuke selection, as the map had become one of their strongest picks. Their dominance was evident early on as they surged to a 9-1 lead on the T side. However, Spirit quickly found their footing and mounted a determined comeback. The match remained on a knife’s edge until Ádám “torzsi” Torzsás and Brollan delivered clutch plays in overtime, securing the win in dramatic fashion.
On Dust2, MOUZ struggled to gain momentum, resulting in their second consecutive loss on the map. Spirit capitalized on key rounds and controlled the pace from start to finish. But when the series reached Ancient, MOUZ bounced back emphatically. Dorian “xertioN” Berman’s stellar performance on the CT side propelled them to an 8-1 lead, allowing them to maintain control and seal their spot in the final.
For MOUZ, this victory over Spirit is arguably their most significant achievement since Brollan took over as in-game leader. Their triumph at PGL Bucharest had been questioned due to the absence of several elite teams, but this semi-final win proved their capability against top-tier opposition. However, their true test still lies ahead, especially if they end up facing Vitality, a team that handed them a 0-2 defeat in the Swiss stage just a week ago.
Meanwhile, Spirit’s impressive run of finals appearances has come to an end. In a pre-match discussion, Boris “magixx” Vorobiev acknowledged how quickly the team’s mindset can shift under pressure. That shift was apparent in their performance against MOUZ, particularly after their rough start on Nuke. Despite their early struggles, Spirit fought back fiercely, nearly reversing MOUZ’s commanding lead before falling short in overtime.
Spirit’s strongest moments came on Dust2, where Danil “donk” Kryshkovets took control of the game. His 17-kill performance in the first half put Spirit in the driver’s seat, leading them to a comfortable 10-2 advantage. He continued to deliver in the closing moments, securing crucial multi-kill rounds to lock in the win.
Expectations were high for Spirit to carry that momentum into Ancient, but they struggled to find their rhythm early in the match. Though they attempted to claw their way back, the sluggish start ultimately cost them, mirroring their fate on Nuke.
Falling short of the grand final is a tough blow for Spirit, who had reached four consecutive championship matches at major events, including the BLAST World Final, the Shanghai Major, BLAST Bounty, and IEM Katowice. The squad will have only a short break before heading to Copenhagen, where they will begin their campaign in the group stage of BLAST Open Lisbon.
