The MongolZ has officially announced that Unudelger “Controlez” Baasanjargal will remain in the team’s starting lineup for the rest of the 2025 Counter-Strike 2 season, including the upcoming StarLadder Budapest Major.
Controlez to Close Out 2025 with The MongolZ
The 28-year-old veteran has been serving as a stand-in since late October, following the surprise benching of Azbayar “Senzu” Munkhbold. Now, The MongolZ has confirmed via Telegram that Controlez will compete in the team’s final three events of the year, IEM Chengdu, BLAST Rivals Fall, and the Budapest Major.
Image Credit: The MongolZ
This will be Controlez’s second Major appearance in 2025, having previously represented Chinggis Warriors at the BLAST.tv Austin Major earlier in June. The rifler will get another chance to shine on the international stage as part of Asia’s top-ranked CS2 roster.
Experience Over Firepower
Controlez brings a wealth of experience to The MongolZ lineup, having first played for the organisation back in 2017 when he began his Counter-Strike career. Despite his experience, his overall 2025 rating of 1.06 leaves a notable gap compared to Senzu’s higher fragging output.
Mongolian commentator Khatanbold “KEi” Batbayar, who spoke with Senzu following his benching, revealed burnout as the main reason for the roster change. With no time to trial academy players before the season’s end, The MongolZ opted for a proven, experienced stand-in to ensure stability heading into the final stretch.
Community Reactions
The announcement sparked plenty of debate across the CS2 community. On HLTV and social media, fans were divided between optimism and concern.
Some supporters praised the move, pointing out Controlez’s solid showing at the Austin Major and his years of experience in Mongolian Counter-Strike. One fan wrote, “With such an experienced player, The MongolZ will still be a massive threat to all teams.”
Others, however, expressed doubts about his firepower compared to Senzu. “Because it’s hard to imagine anyone replacing Senzu,” one user commented, “people are more disappointed about losing a title contender rather than thinking the team’s fallen off.”
Many fans also voiced sympathy for Senzu, with several pointing out that burnout at such a young age isn’t uncommon in esports. As one commenter put it, “It’s okay to be burnt out at 19, we’ve seen this happen before — hope he comes back stronger.”
Still, there’s no shortage of optimism. Comments like “MongolZ soon with the Major trophy under control ez” and “Get ready for Controlez Major MVP” show that the faith in Mongolia’s top team remains strong.
The MongolZ’s 2025 Run
It’s been a landmark year for The MongolZ, who have cemented themselves as one of the best teams in the world. Their 2025 achievements include winning the Esports World Cup and finishing runners-up at the BLAST.tv Austin Major, BLAST Bounty Season 2, and FISSURE Playground 2.
The MongolZ also recently topped the October Valve Regional Standings, entering November as the world’s highest-ranked CS2 team. Despite the shake-up, many fans still see them as a major threat heading into the Budapest Major, though others remain cautious about how the lineup will perform without Senzu’s firepower.
Full Roster and Upcoming Events
The MongolZ’s current roster now features:
- Garidmagnai “bLitz” Byambasuren
- Sodbayar “Techno” Munkhbold
- Usukhbayar “910” Banzragch
- Ayush “mzinho” Batbold
- Unudelger “Controlez” Baasanjargal (stand-in)
- Erdenedalai “maaRaa” Bayanbat (coach)
The team’s next test comes at IEM Chengdu 2025, running from November 3rd to 9th, where they’ll compete for a share of the $300,000 USD prize pool. The event serves as a crucial warm-up before the StarLadder Budapest Major, which begins on November 24th.
With Controlez stepping in and the team looking to maintain their top form, all eyes will be on whether The MongolZ can continue their strong year or if the late-season roster change will shake their momentum.