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The MongolZ have done it, the Mongolian powerhouse has claimed the Counter-Strike 2 Esports World Cup 2025 (EWC) trophy in Riyadh, sweeping Aurora 3-0 in the grand final to secure their first-ever Big Event title.

It’s a milestone moment for a team that’s been knocking on the door all year. Before this, The MongolZ’s only major win was YaLLa Compass 2024, but now they’ve cemented themselves as one of CS2’s elite.

The road to the final

The EWC 2025 was a brutal sprint. Sixteen teams battled it out in a single-elimination format, packed into just five days. Every round felt like a high-stakes clash, and The MongolZ thrived under the pressure.

They started strong against GamerLegion and 3DMAX, before facing their toughest challenge yet: Team Vitality. The French side had been dominant earlier this year, famously denying The MongolZ the BLAST.tv Austin Major trophy. But this time, it was different.

Vitality managed to grab Dust II, but the Mongolian squad came alive on Nuke with a crushing 10–2 first half, eventually closing out the series and knocking their rivals out of contention.

The semifinal win felt like a statement: The MongolZ were no longer outsiders, they were favourites.

Aurora’s run cut short

Aurora had their own rollercoaster journey. After a big upset over Team Falcons in the semis, the Turkish lineup arrived in the final with plenty of confidence. XANTARES and woxic delivered some huge plays on Mirage, forcing overtime, but it wasn’t enough.

The MongolZ clawed back map one before tightening the screws on Dust II, where they read MAJ3R’s calls like a book. Even Wicadia’s flashy Desert Eagle quad kill couldn’t shift the momentum.

By the time the action moved to Nuke, it was clear who the better side was. Usukhbayar “910” Banzragch put the exclamation mark on the series with a clinical 1v3 AWP clutch, while Azbayar “Senzu” Munkhbold’s Desert Eagle triple shattered Aurora’s second-half hopes. The 13-4 closer sealed the 3-0 sweep.

Upsets and surprises

The MongolZ’s victory might have felt inevitable, but EWC 2025 was anything but predictable elsewhere.

  • Vitality’s downfall – After dominating the first half of 2025, apEX’s crew fell flat. They lost to The MongolZ in the semis and then to Team Falcons in the third-place decider.
  • Falcons’ inconsistency – True to form, Falcons mixed brilliance with chaos. They toppled MOUZ but crashed out against Aurora before redeeming themselves against Vitality for bronze.
  • Spirit stumble early – Fresh off wins at IEM Cologne and BLAST Bounty Fall, Team Spirit looked unstoppable… until they were sent packing by HEROIC in their opener.
  • NAVI’s shock exit – 3DMAX stunned NAVI with a dominant Inferno finish, handing Aleksib’s team another painful early exit.

A new era for Asia

For years, Asian Counter-Strike has struggled to break into the tier-one scene. Now, The MongolZ have delivered a moment of history, lifting a Big Event trophy on the world stage.

Their journey isn’t done either. With BLAST Open Fall 2025 kicking off later this week, the Mongolian squad will be heading into the next challenge with momentum, confidence, and a shiny new EWC title to their name.

Esports fans wanted surprises, drama, and clutch plays, and EWC 2025 delivered all of that and more. But at the end of the day, the story belongs to The MongolZ.