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The MongolZ are proving to be Vitality’s kryptonite in 2025. The Mongolian squad has now beaten the Austin Major champions twice in quick succession, this time in Saudi Arabia, to lock in their place in the Esports World Cup grand final.

It’s a massive statement from bLitz and his team, who have not only become the only side to topple Vitality twice this year but also done it when it mattered most.

Vitality’s Dominance Slips

For much of the year, Vitality looked untouchable. Seven titles in a row and a frightening winstreak made them the team to beat after the Austin Major. But things have wobbled since the mid-season break. They first fell to MOUZ at IEM Cologne, then to The MongolZ at the BLAST Bounty Season 2 Finals last weekend, and now once again in Riyadh.

Vitality had been The MongolZ’s nightmare match-up earlier this year, taking six out of their seven meetings. That run finally snapped in Malta, when the Mongolian side found their first win over the European powerhouse. This latest result, however, shows it wasn’t just a one-off.

The Maps, A Twist in the Veto

The veto had a different flavour this time. The MongolZ stuck with their trusty Mirage pick, while Vitality threw a curveball by going for Dust2 and leaving Nuke as the decider instead of Inferno.

On Mirage, The MongolZ came out flying. A double entry from bLitz set the tone as Vitality faltered with uncharacteristic mistakes. FlameZ left ZywOo stranded in one round and over-pushed into his death the next. While ZywOo and mezii managed to claw back a few rounds with some sharp multi-kills, The MongolZ held firm. With Deagle heroics from Senzu and 910 sealing the deal, they closed their map 13–8.

Dust2 was a different story. Vitality’s Robin “ropz” Kool opened with a pistol ace and later pulled off a 1v2 clutch, propelling his side to an early lead. Though The MongolZ narrowed what was once a brutal 1–8 deficit, Vitality’s captain apEX found a miracle with two MAG-7 frags to turn the tide. That momentum carried them through to even up the series.

Techno’s Masterclass on Nuke

It all came down to Nuke, and this is where Sodbayar “Techno” Munkhbold put on one of the best maps of his career. Holding the CT side like a fortress, he dismantled Vitality’s attacks again and again, powering The MongolZ to a staggering 9–0 lead before their opponents could even respond.

Vitality scraped together two rounds before the half and tried to hang on with flashes of brilliance from ZywOo, ropz, and apEX. But it was never enough. Techno and 910 combined for key doubles in the closing stretch, shutting down any chance of a comeback.

Techno finished with a monstrous 27–11 K/D, a sky-high 148.3 ADR, and his second-best LAN performance ever, numbers that speak for themselves.

What’s Next?

With this victory, The MongolZ have secured a historic spot in the EWC grand final. More importantly, they’ve shown that Vitality’s stranglehold over them is well and truly broken. If they can ride this momentum all the way, we might be seeing one of the biggest underdog runs of the year turn into a championship moment.