This wasn’t just a dream matchup. It was inevitable. From the very first event of 2025, every sign pointed toward this final. Vitality have dominated Counter-Strike like no other team this year, while The MongolZ have defied expectations at every step, proving that belief and grit can still shake the tier-1 scene. Now, on the grandest stage of them all — the Austin Major — it feels like destiny has delivered the showdown we’ve all been waiting for.
Vitality: A team that defined 2025
By now, it’s not even a debate — Vitality are the team of the year. Starting from IEM Katowice 2025, they’ve made every grand final of a tier-1 tournament. Every other major LAN saw Vitality on Championship Sunday. Their run has been relentless, methodical, and at times, even boring in its efficiency.
Six Trophies. A winning streak stretching over 30 maps, but, they lost to Legacy in BO1 early in the tournament. But that only played to their advantage, and a certain weight was lifted off of them. ZywOo as the undisputed MVP of the season. And not just him — flameZ, mezii, ropz, apEX — all playing at top-5-in-role level. They’ve dismantled every opponent, adapted to every meta, and shut down any doubts about their roster changes.
This Major isn’t just another trophy for them. It’s the final stamp on an era. If they win here, there’s no more “if” — we’re witnessing the Vitality Era, live. We have already written about their path, you can read it at the link.
Falcons were supposed to be the final boss…
There was a different scenario everyone was hoping for. A clash of superteams. Vitality vs Falcons — the European giants vs the Saudi-backed project filled with star power. Falcons had the names, the hype, the ambition.
But when it came time to deliver, they collapsed. Falcons bombed out of Stage 2 without winning a single series. No tactical depth, no star performances, no mental resilience. Just a stacked roster that never clicked. The dream final was over before it even started.
So who’s left to challenge the kings?
With Falcons out, only three real contenders stood in Vitality’s way: MOUZ, Spirit, and The MongolZ. The playoff bracket wasn’t kind to Vitality — their half of the draw included NAVI, Spirit, and MOUZ. All three could’ve been semifinalists on their own. Spirit’s firepower, MOUZ’s consistency, and NAVI’s unpredictability made this the “death side” of the bracket.
Meanwhile, The MongolZ were on the “easier” side — but only this time. Before Austin, every deep run they made came through brutal opponents. This time, fate gave them a real chance to reach the final, and they took it.
The MongolZ: from obscurity to the Major Final in three years
A couple of years ago, no one was seriously talking about The MongolZ. They were a regional team from Asia, known more for their grit than results. They weren’t invited to big events, rarely made it out of groups, and certainly weren’t considered contenders. But in 2025, they’ve become one of the most inspiring stories in CS2.
And it’s not just the team’s rise — it’s the individuals within it. mzinho and 910 — two players who, just three years ago, were grinding small regional events, unknown to most outside the Asian scene. Back then, 910 lived in Darkhan, a city more than 220 kilometers away from Mongolia’s capital. Every local LAN was hosted in Ulaanbaatar, and he had to take long train rides just to participate. The prize pools were modest, the conditions harsh, and the stakes personal. Often, 910 could only afford a one-way ticket. If he lost early, he had no money for food, no place to stay, and no guaranteed way to return home. These tournaments weren’t just competitions — they were survival.
Now? They’ve led their team to the grand final of a CS2 Major. The MongolZ didn’t explode onto the scene with a flashy transfer or millionaire backing. They built everything from the ground up, fueled by chemistry, discipline, and a deep understanding of their own style. Every tournament this year, they’ve surprised people — and now they’ve gone from “cool story” to finalists. It’s no longer an underdog run — it’s a legacy in the making.
A final written by the season itself
It wasn’t just about matchups or form. This Vitality vs The MongolZ final feels like it was written into the fabric of the 2025 season. One team defined dominance, the other — perseverance. One had the hardest bracket and survived. The other had their first break and delivered. This isn’t just a grand final. It’s the story the whole year has been telling us.
