Natus Vincere delivered a flawless performance, defeating The MongolZ 2–0 in the IEM Cologne 2025 quarter-finals. The Ukrainian giants didn’t leave their opponents a chance – taking Inferno and utterly destroying The MongolZ on Ancient.
Previous encounter: revenge for PGL Major Astana 2025
This match carried special weight. Back in December 2025 at PGL Major Astana, The MongolZ sensationally knocked NAVI out in the group stage, winning 13–11 on both Mirage and Inferno. This time, NAVI came onto the server with one clear goal — to settle the score. And they did it emphatically: no flukes, no openings for their rivals.
Road to the quarter-finals
NAVI entered IEM Cologne 2025 as one of the most consistent teams of the season — but their journey wasn’t entirely smooth. They started with a victory over FaZe (2–1), but a 0–2 loss to MOUZ sent them down to the lower bracket. There, the team showed their resilience: defeating NiP (2–1), crushing FaZe in a rematch (2–0), and proving they’re ready to challenge for the top.
The MongolZ started strong in Cologne, beating Falcons (2–0) and 3DMAX (2–0), immediately making a statement. But as they climbed higher, the resistance stiffened — losses to Vitality (0–2) and now NAVI (0–2) in the playoffs became a painful blow for the Mongolian lineup.
Match flow: NAVI in full control
- Inferno (22:18 for NAVI)
The MongolZ tried to dictate the pace on their map pick, and the first half was tense (8:4). But once the sides switched, NAVI seized total control: b1t and makazze won every crucial duel, while w0nderful shut down site pushes. The MongolZ managed to drag it into overtime, but NAVI stayed calm and composed — closing it out 22:18 for a confident series lead.
- Ancient (13:6 for NAVI)
The second map had no suspense. The MongolZ looked lost, their attacks shattered against NAVI’s perfect defense. makazze and b1t dominated duels, while iM added well-timed aggression. The 11:1 first half essentially sealed the map — and NAVI quickly wrapped up the win.
Player stats for the match
NAVI: composure and pure dominance
NAVI came into this match laser-focused. Every role was executed perfectly: rotations were sharp, clutch situations were handled with confidence, and the squad moved as one seamless machine.
- Valeriy “b1t” Vakhovskiy (49–36, 1.32 rating) was the true driving force, delivering consistency and flawless plays that laid the foundation for victory.
- Drin “makazze” Shaqiri (51–39, 1.32 rating) was the second pillar, constantly winning opening duels and creating man-advantage situations.
- Ihor “w0nderful” Zhdanov (51–34, 1.27 rating) provided crucial frags and held key positions.
- Mihai “iM” Ivan (37–38, 1.04 rating) wasn’t the top of the scoreboard, but his aggression cracked open space when needed.
- Aleksi “Aleksib” Virolainen (25–35, 0.69 rating) didn’t post big numbers, but his leadership and calls allowed NAVI to play structured, disciplined CS.
This was NAVI reminding everyone why they’re considered one of the world’s elite: sharp structure, high-level individual skill, and total control over the game.
The MongolZ: a team with no answers
The MongolZ came into this match after a strong group stage, but this time they were simply outclassed and outread.
- Garidmagnai “bLitz” Byambasuren (46–45, 1.16 rating) tried to lead by example, but it wasn’t enough.
- Sodbayar “Techno” Munkhbold (42–40, 1.13 rating) contributed important kills but couldn’t shift the tide.
- Usukhbayar “910” Banzragch (40–40, 0.95 rating) remained stable, but Senzu (30–43) and mzinho (23–45) underperformed heavily.
The team looked disorganized: lacking a clear game plan, and when individuals tried to force momentum, it only created more chaos.
Player of the Match – Valeriy “b1t” Vakhovskiy
With 49–36 K/D, a 1.32 rating, and 97.4 ADR, b1t was the face of this victory.
- On Inferno, he relentlessly shut down every site hit, breaking MongolZ’s momentum time and again.
- On Ancient, he dominated duel after duel, giving NAVI early-round advantages that snowballed into round wins.
his wasn’t just a consistent series — it was a statement: b1t is ready to be NAVI’s true leader on their path to the trophy.
What’s next?
NAVI move confidently into the IEM Cologne 2025 semifinals, looking like one of the tournament’s clear favorites. They’ve avenged their loss to The MongolZ at PGL Major Astana — and they did it with absolute authority.
The MongolZ exit in the quarter-finals but remain a team capable of surprises. Yet this match showed one thing clearly: to beat the very best, they’ll need a level of stability they didn’t have today.
