Vitality extended their phenomenal winning streak by defeating The MongolZ 2:0 in the semifinals of IEM Melbourne 2025. The French powerhouse left no chance for their opponents and secured their 20th consecutive victory, showcasing world-class gameplay ahead of the grand final.
Mirage (13:3)
Mirage was The MongolZ’s map pick, but the match quickly revealed that Vitality were extremely well-prepared for the challenge.
From the very first rounds, Vitality took complete control of the map, aggressively pressuring mid and locking down key areas like window, connector, and jungle. Their meticulous retakes played a crucial role: even when The MongolZ managed to gain initial map control, Vitality swiftly reclaimed positions with perfectly coordinated re-takes.
ZywOo absolutely dominated — winning key duels without giving opponents any real chance (16-5 scoreline with a 1.81 rating).
mezii also stood out with his flexible defensive play: his ability to hold the B-site calmly allowed Vitality to focus their rotations and resources elsewhere.
The MongolZ managed to win just one round in the first half — and that was thanks to a solo play by bLitz. Every other attempt to breach Vitality’s defense ended in disaster for the Mongolian side.
After switching sides, Vitality quickly closed out the map with a swift B-site attack, giving The MongolZ no opportunity for a comeback.
Nuke (13:3 for Vitality)
Nuke — one of Vitality’s strongest maps — instantly showed why:
Vitality started on the CT side and immediately shut down any room for MongolZ to maneuver. Their systematic approach — precise ramp control, excellent reads on upper site hits, and flawless positional rotations — left The MongolZ’s attacks looking powerless.
Every attempt by The MongolZ to break through via secret or vents was swiftly crushed.
flameZ completely dominated ramp control, while ropz dismantled any lower site approaches with surgical precision.
Particularly notable was the incredible team support by Vitality: even when The MongolZ found an early entry frag, immediate trades and retakes neutralized any momentum.
In their T-side, Vitality played methodically, mixing fast upper hits with sudden outside transitions — leaving The MongolZ confused and often walking straight into Vitality’s traps.
Nuke ended with the same dominant 13:3 scoreline, highlighting the complete tactical and mechanical superiority of the European team.
The MongolZ’s performance
Although the scoreline was heavily one-sided, credit must still be given to The MongolZ:
- They attempted to play aggressively, especially on Mirage — with fast mid takes, creative smokes, and fake strategies. However, thanks to Vitality’s excellent communication, almost every such attempt was quickly neutralized.
- On Nuke, The MongolZ tried to vary the tempo, switching between slow rounds and quick rushes. Yet their structure appeared too chaotic to break through such a disciplined opponent.
- Leaders like Techno and bLitz tried to shoulder responsibility, but their effectiveness was heavily limited by Vitality’s suffocating pressure.
- In post-plant scenarios, The MongolZ often lacked patience — rushing into duels without proper coordination and getting punished for it.
Their defeat was more a natural clash between a young, developing team gaining experience on the big stage and one of the most organized rosters in the world.
Vitality vs The MongolZ — Key stats
Vitality once again confirmed their status as one of the world’s best teams: an ideal balance between individual brilliance and perfect team synergy.
Their victory over The MongolZ wasn’t just about dominating the scoreline — it was a masterclass in preparation, structure, and exploiting every opponent’s weakness.
Up next, Vitality will face Falcons — who also delivered a crushing performance in their semifinal.
A thrilling clash of two favorites awaits in the grand final.
