The playoffs of BLAST.tv Major 2025 in Austin are heating up — and one of the most intriguing quarterfinals will feature the legendary FaZe Clan facing off against Asia’s boldest sensation: The MongolZ. Both teams have already proven they can perform under pressure, but in this stage, there is no room for mistakes. It’s a clash of experience vs energy, global pedigree vs regional audacity.
Team Journeys at the Tournament
FaZe Clan started directly from Stage 3 and quickly asserted their dominance, beating MOUZ, Legacy, and eventually The MongolZ in the qualification match for playoffs. Their last match in Stage 3 was a confident 2–0 win over the Mongolians — Ancient (13:11) and Anubis (13:4).
s1mple, who returned to top-tier play with FaZe, made a huge impact and immediately became the driving force of the squad. Alongside him, frozen and EliGE have delivered consistent fragging power. rain provides balance and utility, while karrigan leads with his trademark map control and macro-calling.
The Mongolian squad went through a true gauntlet. They started with a loss to FURIA, then defeated Liquid and Lynn Vision, before falling to FaZe and landing in the 2–2 pool. In their do-or-die match, they eliminated G2 Esports in a thriller — Dust2 (28:25) and Mirage (13:9).
They’ve earned a reputation as “giant killers,” showing grit and bravery. Captain bLitz and AWPer Senzu were instrumental in their historic win over G2.
Recent Clashes Between the Teams
Over the past two years, these two teams have only faced each other a few times. Their first meeting took place at IEM Melbourne 2025, where The MongolZ secured a 2–0 victory. The second encounter happened during Stage 3 of the BLAST.tv Austin Major 2025, and this time FaZe came out on top with a 2–0 win — perhaps thanks to their updated roster and the addition of s1mple, which may have made the difference.
So, based on head-to-head stats, the odds seem even — but considering the recency and context of their latest match, the edge goes to FaZe.
Current Form and Playstyle
FaZe
- Dominant firepower — s1mple and frozen are in peak form.
- Controlled pace with the ability to shift gears quickly.
- EliGE consistently locks down positional flanks.
- karrigan provides strategic depth and macro leadership.
The MongolZ
- Fast-paced aggression, often initiating fights early in rounds.
- Heavy emphasis on Dust2 and mid-map control.
- Strong team cohesion and psychological resilience.
- Senzu as AWPer shows sharp reflexes but lacks consistency under pressure.
Map Pool and Likely Veto
Strong Maps:
- FaZe: Ancient, Anubis, Inferno, Dust2
- MongolZ: Dust2, Mirage, Inferno, Ancient
Weak Maps:
- FaZe: Mirage, Nuke, Train
- MongolZ: Nuke, Anubis, Train
Predicted Veto:
- FaZe ban Dust2 (The MongolZ’s strongest pick)
- The MongolZ ban Inferno (where FaZe are very consistent)
Likely maps: Ancient, Mirage, Anubis
Key Duels
- s1mple vs Senzu — The AWP duel that could dictate the tempo. If s1mple starts hot, The MongolZ may struggle to find any rhythm.
- frozen vs 910 — Battle for mid control and eco round impact.
- rain vs mzinho — Positional discipline and anchor reliability.
- karrigan vs bLitz — IGL face-off: mid-round adjustments and strat shifts.
Mental Game and Pressure
- FaZe play with no excessive pressure, but their favorite status comes with expectations. Their massive LAN experience is a key asset, and s1mple appears supremely confident.
- The MongolZ carry fire and hunger for another upset, but will that be enough against a team that punishes every mistake? Moreover, the weight of their recent loss to FaZe might mentally linger.
Prediction
Favorite: FaZe
The team holds a major edge in experience, tactical control, and individual skill. If The MongolZ fail to dictate the pace early, FaZe will take control quickly.
Predicted Score: 2–0
- Ancient: 13–9 for FaZe
- Anubis: 13–7 — FaZe will dominate by positioning
The MongolZ can put up a fight, but only if they win pistols and come out swinging from round one.
FaZe are clear favorites in this quarterfinal, but The MongolZ have already proven they can break expectations. If this match goes to a third map, we might witness one of the biggest upsets of the entire Major.
