Cologne, Germany — August 3, 2025
In one of the most shocking upsets of the Counter-Strike 2 season, MOUZ dismantled tournament favorites Team Vitality in a 2–0 sweep during the semifinals of IEM Cologne 2025, ending Vitality’s incredible 37-series win streak and securing their own place in the grand final.
Match Recap
Map 1 – Mirage (MOUZ Pick):
MOUZ started slow on the T-side, trailing 4–8, but quickly turned things around after the side switch. With tight defenses and perfect mid control, they closed out Mirage 13–9. Vitality’s superstar AWPer, ZywOo, had an unusually poor showing with just 8 kills — one of his weakest performances of the year.
Map 2 – Train (Vitality Pick):
Vitality had hoped to rebound on Train, a historically strong map for them, but MOUZ came prepared. Their CT setups were clinical, and Vitality looked lost on the T-side. FlameZ had a particularly rough time, finishing with just 1 kill and 18 deaths. MOUZ sealed the map 13–8, sending shockwaves through the LANXESS Arena.
Standout Performances
- xertioN was the clear MVP of the match, finishing with 40 kills, a 1.58 rating, and over 100 ADR. His impact across both maps was game-changing.
- torzsi also delivered in a big way, matching xertioN with 40 frags and consistent AWPing throughout.
- Jimpphat and Brollan played crucial supporting roles, delivering key multi-kills and anchoring bombsites with confidence.
Vitality, meanwhile, struggled across the board. While ropz tried to carry the weight with solid individual plays, the rest of the roster faltered under pressure.
The End of an Era
Vitality’s loss ends a historic run that included seven straight tournament victories in 2025, including major titles across Europe, North America, and Asia. Their 37-series unbeaten streak had been the longest of the year and positioned them as the undisputed best team in the world — until now.
For MOUZ, this win marks a turning point. After losing to Vitality in all eight of their previous matchups this year, they finally cracked the code — and did it on one of the biggest stages in Counter-Strike.
What’s Next
MOUZ now move on to the grand final of IEM Cologne 2025, where they’ll face Team Spirit in a best-of-five clash. It’s a chance for the organization to claim one of the most prestigious titles in CS2 — and prove that this upset wasn’t a fluke.
As the dust settles, one thing is clear: MOUZ have arrived, and the throne is no longer safe.
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