At the Esports World Cup 2025 in Riyadh, one of the most intense and symbolic quarter-finals took place. Falcons defeated MOUZ with a 2:1 score, securing a place in the semifinals and taking symbolic revenge for their crushing loss at IEM Dallas 2025. Back then, Falcons stood no chance against the MOUZ, but this time NiKo and m0NESY’s squad showed a new level of maturity and team strength.
Teams’ Path in the Tournament
Falcons
In their opening match, Falcons faced G2 and won convincingly 2:0, which gave them a psychological edge early on. The trio of NiKo, m0NESY, and kyousuke became the foundation of their success, while the quarter-final against MOUZ was their chance to prove that Falcons had learned to beat even their toughest opponents.
MOUZ
MOUZ met Virtus.pro in the first round and advanced with a 2:1 victory. As in many of their past matches, torzsi was the team’s brightest star. However, in the quarter-final against Falcons, it became clear that individual brilliance alone would not be enough — their opponent was better prepared both tactically and mentally.

Match Chronology
- Ancient (13:9, Falcons’ pick)
Falcons immediately took control of the game. The first half ended 6:6, but after the side switch their defense looked almost impenetrable. NiKo and kyousuke excelled in key positions, shutting down any comeback attempts by MOUZ.
- Inferno (8:13, MOUZ’s pick)
MOUZ executed their map choice precisely. torzsi and jimpphat provided stability in clutches, while Falcons looked lost on the T side. After a 5:7 first half, MOUZ quickly closed out the map, leveling the series.
- Nuke (13:10, decider)
The deciding battle was played on Nuke. Falcons started strong, taking the first half 8:4. MOUZ tried to fight back in the second half, but clutch wins from m0NESY and NiKo sealed the deal. Falcons kept their composure and secured the series victory.
Player Stats

Player of the Match — torzsi

Despite MOUZ’s loss, the standout player of the quarter-final was Ádám “torzsi” Torzsás. The AWPer consistently kept his team alive throughout the series: stable entry kills, precise shots in key moments, and clutch wins gave MOUZ the chance to remain competitive.
- 57–35 K-D
- 77.5 ADR
- 1.48 rating 3.0
torzsi was the main reason behind their Inferno win and fought hard to save the team on Nuke. However, his phenomenal individual level never received the necessary support from his teammates, and even brilliant stats couldn’t prevent MOUZ from elimination.
Falcons’ Performance
Falcons displayed the progress fans had been expecting since this roster was formed. The team played with maturity, discipline, and focus in the decisive moments.
- NiKo acted as a true leader, setting the pace and controlling the key rounds.
- m0NESY remained calm under pressure, pulling off several important clutches on Nuke.
- kyousuke once again proved to be the team’s X-factor, bringing early aggression and confidence that disrupted MOUZ’s plans from the very start.
Even after losing Inferno, Falcons didn’t lose their composure. Instead, they regrouped and decisively closed the series on Nuke. This psychological resilience was the decisive difference compared to their previous tournaments.
MOUZ’s Performance

MOUZ looked inconsistent throughout the match, mixing bright moments with clear shortcomings.
- torzsi carried the team but was left playing almost single-handedly.
- jimpphat performed reliably but couldn’t shift the momentum in critical rounds.
- Brollan and Spinx had sporadic highlights but lacked consistent impact.
- xertioN had a poor series, regularly losing duels that weakened the team overall.
MOUZ looked organized only on Inferno, where their structure held up well. But on Ancient and Nuke, Falcons read their plays, dictated the tempo, and consistently shut down comeback attempts. In the end, MOUZ once again confirmed that even with a strong individual leader, without team cohesion they cannot go far.
Dallas Revenge
This victory carried special meaning. At IEM Dallas 2025, it was MOUZ who crushed Falcons with a one-sided 2:0 (Dust2 13:4, Mirage 16:12), leaving NiKo’s squad helpless.
In Riyadh, the story unfolded differently. Falcons leaned on their strengths, prepared thoroughly for their opponent, and proved they had learned from past mistakes. This revenge was not just about the result on the scoreboard — it was a psychological triumph and a statement that Falcons have risen to a new level.
Falcons not only defeated one of their biggest rivals but also showed they can withstand pressure on the big stage.
For MOUZ, this elimination will be painful: even with torzsi delivering a brilliant performance, the team still couldn’t impose their game on Falcons. The “mice” leave the tournament at the quarter-final stage, while Falcons march confidently into the semifinals, ready to take on the next challenge in their fight for the trophy.