At the start of the Esports World Cup 2025, we are in for an exciting clash between GamerLegion and The MongolZ. The European squad is looking to find stability after a string of mixed results, while the Mongolian five are in excellent form and enter the tournament with ambitions of contending for the trophy. This match will be a real test for GamerLegion and an opportunity for The MongolZ to confirm their status as favorites.
Current Form of the Teams
GamerLegion
The European squad has played 34 maps in the past three months, winning 19 of them. In July, they participated in FISSURE Playground 1, finishing 5–8th, and at IEM Cologne 2025, where they ended up in the top 16. In their last five matches, GamerLegion claimed three victories – against BIG, Virtus.pro, and Complexity, but lost to 3DMAX and Team Falcons. The team shows inconsistency, yet they are capable of challenging strong opponents.
The MongolZ
The Mongolian five have played 45 maps in the last three months, winning 28. In August, they impressed with a strong run: at IEM Cologne 2025 they reached the top 6, and at BLAST Bounty Season 2 they fell just short of the title, losing in the final to Team Spirit. Out of their last five matches, The MongolZ won four – against Vitality, Aurora, paiN, and ENCE, losing only to Spirit. The team is in great shape and heads into the match as favorites.
Map Pool
Expected bans and picks:
- GamerLegion almost always start by banning Dust2, despite having a solid win rate on it.
- The MongolZ consistently remove Train, which is their permanent ban.
Picks:
- GamerLegion are very likely to pick Nuke (9 picks in the last three months with a 78% win rate). They might also consider Ancient, where they hold a 71% win rate.
- The MongolZ will most likely go for Mirage (12 picks, 75% win rate), as it’s their comfort map and a weaker spot for the opponent.
Additional bans:
- GamerLegion might skip Dust2 again, leaving space for other maps.
- The MongolZ are expected to remove Overpass, where GamerLegion boast a 100% win rate.
Decider:
- The most probable decider will be Ancient, as both teams frequently play this map and perform well on it.
Head-to-Head
In the past six months, the teams have met only once – at ESL Pro League Season 21. Back then, The MongolZ secured a confident 2:0 victory, showing better preparation and adaptation to their opponent.
Match Prediction
Considering their current form, The MongolZ have a clear advantage: consistent results at big events, wins against top teams, and a strong map pool. GamerLegion show flashes of good play, but their instability and struggles against structured opponents could be decisive.
Prediction: The MongolZ to win 2:1, with Ancient likely to become the key map where both teams are evenly matched.
