The 2–1 pool clash at PGL Cluj-Napoca 2026 delivered one of the most dramatic series of the Swiss stage as The MongolZ defeated Natus Vincere 2–1, punching their ticket to the playoffs and sending NAVI into the final qualification round. With both teams entering the match at 2–1, the stakes were clear: win and advance, lose and fight for survival. The MongolZ handled the pressure better when it mattered most.
Road to this stage — tournament recap
NAVI’s path before this match:
- 2–0 vs Astralis
- 0–2 vs MOUZ
- 2–1 vs Aurora
The MongolZ’s path before this match:
- 2–1 vs paiN
- 1–2 vs Vitality
- 2–1 vs B8
Both teams had already shown resilience — but only one could secure direct playoff qualification.
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Natus Vincere 1–2 The MongolZ
Inferno — NAVI strike first (13:3)
NAVI opened the series with authority. Their CT setups were sharp, rotations clean, and mid control fully secured. makazze and iM dictated early duels, while w0nderful locked down key angles. The MongolZ struggled to gain map presence, and NAVI closed Inferno convincingly 13–3. At that point, the series looked firmly in NAVI’s control.
Nuke — MongolZ respond (13:7)
Momentum shifted on Nuke. The MongolZ tightened their defensive structure and began punishing NAVI’s slow defaults. mzinho and 910 consistently disrupted yard control, forcing NAVI into awkward late-round calls. While NAVI found occasional openings, they failed to string together enough consecutive rounds. The MongolZ equalized the series with a composed 13–7 finish.
Mirage — pressure test passed (13:11)
The decider was tense from start to finish. Both teams traded rounds early, but The MongolZ showed greater composure in mid-round scenarios. Crucial multi-kill rounds from cobrazera and Techno swung the economy at key moments. NAVI had chances to force overtime, but missed conversions and lost clutches proved costly. The MongolZ closed Mirage 13–11 and sealed the series 2–1.
Player statistics for the match
Player of the match — Drin “makazze” Shaqiri (NAVI)
Despite the loss, makazze delivered a standout individual performance:
- 47–44 K-D
- 90.3 ADR
- 1.23 rating
However, The MongolZ’s balanced fragging across the lineup ultimately proved decisive.
Team performance — resilience vs missed conversions
The key difference came down to adaptation. After a heavy Inferno loss, The MongolZ reset their approach, improved spacing, and controlled economic pressure on both Nuke and Mirage.NAVI showed strong structure early but struggled in extended mid-round scenarios. Their spacing deteriorated under pressure, and crucial late-round situations slipped away. In a playoff-deciding match, those margins were fatal.
VRS impact
- The MongolZ: +55 VRS points
- NAVI: −20 VRS points
A massive ranking boost for The MongolZ as they climb the standings, while NAVI lose valuable ground in the race.
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What’s next?
The MongolZ advance directly to the playoffs with a 3–1 record, proving their consistency against elite opposition. NAVI drop into the 2–2 pool and will now face a do-or-die elimination series. One more mistake — and their Cluj-Napoca campaign ends. PGL Cluj-Napoca 2026 continues to highlight the brutal truth of the Swiss format: Strong starts matter — but composure under pressure decides who survives.
