BLAST Open London 2025 begins for MOUZ with a feeling the team has not experienced in a long time. After a string of painful final defeats, the absence of major trophies, and fierce competition from Spirit and Vitality, this tournament could become a symbolic turning point. And not only because of a favorable bracket or roster circumstances for their rivals, but also due to the internal transformation of the roster, something highlighted by Ádám torzsi Torzsás himself.
A fresh breath after exhausting months
The Esports World Cup, where MOUZ lost their streak of top-4 finishes, turned out to be both a failure and a gift. A failure, because it broke nearly a year of consistency for the team. A gift, because it gave them time to pause. Returning home after grueling travels and tournaments became the key:
We felt energy and creativity again, admits torzsi.
And it is precisely this energy that may have been missing in the Cologne, Dallas, or Riyadh finals, where MOUZ lacked just one last push to become champions.
Spirit and MongolZ absent — doors wide open
The situation in London is unique: Spirit with the phenomenal donk and The MongolZ, the breakout team of the season, are absent. This means the path to the trophy has been cleared of two of the most dangerous opponents. As a result, the main threat remains Vitality — a team that no longer looks as flawless as they did in the early months of the year.
They are still very strong, but they are not the same Vitality they were in the last seven months, torzsi states bluntly.
This is not just confidence — it is a statement of a shift in the balance of power.
M80: a test of discipline
However, to earn the much-anticipated chance for a rematch with Vitality in the semifinals, MOUZ must first get past M80. The American team is a typical “dark horse”: without great expectations, but with hunger and the desire to make noise. These are exactly the kinds of matches that often become traps for favorites. If MOUZ want to prove their maturity, they must step onto the stage completely focused — without a hint of underestimation or complacency. In many ways, this match is the true test: can a team that has stumbled at the final hurdle multiple times keep their composure as the stakes continue to rise?
A new leader and a new identity
The biggest change for MOUZ this year is Brollan stepping into the role of captain. Eight months ago, his IGL experiment looked like a gamble, but now torzsi openly admits: the team already lives by Brollan’s calls and coach sycrone’s ideas.
We hardly play by siuhy’s old schemes anymore, it’s either from the coach or from Brollan.
This creates a new identity for MOUZ: more aggressive, flexible, and tactical. Brollan is still learning, but he already “controls the team very well.” If this trend continues, MOUZ will gain not just a short-term boost, but a foundation for systemic stability in the years to come.
Ancient: a trap card for opponents
Statistics can be misleading. Ancient looks like a weak spot for MOUZ (1-6), but the reality is different: three losses to Spirit with scores of 13-11 and 16-14 are not failures, but matters of fine margins. The win over G2 showed that this map is still viable. If opponents treat Ancient as an easy pick against MOUZ, they risk falling into the trap themselves.
The moment of truth
London is the tournament that will define who MOUZ really are. If they once again fall into the old story of being “almost champions,” it will be the most painful blow to their image in years. But if they seize the opportunity — defeat M80, challenge Vitality, and prove that the pause truly brought new quality — this could be the launching point for a new era.
A trophy in London would mean more than just silverware. It would be proof that MOUZ can win not only strings of top-4 finishes but also finals. It would be the breaking of the curse of four lost finals. It would be a signal to the scene: “We are no longer contenders, we are champions.”
