MOUZ defeated Inner Circle 2:0 in the Group B upper bracket semifinal, securing a place in the playoffs at BLAST Open Porto 2026. MOUZ won Ancient 13:4 before taking Mirage 13:5, conceding only nine rounds across the entire series.
Lotan “Spinx” Giladi led the server with a 1.63 Rating 3.0, while Dorian “xertioN” Berman finished just behind at 1.61.
Tournament context
MOUZ entered the series after opening the tournament with a dominant 2:0 victory over 9z. Inner Circle had produced one of the biggest upsets of the group stage in their previous match, defeating Vitality 2:0 on Anubis and Cache.
The upper bracket semifinal offered a direct place in the playoffs. The winner would also remain in contention for first place in Group B and a direct berth in the playoff semifinals.
How the match unfolded — Inner Circle vs MOUZ
Series score: 2:0 in favor of MOUZ
- Ancient (Inner Circle pick) — 13:4
MOUZ immediately took control despite playing the map choice of Inner Circle. They built a 10:2 lead in the opening half, leaving the Ukrainian collective with little room for a comeback.
Inner Circle managed only two additional rounds after the side switch before MOUZ closed Ancient 13:4.
- Mirage (MOUZ pick) — 13:5
The second map followed a similar pattern. MOUZ again produced a dominant opening half and entered the break with a 9:3 advantage.
Inner Circle were unable to change the direction of the series after switching sides. MOUZ won four of the next six rounds to close Mirage 13:5 and complete the 2:0 victory.
Nuke, which had been left as the deciding map, was not needed.
Player of the Match — Lotan “Spinx” Giladi (MOUZ)
- K–D: 34–12
- ADR: 90.9
- Rating 3.0: 1.63
Spinx finished as the highest-rated player of the series and died only 12 times across the two maps.
xertioN was nearly level with him, recording 37–17, 115.8 ADR and a 1.61 Rating 3.0. Oldřich “PR” Nový also had a strong series with a 1.53 rating, giving MOUZ three players above 1.50.
Inner Circle struggled individually throughout the match. Arseniy “cptkurtka023” Derevinskiy was their highest-rated player at 0.88, while every member of the lineup finished below a 1.00 Rating 3.0.
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— BLAST Premier 💥 (@BLASTPremier) August 29, 2026
VRS results
- MOUZ — +24 pt → 1,884 pt, remain #3
- Inner Circle — -6 pt → 1,511 pt, remain #18
The result strengthened the position of MOUZ in third place in the global VRS, while Inner Circle remained 18th despite losing six points.
What’s next?
MOUZ advance to the Group B upper bracket final, where they will face the winner of Legacy vs Falcons on August 31. Both sides in that match will already be qualified for the playoffs, but the winner of the upper final will secure first place in the group and advance directly to the playoff semifinals.
Inner Circle drop to the lower bracket and will face the loser of FUT vs Lynn Vision on August 30. Another defeat would eliminate the collective from BLAST Open Porto 2026, while a victory would send them to the Group B lower bracket final
