The upper bracket of Group B at BLAST Open London delivered another thrilling clash — MOUZ vs. Imperial. The series ended 2:1 in favor of the European side, even though the Brazilians completely dominated the opening map. After a disastrous start on Overpass, MOUZ showed resilience and managed to turn the match around with convincing victories on Mirage and Nuke.
Match Overview
Overpass — a cold shower start (2:13)
Imperial displayed absolute dominance on their pick. Their defense looked unbreakable, and their aggressive executions on offense left MOUZ with no chances. The map ended in a shocking 2:13 scoreline, signaling to the Europeans that drastic adjustments were needed.
Mirage — regaining control (13:4)
On their own pick, MOUZ showed a completely different face. Cohesive defense, quick rotations, and the individual brilliance of torzsi and xertioN secured a comfortable lead. Imperial looked lost and couldn’t put up a fight, falling 4:13.
Nuke — the finishing blow (13:7)
The decider began as a tight battle, with the first half ending 8:7 in favor of MOUZ. But after switching sides, the Europeans took full control, not conceding a single round on defense. Nuke closed the series with a 13:7 win for MOUZ.
Player Statistics for the Match
Previous Meeting
This victory carried special significance for MOUZ, as their last encounter with Imperial at ESL Pro League Season 20 (September 2024) ended in a loss. Back then, the Brazilians celebrated a 2:0 win, taking Dust2 (16:14) and Inferno (16:13). That’s why today’s match served as both revenge and payback for MOUZ.
Winners’ Performance: MOUZ
MOUZ showcased mental strength and adaptability to the match scenario. While their game fell apart on Overpass, they were composed, methodical, and aggressive on Mirage. The standout was Dorian “xertioN” Berman, finishing the series with a 1.39 rating, high ADR (86.8), and several key multi-kills. Another pillar of the lineup was Ádám “torzsi” Torzsás (Rating 1.35), whose stable AWPing allowed MOUZ to dictate the pace.
Imperial’s Game: From Domination to Collapse
Imperial impressed with a powerful start, but after Overpass, everything fell apart. Their attack on Mirage looked powerless, and their Nuke execution failed to find impact. The best performer was Felipe “skullz” Medeiros (Rating 1.26), but it wasn’t enough. Kaiky “noway” Santos (Rating 0.69) had a particularly rough series and became the weak link in the decisive moments.
MVP of the Match: xertioN
The undisputed MVP was Dorian “xertioN” Berman. Not only did he put up excellent numbers (+10 K-D), but he also won crucial rounds on Mirage and Nuke, where his aggressive plays shifted the balance in MOUZ’s favor. MVP Stats:
- K-D: 43–33
- ADR: 86.8
- Rating 3.0: 1.39
- KAST: 82.7%
xertioN was the driving force behind MOUZ’s comeback after the disastrous start.
With this win, MOUZ not only advanced further in the BLAST Open upper bracket but also claimed an important psychological revenge over Imperial. For the Brazilians, however, this loss served as a reminder of the inconsistency that prevents them from competing with European heavyweights over the long run.
