Natus Vincere have secured their place in the Esports World Cup 2026 playoffs after defeating The MongolZ 2-1 in the Group D upper-bracket semifinal. NAVI dominated Inferno 13-5, lost Ancient 9-13, and recovered on Mirage with a 13-8 victory. Valeriy “b1t” Vakhovskiy led his team with a 1.34 rating, while Drin “makazze” Shaqiri followed closely at 1.28. The victory gives NAVI a perfect 2-0 start at the event and sends them directly into the playoffs.
NAVI continue their winning start at EWC 2026
NAVI entered the series after opening their Esports World Cup campaign with a 13-9 victory over 3DMAX on Inferno. Their second match presented a much tougher challenge against The MongolZ, a team they have faced regularly throughout the season.
The Mongolian squad also arrived with a victory behind them. They defeated magic 13-7 on Mirage in their opening match to set up another meeting with NAVI.
This time, NAVI came out on top after three maps. The result guarantees them a playoff spot, while The MongolZ will have to take another route if they want to reach the knockout stage.
NAVI take control on Inferno before The MongolZ respond
The series started on Inferno, The MongolZ’s map pick, but NAVI quickly took control. They built an 8-4 advantage in the first half before dominating after the side switch. The MongolZ managed only one more round as NAVI closed the map 13-5.
Ancient produced a very different contest. NAVI picked the map, but The MongolZ established an 8-4 halftime advantage. NAVI attempted to close the gap after the break, but their opponents held firm and secured a 13-9 victory to force a decider.
Mirage was left as the final map of the series. NAVI entered halftime with a narrow 7-5 lead before taking control on the CT side. They limited The MongolZ to three rounds after the break and closed out the map 13-8, completing the 2-1 series victory.
b1t leads NAVI with a 1.34 rating
Valeriy “b1t” Vakhovskiy was NAVI’s best performer across the three maps. He finished the series with 47 kills and 36 deaths, alongside 79.0 ADR and an 82.0% KAST. His overall rating reached 1.34. Drin “makazze” Shaqiri also delivered an impressive performance. He recorded 49 kills, 94.6 ADR and a 1.28 rating. Aleksi “Aleksib” Virolainen was another important contributor with a 1.13 rating. The MongolZ struggled individually throughout the series. Dugarсuren “DarkMeister” Ireedui was their highest-rated player at 0.97, while none of the five players finished with a rating above 1.00.
NAVI strengthen their VRS position
The victory also gives NAVI a boost in the projected Valve Regional Standings. They gained 34 VRS points, increasing their total from 1,825 to 1,859. As a result, NAVI are projected to climb from No. 6 to No. 5.
The MongolZ lost seven points following the defeat. Their total falls from 1,679 to 1,672, although they remain at No. 15 in the projected ranking. For NAVI, the result therefore brings both a playoff ticket and another step forward in the global standings.
NAVI extend their advantage over The MongolZ
The victory also adds another chapter to a familiar matchup. NAVI now hold a 17-9 advantage in series against The MongolZ, with four additional matches between the teams having gone to overtime.
Their previous meeting came at the IEM Cologne Major 2026, where NAVI also won a three-map series. The MongolZ took Ancient 13-16 in overtime, but NAVI claimed Nuke 13-8 and Mirage 13-6 to secure the victory.
The latest result confirms NAVI’s recent advantage in the matchup, although The MongolZ once again managed to take a map from the European side.
Teams react after the match
NAVI immediately celebrated securing their place in the knockout stage on social media:
WE’RE THROUGH TO THE #EWC26 PLAYOFFS! #navination
The organization accompanied the message with a graphic confirming its qualification for the next stage.
The MongolZ kept their reaction brief after the defeat:
GG @natusvincere
Despite the loss, their tournament run is not over, and the team still has another opportunity to fight for a playoff place.
What’s next?
NAVI can now turn their attention directly to the Esports World Cup 2026 playoffs. Victories over 3DMAX and The MongolZ give Aleksib and company a perfect 2-0 record at the event and valuable momentum heading into the knockout stage.
The MongolZ remain alive despite their first defeat of the tournament. After beating magic in their opener, they will now have to fight through the Group D deciding match for the remaining playoff spot.
