Less than two weeks before the start of IEM Chengdu, The MongolZ found themselves in a situation where decisions had to be made quickly. And the team has already determined who will stand alongside bLitz and company.
Official decision
The organization has confirmed that Unudelger “controlez” Baasanjargal will serve as a stand-in at the Chengdu tournament. In the official statement, it was noted that the team did not have enough time to evaluate academy players, so they decided to rely on an experienced professional. According to The MongolZ, the choice was made with the input of the main roster.
Controlez is a familiar figure in the Mongolian scene. The 28-year-old previously played for Chinggis Warriors, and before that, had a short stint with Checkmate, where his teammate was current captain bLitz. In fact, back in 2017, controlez already played under The MongolZ tag — back then alongside coach maaRaa, who now manages the team from behind the scenes.
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Context: after Senzu’s departure
This decision followed a recent roster move — the benching of Azbayar “Senzu” Munkhbold, who had been with the team for over two years. He was one of the most prominent representatives of Mongolian CS2: a consistent 1.12 rating, key clutches, and the role of secondary AWPer in decisive rounds.
For The MongolZ, this is their first roster change in more than two years — making it a significant one. The team, which climbed to #1 in the world ranking this summer, currently holds second place, maintaining a 66.7% win rate over the past three months. However, after a series of disappointing results at Thunderpick World Championship 2025 and ESL Pro League Season 22, changes became only a matter of time.
We have decided that controlez will play as a stand-in for IEM Chengdu 2025.
Due to insufficient time to fully assess the academy team’s players, the decision was made to field an experienced player, taking into account the input of the main team’s players. pic.twitter.com/hYbQfiHvQI
— The MongolZ (@1mongolz) October 23, 2025
Who controlez is today
Over the past year, controlez has played for Chinggis Warriors, where he maintained an average 1.06 rating. Despite his team’s modest results, his individual performance has been steady — known for a disciplined playstyle, strong sense of timing, and leadership experience on the local scene.
From a tactical perspective, his presence is expected to help The MongolZ maintain momentum after Senzu’s departure, especially on Overpass (75% win rate) and Nuke (69%) — the maps that traditionally form the backbone of the team’s success.
IEM Chengdu — a new challenge
For The MongolZ, this tournament will be a key event ahead of the winter season. The team will begin its group stage run with a match against Heroic on November 3. It is expected that controlez will immediately join the starting lineup.
Following their third-place finish at Thunderpick World Championship, The MongolZ remain the favorites among Asian teams. However, they now face a major test — whether a temporary stand-in can uphold the level of a team that only recently topped the global rankings.
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What’s next
The organization has not specified whether controlez will remain with the team after IEM Chengdu, but the decision may depend on the tournament’s outcome. If integration goes smoothly, The MongolZ may temporarily keep him as a full-time member — at least until the start of the next season.
For now, The MongolZ are striving to maintain a balance between stability and renewal — a situation familiar to every team that has climbed to the top of the global Counter-Strike scene.
