The French lineup of Vitality defeated The MongolZ without dropping a map in the upper bracket final of Group A. The 2-0 victory sends Vitality directly to the semifinals, while the Mongolian squad will get another shot in the quarterfinals.
Tournament Journey
Vitality began their IEM Cologne 2025 campaign from the main stage, receiving a direct invite thanks to their consistent performance throughout the season. In their opening matches, they confidently defeated G2 and followed it up with a win over Astralis — another top-tier opponent. These two victories secured Vitality a spot in the upper bracket final of Group A.
The MongolZ also started from the main stage after receiving a direct invite. They picked up two crucial wins — first against Falcons, then over 3DMAX — which earned them a shot at the semifinals. However, Vitality proved to be an immovable obstacle. After the loss, The MongolZ will continue their tournament run from the quarterfinals.
Undefeated to the Group Final
This matchup carried extra meaning, as the two teams had previously faced each other in the grand final of the Austin Major just a few months ago. Back then, The MongolZ put up a solid fight but eventually lost to Vitality 1-2. This match was their chance for revenge.
read more
However, Vitality took control from the very beginning. The first map, Mirage, was completely one-sided, ending 13-5 in favor of the European squad. On Inferno, The MongolZ tried to respond, but it wasn’t enough — Vitality closed out the map 13-8. A third map wasn’t needed.
Player of the Match
It’s no surprise that Vitality’s superstar AWPer ZywOo was named MVP of the series. He delivered an outstanding performance with 43 kills across two maps, an ADR of 108.4, and a 1.74 rating — an impressive stat line for any player, especially one in the AWP role.
Awaiting Their Opponents
With the upper bracket final concluded, both teams now have a short break before the playoff stage resumes. Vitality have already secured a semifinal berth, while The MongolZ are preparing for the quarterfinals. Their next opponents will be determined after the remaining lower bracket matches are played.
