Team Spirit finally settled the score for their painful loss at BLAST.tv Austin Major 2025, defeating MOUZ 2–1 in the Group B upper-bracket final of IEM Cologne 2025. Back in June, it was MOUZ who eliminated Spirit from the Major, but this time the CIS squad didn’t just win — they did it in dominant fashion: taking Ancient, losing a nail-biting overtime battle on Mirage, and completely crushing MOUZ on the decider, Overpass. This match was not only about revenge; it was a bold statement to all rivals — Spirit are aiming for the trophy.
Path of the teams in the tournament
Spirit entered IEM Cologne 2025 with a clear goal – to prove they are the main contenders for the title. Right from the start, the Russian squad confidently defeated HEROIC (2:0) and then took down Aurora (2:0), showcasing disciplined play and the individual brilliance of donk and sh1ro. In the Group B upper-bracket final, Spirit faced MOUZ, the team that had painfully eliminated them from BLAST.tv Austin Major 2025. This time, Spirit not only got their revenge but did so convincingly, winning 2:1 and advancing to the upper-bracket semi-final, where they now await their next opponent.
MOUZ also started the tournament strong: early victories over Natus Vincere (2:0) and Liquid (2:0) solidified their status as group favorites. The team displayed stability and strong team balance, but the loss to Spirit was a cold shower for the European lineup. They’ve now dropped to the quarter-finals, where they’ll fight for a chance to bounce back and continue their run for the trophy.
Match Flow: from tense duels to complete dominance
Ancient (16–13 for Spirit)
Spirit opened the series on their opponent’s pick but immediately dictated the pace. donk and sh1ro were winning crucial duels and denying MOUZ the chance to run their trademark setups. MOUZ tried to rally after the side switch, but Spirit stayed composed and closed out the map.
Mirage (22–19 for MOUZ)
The second map turned into a thriller. MOUZ looked stronger on their pick, but Spirit fought tooth and nail, forcing overtime. It was in the extra rounds that torzsi and Spinx stepped up for MOUZ, pulling off key plays to edge out the win and keep the series alive.
Overpass (13–6 for Spirit)
The decider told a very different story. Spirit seized control from the first round and never let go. donk completely locked down mid, while sh1ro shut down bombsite pushes, leaving MOUZ with no real answers.
Player stats for the match
Spirit: revenge-driven and championship-bound
This victory wasn’t just about reaching the upper-bracket semi-final — it was proof that Spirit are taking the next step toward becoming the best team in the world. After that bitter loss to MOUZ at BLAST.tv Austin Major 2025, the squad regrouped, studied their mistakes, and came into this rematch razor-sharp. Well-prepared strategies, aggressive openings, and ice-cold composure in the biggest rounds gave them the edge.
Danil “donk” Kryshkovets (76–65, 1.32 rating) once again showed he can lead the scoreboard and initiate attacks at the same time. Dmitry “sh1ro” Sokolov (73–50, 1.23 rating) brought stability in clutch situations, while zont1x and zweih quietly controlled key areas, giving Spirit structure. Even chopper, though not topping the stats, orchestrated the game flawlessly, laying the groundwork for success.
MOUZ: a lost match, but not a lost fight
MOUZ entered this series after wins over NAVI and Liquid, and it seemed they could impose their style. On Mirage they indeed showed resilience, winning a grueling overtime, but by Overpass they ran out of steam and discipline, unable to turn the tide.
Lotan “Spinx” Giladi (61–59, 1.05 rating) tried to keep his team alive, and Ádám “torzsi” Torzsás (62–56, 0.94 rating) did all he could with the AWP. But Brollan’s inconsistency and defensive breakdowns cost them too many key moments. Despite the loss, MOUZ remain a dangerous side — yet this match exposed gaps they’ll have to fix to win at the very top.
Player of the Match – Danil “donk” Kryshkovets
donk was the face of this revenge mission. His 76–65 K/D, 1.32 rating, and 98.2 ADR are the numbers of a player who doesn’t just do his job — he changes the game.
On Ancient, he controlled key choke points and cracked open MOUZ’s defense with solo entries. On Overpass, donk won opening duels that killed off any MOUZ plans. This was a captain’s-level performance from the star rifler, pushing Spirit closer to their big goal.
What’s next?
Spirit move into the upper bracket semi-final of IEM Cologne 2025, where even tougher challenges await. More importantly, they finally got revenge on MOUZ — and did it convincingly.
MOUZ drop to the quarter-finals, where they’ll have a chance to reset and continue their run. But this loss to Spirit highlighted weaknesses they’ll need to fix if they want to go all the way.
