Controlez flagged as a top-5 fantasy pick at IEM Chengdu 2025 despite stand-in status

Controlez flagged as a top-5 fantasy pick at IEM Chengdu 2025 despite stand-in status

At the upcoming IEM Chengdu 2025 event, Mongolian rifler Unudelger “controlez” Baasanjargal has drawn attention as one of the most attractive fantasy picks for the group-stage fantasy pool, priced at just $175,000, according to the official HLTV Fantasy data.This low cost, combined with the upside of his new role, has placed him in the “top-5 pick” conversation among fantasy managers.

Why is controlez in the running?

The story begins with the roster announcement from Mongolian powerhouse The MongolZ: on October 23 2025, they confirmed that controlez will stand in for star player Azbayar “Senzu” Munkhbold for IEM Chengdu. This marks their first roster change in over two years.In their statement, the organisation cited “insufficient time” to properly evaluate academy players, and opted instead for the veteran to stabilise the team.

Fantasy-drafting sites responded accordingly. HLTV’s listing shows that as of the fantasy release, controlez was already included in approximately 18% of all fantasy lineups despite his low price tag and stand-in status.The reasoning is fairly straightforward: his value compared to cost suggests a higher risk/reward ratio than many similarly priced players.

What makes him valuable in fantasy terms?

Several factors play into why fantasy managers might be keen:

• Under-priced pick: As noted by HLTV, controlez’s price is significantly lower than one might expect for a MongolZ player. The article states: “He goes for only $175,000 … his rating at his level of competition was only 0.99.

• High ceiling scenario: Given that The MongolZ remain a high-ranked team (#4 in the HLTV world ranking at the time) and that controlez is stepping into a lineup that has proven LAN pedigree, there is upside if he performs above expectations.

• Meta-shift opportunity: The MongolZ have opted for this change ahead of a key event, and controlez is a veteran with prior experience in the organisation (he previously played with The MongolZ in 2017 and has worked with current coach “maaRaa”).([turn0search10]) Fantasy managers often target such “fresh start” situations for value plays.

But there are clear risk factors

That said, the optimism around controlez isn’t without caveats:

• Stand-in status: He is not the permanent starter — he is listed as a stand-in for this event only. That often signals less consistency in communication, roles, or synergy within the team.

• Historic numbers that don’t scream star: HLTV’s player profile shows a rating of around 0.99 in recent periods. That places him below many stable top-20 players.

• Team context and expectations: While The MongolZ remain among the elite, they are adjusting to this roster change. The article covering his stand-in notes the team is still very high-level, but the change stems from a desire to avoid burnout and maintain performance.([turn0search3]) Fantasy risk increases if the team stutters.

Timing & event context matter

IEM Chengdu 2025 runs from November 3–9, 2025 in Chengdu, China, with a $1 million total prize pool ($300k player share + $700k club share) and 16 teams present.([turn0search8]) The fantasy component covers the group stage (two 8-team double-elimination groups) and matches are best-of-three.

Importantly, the fantasy game kicks off with the group stage, meaning early picks and matchups matter. In the groups announcement, HLTV highlighted The MongolZ’s sudden roster switch (Senzu benched, controlez in) as a notable story leading into the event.Therefore, the fantasy data and public sentiment have aligned around controlez as a potential value play.

Broader implications beyond fantasy

Beyond the fantasy angle, the roster change and control of narrative carry significance:

• For The MongolZ, the decision to bring back controlez signals their desire to field experience and maintain elite status through the final stretch of 2025 (including upcoming events like the StarLadder Budapest Major)

• For controlez personally, this is a chance to re-establish himself on the global stage. At age 28, he is a veteran in a field increasingly driven by younger talent. So his fantasy attractiveness also taps into the storyline of “undervalued veteran stepping in.”

• For fantasy strategy, this situation is a textbook example of how to identify high-upside under-priced players: a starting opportunity, strong team context, low cost — but with known risks.

What to watch in the group stage

If you are monitoring fantasy boards and looking at controlez specifically:

• Performance vs HEROIC: The MongolZ open against HEROIC on November 3; a good showing here would immediately validate his value and could result in a boost in lineup share.([turn0search13])

• Map pool usage: The MongolZ will rely on their strengths in the standard CS2 map pool (Dust2, Mirage, Inferno, Nuke, Train, Overpass, Ancient). If controlez is active on key maps or in clutch rounds, that will drive fantasy point upside.

• Synergy signs: How quickly The MongolZ adapt to their stand-in may affect his performance and fantasy output. Note that their roster change was prompted by concerns about Senzu’s burnout.([turn0search3])

• Early filters & value trap: If controlez starts with a weak match or the team stumbles early, his low cost could backfire. Fantasy players must weigh upside against volatility.

Final thoughts

In summary, controlez’s listing as a top-5 fantasy pick at IEM Chengdu 2025 is grounded in real data and context: low cost ($175k), strong team environment (The MongolZ), and narrative momentum (stand-in veteran stepping up). The risk/reward dynamic is clear: if he performs well, he represents one of the best values available; if not, the upside evaporates quickly.

For fantasy players, controlez is less of a “safe” pick and more of a “high-variance, high-potential” pick. The odds favour selecting him small (given his share around 18% at the time of data publication) if you’re comfortable with the risk. For teams and orgs, his role is notable in the ongoing story of Mongolian CS2’s rise and new roster stability moving into consecutive events.

Ultimately, IEM Chengdu will serve as the proving ground for many storylines — and controlez is one of the more intriguing ones. Fantasy managers, esports fans and team watchers alike would be wise to keep an eye on how he and The MongolZ start in Chengdu.