FURIA cruise past The MongolZ into semi-finals

FURIA cruise past The MongolZ into semi-finals

In a commanding quarter-final display at IEM Chengdu 2025, FURIA defeated The MongolZ 2-0 (13-5 on Mirage, 13-10 on Overpass) to earn a place in the semi-finals. 
Outside of pistol rounds, the Brazilian-led FURIA made the game look straightforward, imposing their firepower and map control on their Mongolian opponents. 

Map 1 – Mirage (13-5)

From the opening kickoff on Mirage, FURIA controlled middle as CT, shutting down The MongolZ’s usual pace. At 8-4 the half ended, and FURIA won the T-side pistol to essentially lock down the map. The Mongolian side never found the rhythm to recover. Key stats: FURIA’s rating on Mirage was 1.36, with KSCERATO posting a standout 2.03 rating. 
Notable plays: KSCERATO’s spray-transfer recovery in a 3v5, YEKINDAR’s multi-kill on Connector. 
For The MongolZ, though players like “controlez” and 910 had made bigger names at previous events, they struggled to translate their form here. Neither pistols nor gun rounds in Mirage went the way they needed. 

Map 2 – Overpass (13-10)

Overpass presented more of a fight. The MongolZ rebounded somewhat in the second half, even converting a pistol and pushing into a 4v3 scenario. Techno (Sodbayar “Techno” Munkhbold) and 910 combined to revive hope. 
However, FURIA’s younger rifler Danil “molodoy” Golubenko claimed the narrative-defining moments: at 11-11 he picked up the AWP, dropped an ace, and then closed out the series with a clutch 1v2 through smoke. His rating in the series hit 1.57. 
Thus the second map, though more contested, still leaned toward FURIA as they executed key rounds when it mattered most.

What this performance signals

• Depth of form: FURIA’s result suggests they’ve matured beyond inconsistent flashes and can dominate when required.

• Young talent stepping up: Molodoy’s big moment under pressure highlights that FURIA’s development pipeline is paying off.

• Continued emergence of The MongolZ: While The MongolZ lost, their presence in this quarter-final says something. They had exceeded expectations earlier in the event, especially after playing without Azbayar “Senzu” Munkhbold.

• Map-pool strength: Decisive wins on Mirage and Overpass reflect FURIA’s ability to justify map-bans and control big momentum swings.

Looking ahead: FURIA’s semi-final challenge

FURIA now face whichever team emerges from the adjacent bracket, and the question becomes whether they can convert this dominance into a deep run or title challenge.
Important areas to monitor:

• Can their youngster molodoy maintain performance as pressure rises?

• How will FURIA manage mental fatigue and opposite strategising from rival teams in semi-finals?

• Will The MongolZ use this loss as a stepping stone and bounce back in other events, reinforcing their long-term trajectory?

Broader context

In CS2’s evolving competitive scene, performances like this reward speed, discipline, and team synergy. FURIA’s ability to shut down a rising team like The MongolZ before the map count climbs highlights a maturity that separates champion-contender level squads.
Likewise, The MongolZ’s journey remains significant—they continue to be an outside force challenging expectation, despite the result here.

Final thoughts

FURIA’s 2-0 sweep may appear clean on the scoreboard, but what makes it impressive is the manner of execution. They controlled map-flow, placed pressure at the right moments, and rewarded teammates who rose to the challenge. For The MongolZ, the loss is a gap to bridge, but their presence at this stage reflects growth.
As the playoffs deepen, FURIA’s next matches will tell if this dominance is simply one week of form or the start of a major title push.