HOTU stun The MongolZ to extend surprise EPL run in Stockholm

HOTU delivered one of the biggest upsets so far in ESL Pro League Season 22, toppling The MongolZ 2-1 (13-8 Overpass, 10-13 Mirage, 13-9 Ancient) in their opening Swiss match. The upset sends a statement about HOTU’s rise as a dark horse, while The MongolZ, a longtime powerhouse, suffer a bruising start to their campaign. 

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Match breakdown & standout maps

Map 1: Overpass, 13-8 HOTU
HOTU’s pick set the tone. They raced out with a commanding CT half, then closed out with T side control while The MongolZ struggled to gain footholds. Their strong Overpass play—known to be a weak map historically for MongolZ—paid off. “We wanted The MongolZ because they don't play well on Overpass,” said HOTU’s dukefissura. 

Map 2: Mirage, 10-13 MongolZ
As expected, The MongolZ struck back. They leveraged Mirage, a comfort map, to dismantle HOTU’s defense turns. HOTU’s mid-round consistency wavered, and they couldn’t maintain economy against aggressive pushes. 

Map 3: Ancient, 13-9 HOTU
On Ancient, HOTU showed composure. Despite the pressure, they controlled early rounds, prevented MongolZ from running big momentum swings, and closed the map decisively. That map proved the difference. 

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The upset’s implications & broader context

HOTU’s breakout season

Prior to this match, HOTU had compiled an 8-2 map record in Stockholm, already turning heads among spectators and analysts. Their world ranking is currently #34 according to HLTV, placing them on the cusp of broader recognition. 

Their roster—n0rb3r7, dukefissura, mizu, lampada, and frontales, coached by mou—features several players showing promising stats relative to their team’s performance. 

MongolZ shaken early

The MongolZ, normally a fixture of consistency, now face early turbulence. Their path in EPL S22 may be harder now—they must battle through more Swiss matches to redeem themselves from this 0-1 start. 

Competitive tremors across EPL

HOTU’s upset continues a theme: multiple surprises in Swedish stages. In the same stage, Gentle Mates knocked out Vitality 2-0, and Inner Circle pulled off their own shock win over MongolZ. Both those upsets shift the power dynamics in the 1-0 pool. 

As a result, matchups for Round 2 are reshuffling: HOTU will face Spirit next, while The MongolZ are forced into tougher Swiss routes. 

What HOTU must sustain

• Map diversity & adaptability: Winning on two very different maps (Overpass and Ancient) shows flexibility. But consistency on Mirage will be necessary to avoid being exposed by adaptive opponents.

• Mental fortitude under pressure: Closing tight matches like this requires composure; HOTU’s win here is as much mental as strategic.

• Depth and stamina in Swiss format: As they advance, they’ll face back-to-back BO3s—bench strength and focus are crucial.

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HOTU roster profile & stats

From HLTV’s team page:

• HOTU’s core comprises n0rb3r7 (recent standout), dukefissura, mizu, lampada, and frontales.

• The team currently sits at #34 in world rankings. 

• Their coach mou has been with the team for nearly 10 months, guiding them through rising performances.