MOUZ Eliminate Virtus.pro from EWC in a Thrilling Three-Map Duel

MOUZ Eliminate Virtus.pro from EWC in a Thrilling Three-Map Duel

At the Esports World Cup 2025 in Riyadh, MOUZ secured a hard-fought victory over Virtus.pro in a Best‑of‑3 clash, advancing to the quarter-finals with strength and composure. 

Map 1 – Inferno: Virtus.pro Strikes Quickly

Virtus.pro began the series with a convincing 13–6 win on Inferno. Their T‑side proved too swift and adaptable for MOUZ's defense, closing out the map decisively in just seven rounds after leading 7–5 at the half. 

Map 2 – Mirage: MOUZ Respond with Aggression

Mirage saw a complete turnaround as MOUZ showcased their poise and offensive strength. Early in the match, Lotan “Spinx” Giladi delivered a standout 1‑vs‑3 clutch while the score was only 3–0, catapulting his team forward. His resilience continued with a three‑kill play during a B-site hit, cementing MOUZ’s momentum. Mirage closed out at 13–4, with Spinx’s performance generating a massive +8.15% “Swing.” 

Deciding Map – Overpass: Battle of Attrition and Grit

The decider map, Overpass, began with equal chances as MOUZ's Jimi “Jimpphat” Salo heated up early, scoring a triple in the pistol round and delivering a powerful 6.18% impact (“Swing”). The half ended tightly at 6–6, with MOUZ gradually gaining the edge during their attacking rounds, ultimately edging out Virtus.pro and sealing the series win. 

Player Performances: Heroes & Struggles

• Spinx (MOUZ): The star of the series, especially on Mirage, ended with a rating of 1.84 on T-side and a total of 26 kills across 23 rounds—instrumental in shifting the win momentum.

• Jimpphat (MOUZ): His early triple-set the tone on Overpass and drove the team’s offensive breakthroughs.

• Virtus.pro's standout: Despite the loss, Kaisar “ICY” Faiznurov posted a solid performance with a rating of 1.22.

• Underperformers: Ilya “Perfecto” Zalutskiy and Ádám “torzsi” Torzsás ended the series with subpar ratings (0.84 and 0.83 respectively), failing to match the escalation of their teammates.

What It Means for MOUZ

This victory propels MOUZ into the EWC 2025 quarter-finals, setting up a clash with the hometown favorites, Falcons. As the underdog turned contender, MOUZ’s measure of resilience and adaptability in high-pressure maps bodes well for their continued run.