Passion UA edge The MongolZ 2–1 to open BLAST Rivals S2 and book a playoff berth

Passion UA edge The MongolZ 2–1 to open BLAST Rivals S2 and book a playoff berth

Passion UA kicked off BLAST Rivals 2025 Season 2 with a gritty 2–1 victory over The MongolZ, securing a spot in the playoffs from Group A. The ex-Complexity core — JT, hallzerk, Grim and coach T.c — now wearing Passion UA colors, held their nerve across three maps to topple one of Asia’s hottest teams.

The best-of-three featured Overpass, Inferno, and Nuke, with the Ukrainian organization’s lineup outlasting The MongolZ in key late rounds. Match statistics highlighted mzinho as The MongolZ’s top performer, while hallzerk led the AWP category and JT topped the charts for opening duels — a reflection of how close the match truly was.

This win sends Passion UA through the group stage while The MongolZ drop to the lower side of the bracket in the double-elimination format.

What they said

Grim (Passion UA): “There were definitely some growing pains when we got Kvem… Our goal is to make Kvem as comfortable as possible because he’s a great player.” The American rifler described BLAST Rivals S2 as an important confidence builder heading toward the Major: “The better we do here, the more confidence we’ll have.”

Techno (The MongolZ): Speaking about their updated roster, Techno admitted: “Maybe people doubted our new player and what would happen after Senzu, but we bounced back.” He also praised newcomer controlez as “a really funny guy,” emphasizing the positive atmosphere within the team despite roster changes.

JT (Passion UA): Reflecting on the team’s progress earlier in the season, the in-game leader said: “It feels like we have been improving really fast, at least in practice,” and later added, “It feels good to finally be winning some games.” Those sentiments matched the composure Passion UA showed in Hong Kong’s tournament opener.

Key numbers at a glance

Result: Passion UA 2–1 The MongolZ (Group A opening match)

Maps played: Overpass, Inferno, Nuke

Standouts: mzinho (highest rating); hallzerk (most AWP kills); JT (most first kills)

Event snapshot

BLAST Rivals S2 runs from November 12–16, 2025, in Chek Lap Kok, Hong Kong, featuring eight teams and a $350,000 prize pool. The event uses a double-elimination, best-of-three group stage followed by a single-elimination playoff bracket, with the grand final played as a best-of-five. Passion UA received a wildcard invite to the tournament.

Confirmed teams & format

The BLAST Rivals Season 2 lineup includes Spirit, Vitality, The MongolZ, TYLOO, paiN, FURIA, Falcons, and Passion UA. The tournament showcases a mix of top-tier European, Asian, and American squads, setting the stage for intense interregional matchups.

More related storylines & interviews

Grim (Passion UA) shared ahead of the event: “The goal is to win a tournament, specifically the Major,” highlighting the team’s long-term ambitions beyond this series.

mezii (Vitality) also commented on the field before the event, saying that individual improvement was key heading into BLAST Rivals S2 — an indicator of how competitive the tournament would be.