“The MongolZ names Unudelger “controlez” Baasanjargal as stand-in for IEM Chengdu 2025”

“The MongolZ names Unudelger “controlez” Baasanjargal as stand-in for IEM Chengdu 2025”

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The Mongolian CS2 outfit The MongolZ have confirmed that Unudelger “controlez” Baasanjargal will serve as a stand-in for their upcoming appearance at the Intel Extreme Masters Chengdu 2025 tournament, which runs from November 3 to November 9, 2025 in Chengdu, China. 

Context: a swift roster pivot

This move follows a surprising roster decision: previously, The MongolZ had benched their promising 19-year-old rifler Azbayar “Senzu” Munkhbold in what was the team’s first roster change in more than two years. 
In the announcement, The MongolZ acknowledged that “due to insufficient time to fully assess the academy team’s players… the decision was made to field an experienced player, taking into account the input of the main team’s players”. 

In other words, rather than promote from within immediately, the organization has opted for a more experienced substitute to cover their next major event. The organization’s official post on X (formerly Twitter) reads that suportez will play as a stand-in for IEM Chengdu. 

Who is controlez?

• Age: 28 years old.

• Most recently, he played for the Mongolian organisation Chinggis Warriors, where he posted a 1.06 rating since joining in November 2024.

• He has past ties to The MongolZ: he competed briefly under the Checkmate banner in 2020 alongside Garidmagnai “bLitz” Byambasuren, and also had a short stint with The MongolZ in 2017, alongside current coach Erdenedalai “maaRaa” Bayanbat (during the WESG 2017 East Asia qualifier).

Thus, while not a long‐term fixture of the roster, controlez is not wholly unfamiliar with the organization, which may have aided the decision to bring him in on relatively short notice.

The event: IEM Chengdu 2025

The tournament in Chengdu is a global LAN event for CS2 featuring 16 teams from around the world, a prize pool of US$1,000,000, and a player-share pool of $300,000. 
According to the group draw, The MongolZ will kick off their campaign in Group A, and their first match is scheduled as a Best-of-Three (Bo3) against HEROIC on November 3 — an 08:00 CET slot. 
Group A features several strong teams: The MongolZ, Heroic, Falcons, Natus Vincere, Astralis, paiN Gaming, TYLOO, and Spirit. 

Implications for The MongolZ

This stand-in move comes at a pivotal moment for The MongolZ. With Senzu benched and now controlez stepping in, the team faces the pressure of recapturing form on the global stage. As noted in the “groups revealed” article, the team’s decision to bench their star rifler is described as “shocking” and may affect their perception and momentum heading into Chengdu. 

The decision to bring in an older, more experienced hand rather than elevating an academy player suggests the organisation prioritizes stability for the upcoming high-stakes competition. Given that this is their first roster change in over two years, it underscores the significance the team places on performing well at IEM Chengdu. 

Areas to watch

• Team chemistry: With a late stand-in rather than a long-term roster addition, the team’s synergy and in-game coordination may be under strain — especially given the calibre of the opposition in Group A.

• Performance of controlez: While he is experienced and known within the organization, his recent competitive output and synergy with the core roster are yet untested in this context.

• Effect of the benching: Removing Senzu from the lineup may have ripple effects psychologically and strategically. The move may prompt questions about internal dynamics or long-term direction.

• Event performance: A strong showing in Chengdu could validate the decision to bring in controlez; conversely, an early exit might raise concerns about the fit and forward path of The MongolZ.

Final thoughts

In summary, The MongolZ’s announcement that Unudelger “controlez” Baasanjargal will stand in at IEM Chengdu 2025 represents both a strategic pivot and a test of resilience for the Mongolian squad. With their first roster change in two years and a high-stakes tournament ahead, the team is betting on experienced firepower and internal familiarity rather than a developmental gamble. How well this move pays off will become evident as the tournament unfolds and Group A clashes commence on November 3.