The MongolZ eliminate Spirit early; Falcons topple Astralis for semi-final berth

The MongolZ eliminate Spirit early; Falcons topple Astralis for semi-final berth

In one of the biggest shake-ups of Group A at IEM Chengdu 2025, The MongolZ sent Team Spirit home ahead of schedule with a decisive 2-1 series win, while Falcons advanced to the semi-finals by defeating Astralis 2-0 to top the group. 

The MongolZ uproot Spirit’s dominance

For more than a full year, Team Spirit had held a clear edge over The MongolZ — including a seven-map winning streak. That ended at the Chengdu group stage when The MongolZ routed Spirit in a best-of-three encounter with dominant map wins: 13-7 on Dust2, a strong showing on Ancient (including a clutch smoke-defuse by “controlez”), and a final map decider on Mirage after racing ahead 7-1. 

The MongolZ displayed mental resilience and executed key moments: their rookies rose to the occasion, while Spirit’s wide-being squad, despite individual talent like sh1ro, failed to maintain composure under pressure. One standout highlight from The MongolZ: a 1v2 smoke defuse by controlez that tilted the game in the decider. 

This result not only sends Spirit into the lower bracket but effectively ends their playoff aspirations at the event — a major upset considering their roster mix and past successes.

Falcons crush Astralis to claim Group A’s top spot

On the same day, Falcons sealed their position at the top of Group A with a commanding 2-0 series win over Astralis. According to the HLTV match page, Falcons blanked Astralis on Nuke (13-6) and Mirage (13-7). 

By sweeping Astralis and previously beating TYLOO and Spirit 2-0 earlier, Falcons finished Group A with a pristine 3-0 record, earning a direct berth into the semi-finals. The advantage is significant: while other teams must go through quarter-finals, Falcons will have additional rest and preparation time heading into the later stages of the tournament.

Why these results matter

• For The MongolZ, the win over Spirit marks a breakthrough. Roster changes, new leadership, and the emergence of players like controlez have culminated in this signature moment. Their aggression on familiar maps and mental clarity undercut Spirit’s heavier expectations.

• For Spirit, the defeat is jarring. Going in as favourites, dropping to The MongolZ and missing playoffs in a group they were expected to dominate exposes structural concerns: momentum, mental game, and map flipping when under siege.

• For Falcons, this signals the emergence of a serious contender. Their dominant group run combined with a decisive win over a veteran side like Astralis shows they’re not just participating — they’re contending.

• For the tournament bracket, these results reshape the playoff picture. With Falcons secured in the semis, and Spirit out, matches for remaining seeds will have added pressure, and map-preparation strategies will shift accordingly. The MongolZ surge could make them one of the dark-horse threats.

Tactical & performance highlights

• On Dust2 vs Spirit, The MongolZ controlled the pace, posting 8-4 halves and exploiting Spirit’s loose early positioning.

• In the Mirage decider, The MongolZ jumped to a 7-1 lead, forcing Spirit into reactive mode; Spirit’s comeback attempts faltered when key clutches slipped away.

• Falcons’ win over Astralis saw standout performances by players like kyousuke (41 kills in the match) and m0NESY holding 1.31 rating, demonstrating global-level fragging and consistency.

• The bracket advantage for Falcons means they skip the quarter-finals and avoid playing extra series — a structural edge in stamina-heavy LAN events.

Looking ahead: what to watch

• The MongolZ’ journey: Can they maintain momentum? Who will they face in the playoffs, and can they handle higher seeded opponents? Their upset gives them confidence, but the next rounds will test depth, adaptability and endurance.

• Falcons’ semi-final run: With rest secured, they’ll now gear up against the winner of Group B’s quarter-final. They’ll need to maintain form, refine strategies, and avoid complacency. The bracket path is favourable, but the pressure rises.

• Spirit’s regroup moment: Eliminated early, they must evaluate the loss, regroup for future events, and assess lineup, map pool and mental resilience. The upset exposes vulnerability despite talent.

• Bracket dynamics: With one group decided early and one upset delivered, other teams may adjust preparation to face The MongolZ or anti-Falcons strategies. Seeding and rest now become critical variables.

Final reflections

The group stage of IEM Chengdu 2025 has delivered shockwaves: The MongolZ have announced themselves as more than underdogs, and Falcons have underlined their elite-tier aspiration. Spirit’s early departure shows that even established teams are vulnerable when pressure mounts and momentum fractures. As the tournament heads into its elimination phase, map pool preparation, mental strength and bracket position stand out as key differentiators.

Falcons sit in a privileged position — they have rest, confidence and form. The MongolZ occupy a dangerous spot as dark-horses with high momentum. Spirit, meanwhile, face the tough task of processing what went wrong and rebuilding. In CS2’s fast-evolving competitive landscape, one strong day can remake a team’s year — and that’s exactly what happened in Chengdu.