Lack of practice costs The MongolZ in early EPL exit to NaVi

The MongolZ have been eliminated early from ESL Pro League Season 22, falling 0–2 to Natus Vincere. Analysts and commentators pointed to a glaring issue: the MongolZ not being match-sharp due to limited practice. Ayush “mzinho” Batbold admitted the team spent much of the week leading into the event at home with family rather than preparing intensively, contributing to what many perceived as rust on LAN. 

Although The MongolZ are ranked No.1 in Asia by Valve Regional Standings (VRS) as of October 8, 2025, their dominant status in regional rankings could not prevent the cold start on the international stage. 

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Match breakdown: NaVi vs The MongolZ

The series went:

• Nuke: 13–3 in favor of NaVi

• Ancient: 16–12 to NaVi

On Nuke, the MongolZ managed just 3 rounds total, reflecting their lack of foothold from the opening halves. Even against their own map pick, they couldn’t generate much momentum. 

In Ancient, the MongolZ showed some fight, pushing NaVi harder than on Nuke. But it was too little, too late, as NaVi closed out the map and series. 

From the match statistics:

• Mihai “iM” Ivan led NaVi’s scoreboard, registering 40 kills across both maps.

• NaVi team rating for the match: ~1.27, while The MongolZ landed around 0.79.

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What went wrong for The MongolZ

1. Insufficient practice & preparation

Shortly before the event, the MongolZ roster members cited limited time together. mzhino admitted that several of them went home to see family during the break, meaning the team sacrificed scrim time and tactical refinement for rest. 

Commentators on the broadcast also noted ring rust—the inability to make coordinated plays, sluggish rotations, weak retakes, and communication gaps that are usually smoothed out only through regular practice under pressure. 

2. Misalignment on timings & synergy

Without fresh practice, the team’s timing — when to push, when to rotate, when to trade on crossfires — faltered. Against a polished roster like NaVi, these missteps become costly.

3. Opponent executing cleanly

NaVi, accustomed to high-level LAN protocols, came in ready. iM’s consistency, combined with fluid strategies and map control, kept the MongolZ constantly defending. Their map picks (Nuke and Ancient) favored NaVi’s strengths as well.

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Context & repercussions

• Regional dominance wasn’t enough
  Even though The MongolZ sit atop the Asian VRS rankings, excelling locally and in regional ladder matches, those strengths didn’t translate when they couldn’t bring the same consistency into the EPL.

• Previous momentum
  Earlier, The MongolZ had impressive results: notably, they claimed their first big LAN title by sweeping Aurora Gaming 3–0 at the Esports World Cup 2025. That showed the team’s high ceiling.

• EPL trajectory & bracket positioning
  Their loss to NaVi sends them into elimination territory. They’ll need to rebound immediately or risk total departure from the tournament.

• Stage 2 invites & position
  Despite the exit, The MongolZ had already secured a position in Stage 2 of EPL thanks to prior performance and invites.

• Roster consistency & pressure
  As top teams push their practice regimens, teams like The MongolZ must maintain competitive readiness even through breaks. Minimal laxity can lead to similar early exits.