The MongolZ have produced the surprise result of the ESL Pro League S21 Playoffs so far, taking down NAVI in a 2:0 series that has some interesting implications for both teams. The most obvious storyline of note here is that NAVI’s ESL Pro League defense is over, but there’s so much more to discuss about both of these teams. Let’s delve into the details.
Are The MongolZ finally a Playoffs team?
Credit: Luc Bouchon | ESL
For so long, it feels like we’ve been talking about The MongolZ as something of a ‘nearly’ team. Always so close, but so far away from lifting a trophy, and frequently falling apart in big matches. Now, they’ve got themselves a real statement win they can point to as a reference for their ability to win out in important moments. Here, they never gave NAVI a way into the match, restricting them to a total of 12 rounds across the 2:0 series – not even enough for a single map win combined.
What is most impressive about The MongolZ is how impressive their fragging is across the board. There’s no one major weak link, and no single player hard-carrying in a way that feels unsustainable. They found success through consistency here, and frequently overcame man-disadvantages at the start of rounds in an impressive day at the office.
I really enjoyed watching The MongolZ here. While I’ll need to see more if I’m to believe they can actually win ESL Pro League Season 21, taking down the holders 2:0 is as good a start as they could ever have hoped for.
Are NAVI cooked?
Credit: Luc Bouchon | ESL
There’s no two ways about it – this was very, very bad from NAVI. Arguably 2024’s team of the year, NAVI have had a rough start to 2025, and the lack of team cohesion and poor individual form has led many to believe this roster is cooked at this point. Burnt, even. On this showing, it’s very tough to disagree.
Even the best CS2 players have days where they’re simply not shooting back. Unfortunately for NAVI, this was one of those days for everyone except w0nderful, who was much improved despite facing more than his fair share of criticism lately. Devoid of confidence, this was just not what this team needs at this point in the year.
Look, I’m not saying NAVI are done after this loss to The MongolZ. That would be short-sighted, and any team can come back from the brink, especially with players as talented as this. But this was BAD, and results will need to improve going forward, or 2025 won’t look pretty for NAVI. Write this one off as a bad day at the office.
The other results from the ESL Pro League S21 Quarter-Finals are as follows:
- Spirit 2:1 Eternal Fire
- MOUZ 2:1 G2
- Vitality 2:0 Team Liquid