Aurora’s IEM Dallas failure may just be the final straw

Aurora have been eliminated from IEM Dallas 2025 at the hands of The MongolZ, a team that has become a familiar foe in recent times. It marks another blemish on Aurora’s records in Playoffs throughout 2025, falling once again when close to the final hurdle. They may have won their first stage game of the year against the same team back at PGL Astana 2025, but it was a different story in the States as the Mongolian outfit romped to victory.

Something about this loss felt a little different, though. Before, there has been an inevitability that at some point, something will click for Aurora, and they’d finally find the recipe for success on the big stage. Now, though. I’m not so sure. Here’s why.

Losses take their toll on Aurora’s mental

Losing hurts. That’s not just in Counter-Strike. In any competitive environment, losing consistently, especially when so close to glory, is a painful experience. The first few times around, it can be used as fuel to push on and cross that finish line. There are many such cases. But after eight Playoff appearances in a row for this Aurora core spanning back to their time on Eternal Fire, at what point do the losses take their toll and have the players wondering if it’s ever going to happen? Eight consecutive Playoff berths, and not a single trophy to show for it.

Eventually, it becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy. A team doesn’t do it, because they believe they can’t. It’s a rot that is nearly impossible to stop once it sets in, one that only changes to the lineup can solve. There are very few examples of serial chokers-turned-winners, one of which is the all-time-great Astralis core of dev1ce, dupreeh, and Xyp9x. That’s the level of player required to shake a reputation like that, and it’s much easier to imagine that Aurora have simply missed their chance to become winners.

Against The MongolZ in the IEM Dallas 2025 Quarter-Final, it was just more of the same. Going 12:1 down on map two sealed their fate, at which point they were fighting for personal pride rather than their place in the tournament. It was a poor showing, and may add more and more stress to Aurora’s mental game.

Inexperience is no longer an excuse for Aurora

Unlike the aforementioned Astralis core, Aurora’s players can no longer boast the same excuse. At 34 years of age, MAJ3R is one of the oldest active players in Tier 1, while woxic and XANTARES have tons of experience of their own over the last few years. To expect players who have been playing this long to suddenly shake off their worst habits in front of Counter-Strike’s biggest crowds is unreasonable.

It’s easier to extend some leeway to Wicadia and jottAAA, who, compared to the trio, are still relative rookies. They’ve had their fair share of stage jitters just like the others, but that’s normal when coming into the scene for the first time. As for the others, I can’t help but feel that their IEM Dallas 2025 performance may have sealed their fate when it comes to potentially winning trophies in the future.