The MongolZ Take Down G2 at Shanghai Major Elims

This game keeps proving over and over that I need to stop thinking about The MongolZ as the underdogs. I actually winced a little when I saw their first match up in the Shanghai Major elimination stage was G2 but this was a brilliant showing.

Back when I met The MongolZ at the Thunderpick World Championship in October, they seemed really keen to prove that they deserved to be there and deserved to win. Don’t be fooled by their quiet demeanor, these guys are here to compete. They proved it against Heroic in that grand finals and they’re proving it again at the Perfect World Shanghai Major.

Skin in the game

This isn’t to speak to soon, MongolZ have got a long way to go in this tournament but showing that they can stand against the very best of the best in Counter-Strike will work wonders on their confidence, and our pick ’ems.

Historically, MongolZ aggressive push style has gone unpunished but it would have been extremely risky to continue those kind of plays against m0nesy, arguably the best AWPer in the game. G2 are a whole other ball game.

Not only were G2 the IEM Cologne 2023 champions, just to name one of their achievements, they have even more incentive than normal. It’s no secret that this is Niko’s last run with the team before he leaves and to end with a Major win would be the perfect end to his 4 year tenure at G2.

It all came down to the final round

It’s almost emotional to see the MongolZ take down the world number 1 ranked team. That final rifle round was something they spent round after round building their eco and preparing for. They knew it would all come down to that.

I’m sure I wasn’t the only one yelling at the screen when G2 were holding that bomb site and planting at the very last moment. But MongolZ held their nerve and pulled off the perfect distraction, intentionally making noise to force m0nesy off his angle so they could push from the other side.

Honestly, this was beautiful Counter-Strike and I can’t wait to see more.