FaZe Clan vs The MongolZ: BLAST.tv Austin Major 2025 Quarterfinal Preview and Predictions

The MongolZ versus FaZe Clan is arguably the most exciting duel of the BLAST.tv Austin Major 2025 quarterfinals. Although these two teams already met in Stage 3—where Finn "karrigan" Andersen’s squad emerged victorious—it still feels difficult to name a clear favorite heading into this rematch.

The MongolZ: The Pride of Asian Counter-Strike

For years, Counter-Strike fans across Asia could only celebrate isolated victories—most notably by TYLOO during the Challenger Stages of previous Majors. TYLOO dominated the regional scene but often remained in the shadow of stronger international teams, especially from Europe. Today, The MongolZ have broken through that ceiling. They’ve not only reached the top tier of global Counter-Strike but seem determined to stay there.

In 2025, The MongolZ have become regular contenders in the playoffs of major tournaments. Their BLAST.tv Austin Major campaign began with a surprising loss to FURIA. However, they bounced back with expected wins over Liquid and Lynn Vision. They then missed their first shot at playoff qualification after falling 0-2 to FaZe Clan. Yet, this setback didn’t shake Erdenedalai “maaRaa” Bayanbat’s roster. In a do-or-die match against G2, The MongolZ produced a thrilling 2-0 victory, including an unforgettable battle on Dust2.

FaZe Clan: The Kings of Majors

Great players, who’ve won nearly everything, often find their best form on the biggest stages. That’s exactly how FaZe Clan approach Majors. Even when the team struggles before a tournament and few expect them to make a deep run, FaZe consistently rise to the occasion when the stakes are highest.

We saw this at the Shanghai Major last year, when karrigan’s squad—despite a shaky lead-up—stormed into the finals, knocking out Vitality in the quarterfinals and then upsetting G2.

At BLAST.tv Austin, expectations were tempered, especially since this was essentially their first event with the current lineup. At IEM Dallas, they had to field a substitute (skullz) in place of rain. FaZe also had a rocky start at this Major, narrowly advancing through the Contenders Stage after early wins over Heroic and TYLOO, followed by defeats to Legacy and 3DMAX. They finally broke their slump with a decisive 2-0 over MIBR.

In Stage 3, FaZe suffered an early loss to Aurora but quickly regrouped to beat MOUZ, Legacy, and The MongolZ to secure their quarterfinal spot. Now, they’ll face the Mongolians once again.

Head-to-Head History

The two teams have only met twice in 2025. Their first encounter was at IEM Melbourne 2025, where the Mongolians came out on top. Their second meeting happened at the BLAST.tv Austin Major’s Stage 3, where FaZe won 2-0. Both matches ended in sweeps, making this rematch even more intriguing.

Map Veto and Picks: What Can We Expect?

Predicting the map pool for this quarterfinal is tricky, as both teams have deep map selections. However, it’s safe to assume that Train won’t be played—both FaZe and The MongolZ consistently ban it first, and neither has touched it this year. FaZe are also unlikely to choose Mirage, where their recent win rate is poor.

Beyond Train and Mirage, the rest of the map pool is wide open. Both teams have similar win rates across most maps, making surprises likely.

Who’s the Favorite?

Although The MongolZ have faced FaZe only twice recently—just once since s1mple joined—FaZe seem to have the upper hand. According to s1mple, FaZe and The MongolZ scrimmed frequently in the weeks leading up to the Major. Out of ten practice matches, FaZe reportedly dominated eight, while The MongolZ won only two after closely contested games.

The individual performances of each team’s stars will be crucial. The MongolZ are one of the most mechanically gifted teams in the world, but they’ve struggled with consistency—especially players like 910 and Techno, who can be incredible one game and shaky the next. In their last match against FaZe, 910 won just two of his eleven duels against s1mple, which proved costly.

Final Verdict

FaZe Clan enter this quarterfinal as slight favorites. s1mple and company seem to have found an effective formula against The MongolZ. Both teams share a similar map pool, meaning The MongolZ may not have many surprises left to pull.

One key advantage for FaZe is their ability to thrive under pressure on the big stage. Players like karrigan, s1mple, rain, ELiGE, and frozen feed off the energy of the crowd, and that could tip the balance in their favor.

Expect a close battle, but FaZe should edge through to the semifinals.

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Feature image credit: Michal Konkol/Blast.tv

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