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Kamil “siuhy” Szkaradek’s determined words in a pre-match interview, “I’m not losing to them twice,” set the tone for MOUZ’s dominant performance against The MongolZ in the Perfect World Shanghai Major playoffs.
Having suffered a best-of-one defeat to the same team in the elimination stage, MOUZ sought redemption and delivered with a 2-0 victory, eliminating the Asian Counter-Strike squad from the tournament.
#ShanghaiMajor2024 Playoff Stage: MOUZ sweeps The MongolZ 2-0, securing a spot in the top 4!
More Moments here: https://t.co/ng05IqwNa8 pic.twitter.com/qHjoLwzB8J
— CS_PerfectWorld (@CS_PerfectWorld) December 12, 2024
MOUZ got off to a rocky start on Ancient, losing critical early rounds, including a 2v4 pistol round and a pivotal 1v3 clutch by Ayush “mzinho” Batbold, which helped The MongolZ establish a commanding 9-3 lead.
The 17-year-old mzinho was a standout performer, posting an 18-7 scoreline with a staggering 154 average damage per round in the first half.
Despite this, MOUZ stayed composed.
The second half turned into a battle of attrition, with neither team stringing together more than a couple of rounds.
Sodbayar “Techno” Munkhbold put The MongolZ on map point with an impressive AK quad-kill in an eco round, but MOUZ responded with a 3v5 clutch to force overtime.
Riding their momentum, siuhy and Ludvig “Brollan” Brolin stepped up with crucial fragging to secure the map in double overtime.
The action moved to Nuke, where MOUZ initially struggled.
The MongolZ capitalised on their strong start, with Usukhbayar “910” Banzragch delivering impactful AWPing to secure a 6-0 lead.
However, a pivotal 3v5 clutch reignited MOUZ’s efforts, narrowing the deficit to two rounds by halftime.
In the second half, MOUZ’s defence, led by Jimi “Jimpphat” Salo and Brollan, locked down The MongolZ’s offence.
The duo combined for 23 kills as MOUZ methodically closed out the map, securing their place in the semi-finals with a confident 2-0 victory.
Reflecting on their progress, Brollan noted, “Back in Copenhagen, we didn’t have much experience on stage, especially with each other, but during this season we had a lot more stage matches.
“We handle the pressure better now, and I think we’re really there, that we can win the whole thing.”
In another playoff clash, Team Spirit defeated Team Liquid 2-0, claiming victories on Anubis (13-9) and Dust2 (13-11).
The series showcased standout performances, particularly from Danil “donk” Kryshkovets, who delivered two aces on Anubis and racked up 24 kills in 22 rounds.
#ShanghaiMajor2024 Playoff Stage Quarterfinals: Team Spirit defeats Team Liquid 2-0 to advance!
More Moments here: https://t.co/ng05IqwNa8 pic.twitter.com/xb8BqZFp7r
— CS_PerfectWorld (@CS_PerfectWorld) December 12, 2024
His heroics turned the tide on Liquid’s map pick, giving Spirit a crucial edge.
Dust2 began with Spirit setting an aggressive tempo, taking a 6-2 lead as Liquid struggled to keep pace.
Despite a late resurgence led by Russel “Twistzz” Van Dulken, including two clutch 1v2 wins, Liquid fell short.
Spirit’s resilience in the final rounds secured their semi-final berth.
Twistzz remained optimistic in his exit interview, saying, “I’m happy that we got to play in the arena.
“Before coming to the Major, I said anything but playoffs would be disappointing, and we made it. This is a good high that we can ride going into the next season.”
He also highlighted the team’s challenging schedule, noting that the extended time abroad, including five birthdays celebrated in China, made the journey bittersweet.
With MOUZ and Spirit advancing to the semi-finals, the stakes are higher than ever.
MOUZ will face Spirit for a spot in the grand final, promising another intense showdown in the Shanghai Major.
The playoffs will continue on Friday, with G2 Esports clashing with HEROIC before Team Vitality meets FaZe Clan in the last quarter-final.
