After the Mongolz win against FaZe Clan, Azbayar “Senzu” Munkhbold said he wanted to face Vitality in the BLAST.tv Austin Major Grand Final. After a dominant victory against paiN Gaming, which included a 13-round win streak after a consecutive five losses, Senzu is getting his wish. In that same post-match interview, Senzu also let us know that s1mple (Oleksandr Olehovych Kostyliev) was the player he idolized growing up in Counter-Strike, “But I beat him now,” Senzu said when he talked about his excitement for a potential Vitality vs Mongolz Grand Final.
With one old god defeated, the Mongolz are heading into a historic Grand Final as the only Asian team to have made it to the playoffs, and if they win, the first to take home a Major title.
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After their Semi-Finals match yesterday, we spoke to senzu and Ayush “mzinhu” Batbold, leading up to the Grand Final. With a drastic turn-around on Mirage in Map 1, the 13-5 victory showed two entirely different teams on the Mongolz side.
Not because they “woke up” but because after that fifth loss, their gameplay changed entirely. More still, on Anubis, the once aggressive team seemed to be patient instead, letting paiN feed 910 the first kill of the match more times than not. The level head is what they’ll need against the Tournament favorite, who is playing in their sixth Grand Final and looking to secure their second Major title in the process.
Taking one game at a time, regardless of the outcome, is how the team has stayed in it, even after round losses.
About the setting the pace of the match, Mzinhu said, “In the beginning, we lost five rounds in a row, but once we won one round, all of that pressure was gone. We did the same as we usually do, we played as a team. The first five didn’t matter.”
Team play has defined Mongolz’s season, but not to the detriment of having individual stars rise, like Senzu (who pulled off an insane bomb diffused in seconds versus two paiN players waiting in the wings). According to mzinho, playing well individually is what makes them a good team as a whole.
“We’re usually individually extremely well, but what makes us a good team is our [coach]” mzinhu said. At the same time, Mzinho pointed out that he’s learned not to be “difficult to play with,” as core to getting better as a unit. This team mentality is Mongolz strength going into the Grand Final. And none of that is clearer than when we spoke to Senzu after their match.
The Mongolz are finding success because of their teamwork, not stars.
Senzu, who looked embarrassed when I said he had ice in his veins, continued to pull off major moments as the last remaining alive, giving all of the credit to his team, not himself. “It’s because of the team. We are working hard, and we spend 8 or 10 hours playing a day [training]. I can do [well] in a match because of my team.”
During the match against FaZe Clan (who had the laFst remaining American player), ever round win led to boos. Every time the screen showed them in the booth, the arena booed. But against paiN, this underdog story, their dominant play style, and their fearlessness to take risks even when outnumbered turned the crowd into Mongolz fans.
Both mzinhu and senzu commented about their excitement going into the BLAST.tv Austin Major Grand Final. Mzinho said, “I don’t know if I can sleep tonight. I’m too excited for the Grand Final.” And senzu said, “This is what I wanted to do, play in the Grand Final.”
But will it be enough to face Vitality? As the BLAST.tv Austin Major comes to a close, Mongolz have made a statement louder than their pressline interviews with each match they’ve played. They’re here to play Counter-Strike, count them out at your own risk.
The BLAST.tv Austin Major Playoffs took place at the Moody Center in Austin, TX from June 19 – 22nd.
