Do MOUZ Deserve First Place at IEM Cologne 2025?

MOUZ are in the grand final of IEM Cologne 2025, and they got there by doing what no one else could: beating Vitality. Their form throughout the event has been sharp, confident, and built around discipline and synergy. With wins against top-tier teams like NAVI, Liquid, and now Vitality, MOUZ have proven they’re more than just a contender. Facing Spirit in the final puts them in a good spot, especially since they’ve beaten them before in the BLAST Major. The title is within reach, and MOUZ look ready.

So, is MOUZ ready to win IEM Cologne 2025? Spoiler: YES!

How MOUZ Beat Vitality in the IEM Cologne 2025 Semifinal

The upset happened: Vitality lost. HLTV highlighted that MOUZ finally broke their losing streak against this opponent on the eighth try. Mirage, MOUZ’s map pick, started with Vitality showing why they’re favorites. But once sides switched, MOUZ completely read them and shut the map down cleanly with no comeback chances. On Train, Vitality won the pistol but lost control soon after, and MOUZ applied nonstop pressure. It was ZyWOo’s weakest map ever in CS2, while FlameZ only managed one kill on the second map. MOUZ were on another level.

IEM Cologne 2025 Grand Final – Big Chance for MOUZ

The final puts MOUZ against Spirit, a team that just changed their lineup. While Spirit have improved since their earlier struggles, there’s still uncertainty around their consistency. MOUZ already knocked them out of BLAST.tv Austin Major playoffs, and that led to Spirit’s roster move, which can hide the weak place. Right now, MOUZ are confident after breaking Vitality’s six-tournament win streak and have a straight shot at the title. Spirit is a strong squad, but on paper, they’re the easier opponent. Expect MOUZ to play freely and with momentum.

MOUZ vs Spirit – Statistical Comparison

Looking at the numbers, MOUZ has a 66.7% win rate over the last three months and are currently on a two-match win streak. Spirit have a stronger 86.7% win rate and four wins in a row. MOUZ rank #2 in the world and #3 in the Valve ranking. Player-wise, donk leads Spirit with a monster 1.39 rating, while MOUZ’s most consistent performers like torzsi and xertioN hold steady around 1.12. Spirit’s weakness may be zweih, their newest player, who has a low 0.93 rating in his first 10 maps.

However, out of all the teams that made it to the playoffs, MOUZ looked like the only candidate to win Vitality, and they did, so they have a chance to advance. They lost to Spirit during the second stage of this tournament, but at the same time, they are the ones who were able to repel the aggressive Spirit and beat them at the Major, which will definitely be up in the air this time too.

How the IEM Cologne Playoffs Played Out

IEM Cologne Playoffs followed a single-elimination bracket. MOUZ beat FURIA 2-1 in the quarterfinals and then shocked Vitality with a clean 2-0 win. Spirit took down MongolZ, NAVI, and reached the final with a 2-1 win. Interestingly, Spirit already beat MOUZ earlier in the tournament 2-1, but their new roster dynamic adds a question mark. MOUZ came through tougher opponents overall and showed more consistency round to round.

What’s Happening with the Vitality Era?

Saying the Vitality era is over is way too early. They had a six-tournament win streak and just won the Major. Dropping this event doesn’t erase what they’ve done. Losing here might give them extra motivation to clean up small issues and refocus. It’s normal for any top team to have a dip after so much dominance. They’re still ranked #1 in all major CS2 rankings, and clearly ahead in points. If there’s any team they could afford to lose to, it’s MOUZ, who came in sharp and well-prepared.