MOUZ Defeat FURIA 2–1 to Advance to IEM Cologne 2025 Semifinals

MOUZ secured a 2–1 victory over FURIA in a high-stakes playoff clash at IEM Cologne 2025, eliminating the Brazilian squad and moving on to the semifinals. The series was a back-and-forth battle across Train, Mirage, and Inferno, with both teams displaying moments of brilliance before MOUZ pulled ahead in the decider.

With this win, MOUZ now prepare for a semifinal showdown against world-ranked #2 Vitality.

Map 1 – Train (19:16 MOUZ, OT)

FURIA ’s map pick kicked off with a solid first half, where they kept pace with MOUZ and entered halftime down just 5–7. In the second half, they clawed their way back to a 12–12 tie and forced the game into overtime. However, MOUZ remained composed under pressure.

torzsi delivered a standout performance, posting a 1.56 rating and securing a critical 1v2 clutch in overtime. molodoy fought back valiantly for FURIA with 48 kills and a 1.52 rating, but it wasn’t enough to stop MOUZ from taking the map 19–16.

Map 2 – Mirage (13:10 FURIA)

On MOUZ’s pick, FURIA came out swinging. Their attack was crisp, with YEKINDAR and KSCERATO creating space and trading effectively. MOUZ managed a few mid-game responses, but FURIA maintained the upper hand.

One of the highlights came from molodoy, who pulled off a clutch 1v2 with the AWP in mid during a pivotal round. FURIA’s control in late rounds earned them a deserved 13–10 win, evening the series.

Map 3 – Inferno (13:5 MOUZ)

The decider map was all MOUZ. From the opening gun rounds, they dominated both aim duels and map control. torzsi and xertioN were clinical on defense, consistently shutting down FURIA’s pushes.

While molodoy found a few openings with the AWP, MOUZ’s cohesion and retake setups were too strong. They closed the map 13–5, sealing the series and their spot in the semifinals.

Standout Performers

• torzsi (MOUZ): Key factor in MOUZ’s success, with a 1.56 rating on Train and consistent impact on Inferno.
• molodoy (FURIA): The standout for FURIA across the series, posting two maps above a 1.50 rating and delivering highlight-worthy plays.
• xertioN (MOUZ): Supported MOUZ’s defense with smart positioning and key multi-kills, especially on Inferno.

MOUZ’s resilience in overtime and dominance on Inferno underline their strength as a playoff contender. Their teamwork and mental composure were decisive in closing out the series.

FURIA, while eliminated, left a strong impression, especially through molodoy’s breakout performance, which confirmed his status as a rising talent on the international stage.

IEM Cologne 2025 is held in Cologne, Germany. The tournament is split into three stages: Stage 1 (July 26–28), Stage 2 (July 29–31), and Playoffs (August 1–4). The event features a $1,000,000 prize pool, with $400,000 for 1st place, $180,000 for 2nd, and $80,000 for 3rd-4th.