The MongolZ is one of the strongest Asian teams in the history of Counter-Strike. The club was founded in 2013. During the CS:GO era, the team made headlines only once, but after the transition to CS2, they rapidly progressed and eventually began securing top positions in global rankings.
Team History
The MongolZ history begins in Ulaanbaatar on 20 August 2013, when local enthusiasts Kaz and Darkis registered the brand and started fielding squads in Asian online qualifiers. Their first full‑time CS lineup appeared in mid‑2015 and stunned the scene by winning IEM Taipei 2016, the first international LAN trophy ever lifted by a Mongolian five, which earned them a short‑lived berth at IEM Katowice later that season. From 2014, the organisation also maintained an active The MongolZ Dota 2 team; however, between 2017 and 2024, the organization stepped away from the discipline. In 2024, The MongolZ relaunched their Dota 2 division.
Momentum fluctuated: in 2018, the roster was sold to Chinese organisation Storm Rider and soon disbanded, followed by brief revivals in 2019 and 2022 that ended after unsuccessful Major‑qualifier runs. The real renaissance arrived on 3 April 2023 when the former IHC core — bLitz, Techno4K, and company — re‑signed under The MongolZ banner. That reboot yielded a BLAST Paris‑Major appearance, a top‑ten HLTV ranking, and a headline $500 k victory over Heroic at the Thunderpick World Championship 2024, establishing them as Asia’s first genuine dark‑horse title threat.
Ownres
Founders Kaz and Darkis ran the club from 2013 until late 2018, when roster control passed to Storm Rider in China. After that partnership collapsed, the original Mongolian backers quietly bought back the slot, and by 2025, the organisation is once again privately held in Ulaanbaatar with Kaz doubling as CEO and 1xBet as headline sponsor. The MongolZ results under local stewardship have eclipsed every previous era, proving that home‑grown management can deliver on a global stage.
First Roster
At the height of Asia’s CS:GO boom in July 2015, the organisation assembled its first salaried squad — a line‑up whose fearless mid‑round calls set the tone for future Mongolian esports.
- Temuulen “Zilkenberg” Battulga – rifler
- Batsuh “ncl” Bold – in‑game leader
- Lkhagva “Machinegun” Enkhtaivan – entry fragger
- Tsog “Tsogoo” Mashbat – support
- Odbayar “fRost.” Altangerel – AWPer/anchor
Although that five never cracked a Major, their IEM Taipei miracle run and regular Asian Minor appearances laid the DNA for today’s The MongolZ Counter‑Strike 2 team, giving Mongolia its first taste of tier‑one LANs and inspiring the talent pipeline that fuels the current roster.
Erdenedalai “maaRaa” Bayanbat remains one of the organisation’s most influential figures. After competing as a player through the IEM Taipei era, he moved behind the scenes and, in April 2023, rejoined as head coach. Under his guidance, the roster reached BLAST Paris, PGL Copenhagen, and multiple ESL/IEM playoffs — the highest peaks in Mongolian CS up to 2025.
Achievements in 2025 with the Current Roster
At the end of 2024, discussions began around whether The MongolZ could be considered a Tier-S team. Throughout 2025, they proved that they are.
In 2025 the roster of bLitz, Techno4K, 910, mzinho, and Senzu — mentored by maaRaa — represents one of Asia’s most dangerous quintets. The line‑up reached the playoffs at IEM Katowice 2025, ESL Pro League S21, and IEM Dallas 2025, taking series off Cloud9, Virtus.pro, and Team Liquid and maintaining a steady presence in the HLTV top ten throughout the season.
Notable finishes in 2025:
- 2nd – MESA League Season 6
- 3‑4th – IEM Dallas 2025
- 3‑4th – ESL Pro League S21
- Top 8 – IEM Katowice 2025
bLitz directs the squad with a 1.12 rating, Techno4K follows up at 1.03, 910 anchors the AWP with 1.11, mzinho offers clutch consistency at 1.06, and Senzu tops the board at 1.14. Coach maaRaa has steered them through 396 maps at a 61 % win rate, providing the strategic backbone for their 2025 rise.
The MongolZ stats reveal a strong recent performance trend on specific maps. According to HLTV, the team has maintained above 60% win rates in their last 23 matches on Mirage (65%) and 19 matches on Ancient (63%), demonstrating their strategic consistency on these tactical maps. Additionally, Liquipedia records the organisation’s total earnings at around $1.48 million, illustrating how their prize money has steadily more than doubled since 2023
The MongolZ Former Players
Over the years, The MongolZ have featured numerous players who contributed to the team's growth and helped establish Mongolia’s presence on the global Counter-Strike scene:
A veteran IGL and one of the most recognized names in Mongolian CS, ncl was part of early MongolZ rosters and played a key role during the CS:GO era. After leaving The MongolZ, he continued competing and currently plays for The Huns, maintaining his leadership role on a rising regional squad.
Known for his consistent rifling and utility usage, Bart4k had multiple stints with The MongolZ across both CS:GO and CS2. He now also plays under The Huns banner, reuniting with former teammates in the Tier-2 Asian scene.
One of the team’s original support players, Tsogoo helped The MongolZ qualify for international events like IEM Taipei 2016. In recent years, he has been associated with Clutch, though the team is considered inactive in competitive play.
A mechanically solid player and former AWPer for The MongolZ during transitional periods, NEUZ currently represents Eruption, a Mongolian team that regularly competes in regional tournaments and ranked inside HLTV’s top 60 during 2025.
Another former member who transitioned with The MongolZ through several lineup changes, MagnumZ also plays for Eruption, bringing valuable experience to the roster.
Previously considered one of Mongolia’s most promising talents, ANNIHILATION served as the team’s main AWPer before parting ways with the org. He now competes for ATOX, a team ranked around #112 in Valve’s regional standings, continuing to develop his career on the Asia-Pacific circuit.
The MongolZ Legends
Since their revival in 2023, The MongolZ have built a core of star players who stand out not just for their stats, but for the energy they bring to the team’s rise:
- Azbayar “Senzu” Munkhbold
At just 18 years old, Senzu has become a pillar of The MongolZ’s rifle corps. He joined the roster in September 2023 and after two years he was able to show results that raised him to the TOP-2 of the HLTV.
- Garidmagnai “bLitz” Byambasuren
As the team’s in-game leader and entry fragger, bLitz has shouldered heavy responsibility and excelled. His leadership and composure led the team to victory at YaLLa Compass.
- Usukhbayar “910” Banzragch
The main AWPer and occasional clutcher, 910 brings a calm yet deadly presence. His calm retakes and memorable sniping in landmark wins.
Achievements in Tournaments
Throughout their way, The MongolZ has competed in a wide range of tournaments, delivering strong performances and earning significant wins. Despite encountering fierce rivals and occasional hurdles, several of their most iconic moments have captured large audiences via official CS2 live stream platforms. The most significant of The MongolZ trophies remains YaLLa Compass 2024 in Abu Dhabi, worth $200,000, and Thunderpick Championship, worth $500,000. Other podiums include four bronze finishes at premier IEM and ESL events in 2025.
Date | Place | Tier | Type | Tournament | Result | Opponent | Prize |
2025-05-24 | 3rd - 4th | S-Tier | Offline | Intel Extreme Masters Dallas 2025 | 0: 2 | MOUZ | $25,000 |
2025-04-26 | 3rd - 4th | S-Tier | Offline | Intel Extreme Masters Melbourne 2025 | 0: 2 | Team Vitality | $25,000 |
2025-03-15 | 3rd - 4th | S-Tier | Offline | ESL Pro League Season 21 | 1: 2 | Team Vitality | $25,000 |
2025-02-08 | 3rd - 4th | S-Tier | Offline | Intel Extreme Masters Katowice 2025 | 0: 2 | Team Vitality | $80,000 |
2024-11-03 | 1st | A-Tier | Online/Offline | Thunderpick World Championship 2024 | 3: 1 | HEROIC | $500,000 |
2024-10-19 | 3rd - 4th | A-Tier | Offline | Elisa Masters Espoo 2024 | 1: 2 | ENCE | $15,000 |
2024-06-09 | 1st | S-Tier | Offline | YaLLa Compass 2024 | 2: 1 | Ninjas in Pyjamas | $200,000 |
2024-06-02 | 1st | A-Tier | Offline | MESA Nomadic Masters Spring 2024 | 3: 1 | BLEED Esports | $50,000 |
2024-05-18 | 1st | C-Tier | Offline | MESA Pro Series: Finals 2024 | 3: 0 | ATOX Esports | — |
2024-01-28 | 1st | B-Tier | Offline | eXTREMESLAND 2023 | 2: 0 | Lynn Vision Gaming | $25,000 |
2023-12-10 | 1st | B-Tier | Online | ESL Challenger League S46: Asia-Pacific | 3: 2 | TYLOO | $15,000 |
2016-02-01 | 1st | A-Tier | Offline | Intel Extreme Masters X - Taipei | 2: 0 | Renegades | $30,000 |
Since the team’s start in 2013, they have climbed from Minor qualifiers to regular invites at Major events. Earlier rosters rarely reached such heights (aside from the one‑off IEM triumph in 2016), but the 2022 relaunch positioned the organisation for sustained playoff runs — and, eventually, championship contention.
The MongolZ Upcoming Events
Since The MongolZ are one of the strongest representatives of Asian Counter-Strike, they are expected to appear at major events. The MongolZ upcoming events include the IEM series, as well as ESL, PGL, EWC, and BLAST tournaments. Expect to see them in the playoffs against top-tier teams, where they are sure to put up a strong fight. Supporters should look forward to The MongolZ facing off against top global contenders in upcoming CS2 Tournaments, with all CS2 matches available to watch through official CS2 streaming platforms.
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