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As the BLAST.tv Austin Major 2025 reaches its grand finale, the stage is set for an unforgettable clash between Team Vitality and The MongolZ. Vitality, the undisputed powerhouse of the season, enter the final with a flawless playoff record and a reputation for clinical dominance. On the other side, The MongolZ have already made history — becoming the first Asian team to reach a Major final, defying expectations with fearless play and remarkable resilience.
It’s a showdown of raw firepower versus underdog heart. For Vitality, this is a chance to solidify their legacy. For The MongolZ, it’s a shot at rewriting the story of competitive CSGO. The stakes couldn’t be higher, and every round will count.
In this preview, we’ll explore the betting landscape, evaluate each team’s form, spotlight key players, and offer our prediction for this much-anticipated grand final.
Let’s break it down.
How the bookies view it: Vitality favorite
Heading into the grand final, bookmakers are unanimous in their assessment: Team Vitality are the clear favorites with odds around 1.23. Meanwhile, a bet on The MongolZ offers odds of approximately 3.76, reflecting the long-shot nature of their upset hopes. The gap highlights the difference in experience and consistency between the teams.
Vitality form. What result can be expected from Vitality
Vitality are on an incredible run of form, having won their last five matches. In the playoffs alone, they took 13 out of 15 maps, a clear indication of dominance and cohesion within the squad.
They are also enjoying a golden year in 2025, having won six top-tier tournaments already, including IEM Katowice, ESL Pro League Season 21, IEM Melbourne, and IEM Dallas. These results confirm their position as the team to beat.
Crucially, Vitality have an undefeated head-to-head record against The MongolZ — seven wins from seven matches. That kind of history gives them a psychological edge even before the match starts.
Expectation: disciplined and methodical gameplay, round control, and tactical depth with strong rotations.
The MongolZ form. What result can be expected from The MongolZ
The MongolZ enter the final on a high, having won four of their last five matches. Their semifinal performance was historic — the first time an Asian team has ever reached a Major grand final. That alone is a huge accomplishment.
However, signs of nervousness have appeared on big stages. Players like Senzu and Techno showed inconsistency under pressure during previous matches. With the stakes this high, mental resilience could be a deciding factor.
Expectation: explosive entries from Senzu and impactful AWPing from 910, but potential struggles with mental stability in high-pressure rounds.
Recent head-to-head
Vitality hold a 100% win rate in their head-to-head history with The MongolZ — 7 matches, with a dominant 13:2 map score. Over the last 12 months alone, Vitality have won 10 out of 12 maps played against them.
Players to watch
Of course, the Major finalists are exactly the kind of teams you genuinely want to watch. It wouldn’t be a mistake to highlight every single player — all ten are truly exceptional — but let’s focus on just two standout players from each team.
Vitality:
- ZywOo — crowned the best player of the year, already with 23 MVP awards this season. A proven force in finals.
- apEX — the captain and strategic brain of the team. Orchestrated a key comeback against MOUZ in the semifinals and dictates the game tempo.
The MongolZ:
- Senzu — the main entry fragger, posting a rating around 1.30. Brings momentum with sharp, aggressive plays.
- 910 — the team’s AWP anchor, with a solid 1.16 rating, showing poise and maturity beyond his years.
Probable map picks
Vitality:
- Inferno — a trusted map with a 75% win rate, often picked for decisive matches.
- Nuke — a strong pick/ban option with an impressive 83% win rate.
- Mirage — occasionally allowed through, where they maintain around a 73% win rate.
The MongolZ:
- Mirage — their most picked map (42%), with a decent 67% win rate.
- Inferno — generally solid (around 60%), but they tend to struggle against elite competition.
- Ancient — a stronghold for them with a 64% win rate, but often banned by Vitality.
Expected veto/pick scenario:Vitality ban Ancient, MongolZ remove Train.Picks: MongolZ — Mirage; Vitality — Inferno; Decider — Nuke.
Anything else that catches the eye?
Vitality showed composure in the semifinals, bouncing back after early round losses and dominating the rest of the maps. Their ability to adjust mid-game and take control is one of their biggest strengths. apEX in particular stood out with a game-changing clutch.
For The MongolZ, this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Becoming the first Asian team to win a Major would be historic. While the dream fuels their motivation, the pressure may weigh heavily on their young lineup.
Predicted result
Well, it's time to draw conclusions based on the statistics we've gathered. Vitality have everything they need to confidently defeat The MongolZ with a clean sweep — the numbers are in their favor, the crowd is on their side, and their current form is simply outstanding. That is, if we set aside the rough Inferno beating they suffered from MOUZ yesterday.
The MongolZ have already exceeded all expectations at this event — no matter how you look at it, they are the first Asian team to ever reach a Major grand final. However, when it comes to winning, that remains more of a dream than a realistic goal. As mentioned earlier, Vitality are simply too strong.
All signs point to a Vitality victory, with most analysts expecting a 2:0 series. There’s a slight chance for The MongolZ to take Mirage and push it to 2:1, but even that would be an uphill battle.
Recommended bets:
- Main pick: Vitality to win 2:0
- Riskier options: Vitality –9.5 rounds handicap or Vitality to win on Inferno
