The match between NAVI and The MongolZ will take place in the group stage of ESL Pro League Season 22 in the 2-2 bracket, where a playoff spot is on the line. Both teams have already faced tough opponents on their path, and now everything comes down to this decisive encounter: the winner moves on to the playoffs, while the loser will be eliminated from the tournament.
How the Bookmakers See It: The MongolZ Are the Favorites
Bookmakers give the edge to The MongolZ, noting their current form and consistent results on the international stage. The team has repeatedly shown the ability to beat opponents from top regions, demonstrating both high individual skill and solid team coordination. Despite NAVI’s experience and reputation, analysts believe that the Mongolian squad’s aggressive style and confidence in their map pool could lead them to victory.
Current Form of NAVI: What to Expect from NAVI
NAVI enter the main stage of ESL Pro League Season 22 in excellent form. Over the past three months, they have played 49 maps and won 29 of them — a strong and stable performance that reflects the reliability of the roster. In September, NAVI claimed the title at StarLadder StarSeries Fall 2025, reinforcing their status as one of the season’s main contenders.
- NAVI lineup: b1t, Aleksib, iM, w0nderful, makazze
In their last five matches, the “Born to Win” defeated HOTU, Aurora, and NiP, but suffered losses against 3DMAX and Team Falcons. Although those defeats exposed some issues against unpredictable opponents, overall, NAVI continue to look like a structured and well-coordinated team.
Current Form of The MongolZ: What to Expect from The MongolZ
The MongolZ remain the pride and powerhouse of the Asian CS scene. Over the last three months, they have played 63 maps, winning 39, which is among the best win rates in their region. In September, they secured 2nd place at FISSURE Playground 2, only falling short in the grand final — a result that highlights their growing consistency on the global stage.
- The MongolZ lineup: bLitz, Techno4K, 910, mzinho, Senzu
In their last five series, The MongolZ defeated Gentle Mates and GamerLegion, but fell to FURIA, Inner Circle, and HOTU. Their aggressive, fast-paced approach often catches opponents off guard, but at times, their lack of discipline becomes a weakness against structured, experienced teams.
Map Pool of NAVI
NAVI will likely start by banning Dust2, a map they traditionally avoid. Their pick should be Inferno, one of their most reliable battlegrounds with a 64% win rate in recent months. Since Train is NAVI’s best map (with a perfect 100% win rate), The MongolZ are expected to remove it. NAVI will probably follow up by banning Overpass, preventing the Mongolians from playing one of their strongest maps. Should the match go to a Nuke decider, NAVI would still feel comfortable, as they’ve shown consistency on it.
Map Pool of The MongolZ
The MongolZ are expected to open by banning Train, as usual, to eliminate NAVI’s strongest option. Their pick will most likely be Ancient, their signature map with a 69% win rate, where their aggressive mid-control and unpredictable pushes often decide rounds. To limit NAVI’s comfort zone, they could ban Mirage, leaving Nuke as the decider. Both teams perform well on Nuke, making it an exciting and evenly matched map to close out the series.
Head-to-Head History
In the past six months, NAVI and The MongolZ have met twice:
- At PGL Astana 2025, The MongolZ pulled off an upset with a 2-0 victory (Inferno 13:11, Mirage 13:11), showcasing great control in clutch and mid-round situations.
- At IEM Cologne 2025, NAVI took revenge with a confident 2-0 win (Ancient 6:13, Inferno 18:22), where b1t and jL dominated and broke the Mongolian defense on Inferno.
That leaves their head-to-head for the year at 1–1, meaning this upcoming clash will serve as a true tiebreaker between the two teams.
Prediction for NAVI vs The MongolZ: ESL Pro League S22, Battle for the Playoffs
In this matchup, The MongolZ look like the favorites. They’ve shown excellent form, consistent play on their best maps — Ancient and Overpass — and an aggressive tempo that often disrupts structured teams like NAVI. While NAVI have the experience and discipline to push the series to a third map, current momentum clearly favors the Asian squad.
Prediction: The MongolZ to win 2–1.
