The young guns shine to send MOUZ to Legends Stage

Ádám "⁠torzsi⁠" Torzsás, Dorian "⁠xertioN⁠" Berman and Jon "⁠JDC⁠" de Castro all topped a map each to guide MOUZ to victory over fnatic.

The first team to qualify for the Legends Stage in Rio is MOUZ as their academy products rose to the occasion to secure a 2-1 victory over fnatic. This convincing run to the Legends Stage serves as evidence that MOUZ were right to lean so heavily on their academy project in recent times.

MOUZ have struggled to find consistency with their youthful side, promising showings here and at ESL Pro League contrasting with shaky form at the RMR and ESL Challenger Rotterdam. Regardless, here at one of the most important events of the year, Christopher "⁠dexter⁠" Nong's side rose to the occasion and punched their ticket to the Legends Stage in style.

As for fnatic, they will be left lamenting a poor showing on the heavily favoured CT side of Ancient, as otherwise they matched MOUZ's level throughout the series. They will still be amongst the favourites to progress, particularly considering they will have two more attempts.

fnatic started poorly on the T side of their map pick, Vertigo, with MOUZ running out to a 6-0 advantage before the boys in black and orange could answer. Despite the best efforts of Nico "⁠nicoodoz⁠" Tamjidi, who was the one bright spot for fnatic in the first half, his squad continued to fall behind. At a 2-10 deficit fnatic switched to dry contact plays, netting them the final three rounds and a respectable offensive half.

A pistol win for MOUZ set the map up for a quick finish and despite fnatic grabbing a few rounds on the bounce when they did get guns in their hands, dexter and co. duly closed out Vertigo 16-8.

Inferno began with MOUZ picking up the pistol, torzsi grabbing a bizarre 2k with the knife in the process, and converting to a 3-0 lead. Once the guns came up however fnatic were imperious on their defence. Such was fnatic's dominance MOUZ only managed three isolated rounds, and headed into the second half at a 6-9 deficit.

Another pistol win and follow up was about all MOUZ could manage on their defence as they capitulated to the fnatic attack, with the trio of Dion "⁠FASHR⁠" Derksen, William "⁠mezii⁠" Merriman and Freddy "⁠KRIMZ⁠" Johansson getting much of the heavy lifting done. The score eventually ended 16-9, sending the series to the decider of Ancient.

A clean 4-0 start from MOUZ on their defence spelled trouble for fnatic, but somehow mezii and co. managed to piece together some isolated round wins, often on half-buys and often due to individual heroics. MOUZ's profligacy ruined what began as a convincing half, and fnatic were able to get to a solid six rounds heading into their own defence.

MOUZ made it a clean sweep of pistol rounds to kick off their offense and quickly rattled off another three on the bounce, putting their opponents under immense pressure. Unfortunately for fnatic they could not find the answer, and they eventually fell to a 9-16 defeat, sending them to the 2-1 pool and sending MOUZ through to the Legends Stage.