HOTU qualify for PGL Astana

The Kazakhstani-Russian squad won the qualifier without losing a map.

mou has transitioned to a coaching role in HOTU

HOTU have won the PGL Astana Closed Qualifier after defeating Mohammad "⁠BOROS⁠" Malhas' JiJieHao in the grand final to secure their spot at the $1,250,000 event.

The Kazakhstani-Russian squad, which is eligible for the Asian qualifier due to their three Russian players living in the Far East, began their campaign in the open stage and won six consecutive matches without losing a map to make it to Astana.

Their Rest of Asia qualifier run features wins against Eruption and Chinggis Warriors, as well as a double over The Huns in the upper-bracket and grand final matches.

That meant HOTU secured a spot in the closed qualifier, where they comfortably dispatched Rare Atom in the semi-final.

Date	Matches
PGL Astana 2025 Asia Closed Qualifier
31/03/2025	Rare Atom Finished 0:2 HOTU	Match
01/04/2025	HOTU Finished 3:0 JiJieHao	Match

BOROS' JiJieHao squad was then the only thing standing between HOTU and a spot in Astana, and Rustem "⁠mou⁠" Telepov's squad won the best-of-five final with a 3-0 scoreline despite cutting it close on the first two maps.

Ex-AVANGAR member Aidos "⁠kade0⁠" Khairzhan topped the board in the grand final with a 1.21 rating, and will now have the chance to appear at his home event alongside teammate Suleımen "⁠dukefissura⁠" Orazaly and coach mou.

The current PGL Astana team list is as follows:

Spirit
Natus Vincere
Eternal Fire
G2
The MongolZ
Virtus.pro
Astralis
EU closed qualifier

GamerLegion
FURIA
paiN
MIBR
BIG
HOTU
SA closed qualifier
NA closed qualifier