Techno: "Playoffs will be the real test for us"

The Mongolian player denied having taken over as IGL. "Everything is as it was," he insisted.

The MongolZ have locked up a spot in the IEM Melbourne 2025 playoffs following a 2-0 victory over FaZe, setting up a match against MOUZ that will determine who will go straight to the semi-finals.

For the Mongolian team, it's a return to the playoffs after missing them at BLAST Open Lisbon and PGL Bucharest. In Romania, they fell in the Swiss stage's decider to Falcons, who would go on to win the tournament.

"I'm very excited to be in the playoffs again," Sodbayar "⁠Techno⁠" Munkhbold told HLTV after the match. "It's really good to be in the playoffs again."

The MongolZ came into this event with a new seating arrangement, with Techno and Garidmagnai "⁠bLitz⁠" Byambasuren switching seats. However, the 19-year-old has shut down speculation that he has taken over as in-game leader.

"Honestly, I'm not the IGL," he said. "bLitz is still the IGL. Everything is as it was."

Asked about the reason for the change, he replied with a laugh: "Maybe troll. Kind of."

The MongolZ have a busy stretch ahead, with appearances at PGL Astana and IEM Dallas before the all-important Austin Major, where they will begin their campaign in Stage 3. Techno said it is likely the team will fly home after Melbourne "to get ready for the long journey."

The MongolZ's quarter-final exit at PGL Cluj-Napoca after a loss to Astralis was painted as a missed opportunity as the Mongolian team was heavily favored for that event.

Quizzed about his team's much-talked-about playoff struggles, Techno expressed his belief that they are improving with each tournament.

"This time it can be different," he argued. "People are always saying we are a good team. The playoffs will be the real test for us."