The MongolZ beat 3DMAX to set up Falcons clash

The Mongolian team were far too hot for their opponent to handle in their opening match of the season.

The MongolZ got their new season off to a flying start with a 2-0 victory over 3DMAX in Stage 2 of IEM Cologne. Garidmagnai "⁠bLitz⁠" Byambasuren's troops picked up where they had left off at the Major and brushed aside the Frenchmen, who showed some signs of life on Ancient after being outclassed on Nuke but outplayed themselves in the final stages of the game.

With this victory, The MongolZ have set up an exciting clash against Falcons, who passed their first test with Maxim "⁠kyousuke⁠" Lukin with flying colours. 3DMAX, meanwhile, will take on GamerLegion in a battle for survival.

Date	Matches
IEM Cologne 2025
27/07/2025	Falcons 16:00 The MongolZ	Match
27/07/2025	GamerLegion 16:00 3DMAX	Match

3DMAX quickly regretted their pick of Nuke as they struggled to break through The MongolZ's tight defense, finishing the first half with only two rounds on the board. Things then went from bad to worse for the French side, who gave up a 5v2 advantage in the pistol round, with The MongolZ following that up with two more rounds en route to a 13-2 finish.

Ancient seemed to be heading in the same direction as The MongolZ romped to a 7-2 lead on the T side, but then 3DMAX finally hit their stride and managed to bring the deficit down to two rounds.

A vital 1v2 clutch from Bryan "⁠Maka⁠" Canda — his second on Ancient — kept 3DMAX in the game as the French team tried their best to keep the scoreline competitive.

Three times they were able to find an equaliser, but their hopes of taking the series to a third map were crushed when Ayush "⁠mzinho⁠" Batbold pulled off a miracle 1v4 clutch before Sodbayar "⁠Techno⁠" Munkhbold struck the final blow with a clutch of his own.

More highlights:

• Maka gets 3DMAX on the board with 1v2 clutch

• 3DMAX hold on with 3v5 retake

• Maka with the 1v2 clutch, again

• Techno4K closes out Ancient with 1v2 clutch