Spirit, MongolZ Breeze Through PGL Astana Swiss Stage

PGL Astana 2025 is generating headlines with its unexpected twists and standout performances, notably from The MongolZ and Team Spirit, who have both made their way into the playoffs. Conversely, teams like M80 and GamerLegion have faced disappointing exits after lackluster campaigns.

Entering the Counter-Strike 2 tournament as favorites according to prominent esports betting sites, Team Spirit and The MongolZ demonstrated their skill by achieving three consecutive victories, securing their playoff positions.

## The MongolZ Upset NaVi, Finishing with a Perfect Record

The MongolZ are emerging as serious contenders, not just crowd favorites, as they concluded the Swiss stage with a flawless 3-0 record. Their victory against Natus Vincere (NaVi) was particularly impressive, marked by a decisive performance without dropping a single map.

Despite holding a promising 7-1 lead on Inferno, bolstered by exceptional AWPing from Ihor “w0nderful” Zhdanov, NaVi faced a collapse in the second half. Key miscalculations, including the loss of a crucial 4v2 situation, allowed The MongolZ to stage a comeback and finish the map 13-11 in their favor.

The momentum carried through to Mirage, where The MongolZ surged to a 7-2 advantage, capitalizing on NaVi’s uncharacteristic errors. Even though w0nderful and Valeriy “b1t” Vakhovskiy mounted a late fightback, The MongolZ held their nerve, ultimately sealing the map with a final score of 13-11, solidifying their playoff berth.

## Team Spirit Dominates Astralis

Team Spirit has further asserted its position as a tournament favorite by decisively overcoming Astralis. Their victories on both Dust2 and Ancient were marked by dominant gameplay, leading to their playoff qualification.

Astralis briefly sparked hope on Dust2 by securing a 6-2 lead, courtesy of impactful multi-kill rounds from Nicolai “device” Reedtz and Rasmus “HooXi” Nielsen. However, Team Spirit quickly found their rhythm, with Danil “donk” Kryshkovets leading the charge on the counter-terrorist side. Clutch plays by Myroslav “zont1x” Plakhotia helped Spirit secure a 13-7 victory.

The next map, Ancient, followed a similar pattern. Astralis opened strongly in the pistol round but failed to maintain the momentum. Team Spirit’s defense, led by zont1x and Dmitry “sh1ro” Sokolov, effectively stifled Astralis’ attempts at comeback, ultimately concluding the match with a score of 13-8 and pushing Astralis down to the lower bracket.

## G2 Esports Prevails, Elimination for M80

In a gripping elimination match, G2 Esports managed to fend off an early exit by defeating M80 with a 2-1 victory. After a rocky start, G2 kept their PGL Astana aspirations alive.

Despite previous losses to NaVi and Virtus.pro, M80 had a chance to turn the tables against G2. A narrow defeat on Dust2 — marked by a resilient comeback attempt — proved pivotal for the outcome. G2 managed to reclaim the lead by converting a vital 3v2 post-plant situation.

Elias “s1n” Stein shone during M80’s win on Ancient, delivering a stellar performance on the counter-terrorist side that forced a decider. Nonetheless, G2 took a commanding position on Inferno, exploiting M80’s inability to maintain composure in clutch situations, thereby eliminating the North American team.

M80’s head coach, Rory “dephh” Jackson, expressed disappointment post-match, labeling the campaign a “horror show” while emphasizing their commitment to rebound for the upcoming BLAST.tv Austin Major.

## HOTU Eliminates GamerLegion in One-Sided Match

The Russo-Kazakhstani lineup, HOTU, continued their impressive run in Astana with a dominant 2-0 victory over GamerLegion. The latter’s early departure came after a trying performance.

The series opened on Ancient, where HOTU consistently disrupted GamerLegion’s economy through effective Desert Eagle plays. GamerLegion’s lack of composure and failure to capitalize on promising situations led to significant setbacks.

Mirage proved no refuge, with GamerLegion struggling against HOTU’s heightening performance. Henrich “sl3nd” Hevesi’s subpar display exacerbated GamerLegion’s challenges.

Despite navigating a tough group, HOTU is showing signs of growth and competitiveness at this level. While questions remain around their strategic depth, their raw talent and resilience keep them in contention.

In other notable matches, Aurora Gaming overcame Ninjas in Pyjamas, ODDIK triumphed over paiN Gaming, FURIA Esports advanced past MIBR in a heated regional clash, and Virtus.pro handily defeated BIG.

As we look ahead to Tuesday’s matchups, three more teams will secure playoff berths while another three will face elimination from Astana.

## Upcoming Matches on Tuesday

– FURIA Esports ($1.20) vs ODDIK ($4.33) at 10 AM UTC+5
– Ninjas in Pyjamas ($1.40) vs HOTU ($2.75) at 10 AM UTC+5
– Astralis ($2.00) vs Virtus.pro ($1.72) at 1 PM UTC+5
– BIG ($1.61) vs G2 Esports ($2.20) at 1 PM UTC+5
– MIBR ($1.83) vs paiN Gaming ($1.83) at 4 PM UTC+5
– Natus Vincere ($1.61) vs Aurora Gaming ($2.20) at 4 PM UTC+5

As the tournament progresses, the stakes become increasingly high, promising thrilling matches and remarkable outcomes.