While everyone is focused on the battles of the World Championship 2026, The MongolZ already know what it feels like to lift the biggest trophy of the season.
EWC 2025 champions, winners of $500,000 in prize money, and BLAST.tv Austin Major finalists – they’re here to discuss what connects esports and football.
From underdogs to the grand final
Mongolia is a country that has long been underestimated in the context of professional sports. Wrestling, horse racing, and archery dominated the country’s sporting landscape, while football and esports remained on the sidelines. Today, that perception is rapidly changing. That’s why The MongolZ’s triumph at the EWC 2025 resonated far beyond the esports community. The team’s coach, maaRaa, explains why such stories capture people’s attention:
“Underdog stories always hit different. Something like Croatia’s run in 2018. Small country, big heart. That’s basically esports too. Nobody expects you to win, then suddenly you’re in the finals, and people are like: wait, who are these guys?”
maaRaa
Triumphs like these are inspiring. Croatia reached the 2018 World Championship final, while The MongolZ went one step further in 2025, claiming the EWC title. Their clash with Aurora attracted nearly 740,000 viewers, setting a new record for the tournament. Yet no one on the team was thinking about these numbers. During the match, there was only one priority: the next round. The game itself.
System over superstars
The MongolZ set a record for the youngest average roster ever to reach a CS2 Major final at BLAST.tv Austin 2025. While youth is often seen as a weakness due to a lack of experience, this team turned it into one of its greatest strengths.
The in-game leader (IGL) sets the direction without exerting total control. From there, the system takes over, giving each player the freedom to think independently. Too much pressure leads to mistakes; too little focus costs victories. In decider matches, where defeat means elimination, The MongolZ consistently maintain that balance without relying on rituals or superstitions. Their mental resilience isn’t something that appears just before a match – it’s built through every practice session.
That system extends beyond the matches as well. Every organization has someone who naturally becomes responsible for keeping the atmosphere positive behind the scenes. For such a young roster, team chemistry is just as important as tactics.
Where is the line between data and intuition?
The top national teams competing at the World Championship 2026 rely on AI-powered analytics, motion tracking, and big data. Esports has followed a similar path and, in some ways, has moved even faster. They approach preparation just as seriously – reviewing data, studying the opponent, and paying attention to details. However, according to maaRaa, finding the right balance remains the key to success:
“Preparation is way more detailed now. Demos, stats, tendencies. We look at everything. But intuition still matters. Data tells you what usually happens. Gut feeling tells you what’s about to happen. Best coaches use both. If you rely only on stats, you become predictable. If you rely only on feeling, you’re just gambling.”
maaRaa
The formula is universal, regardless of the sport. When asked about the team’s next goal, The MongolZ have a clear answer: maintain their position and keep improving. While national football teams continue their quest for the World Championship title, The MongolZ already know what it feels like to be at the top.
1xBet recognized the team’s potential long before others, becoming a partner at the beginning of the organization’s new chapter. Through 1xPartners, the brand’s affiliate platform, thousands of people share the same philosophy, and The MongolZ’s story proves that long-term investing pays off.
