Torzsi and MOUZ are confident they will be Vitality’s end, but can they do it in Melbourne?
While there's plenty of hubbub about Team Vitality's record CS2 streak they're setting at IEM Melbourne, Ádám "torzsi" Torzsás and MOUZ have quietly built a run of their own in 2025.
Since the playoffs of PGL Cluj-Napoca, MOUZ has gone undefeated against every team in top-tier CS2—apart from one. Vitality's CS2 rampage has left every team in the dust, but as time has gone on, MOUZ is starting to step up to the plate.
At BLAST Lisbon, the young squad took Vitality all the way, forcing a fifth map in the grand final before bowing out. Now at IEM Melbourne, torzsi says to Esports.gg that MOUZ can finally strike and end Vitality's incredible run.
torzsi: "[Melbourne] is probably my favourite place on Earth"
Must be great to earn the extra day off with the win over The MongolZ. Talk me through the series and what makes them such a good matchup for you.
"Yeah, it's pretty nice that we can start from the semi-finals. I think this win shows we can dominate teams even if they are in the top five or top six—we are still maintaining the level we had before and it's really good. It gives us good confidence going into the semis and the playoffs.
"We don’t have anything special when it comes to The MongolZ. I don't have anything special. Preparation was really good from the coaches and we kind of knew what they were doing all the time and where we needed to hit them. Even when we were losing pistols, I think we were converting the forcebuy like two times.
"I think The MongolZ is a team that can be really sharp aim-wise, but I feel like they have room to improve on the tactical side. If you prepare a little bit, then you can read their game a lot. They don't have too much on paper; that's how I feel at least personally.
"And as an AWPer, I felt like I could always be where they were going so I could help the team with a lot of impact. I think that's where they could improve a little bit."
xertioN mentioned earlier this week that you guys aren't exactly at 100% here. Is it just a bit of fatigue as the season stretches on, or are you just working your way back up to that top level?
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"I don't know, I personally feel pretty good, but I think we are also working 200% at every event. Of course we will want to peak when the Major comes, like fully peak, but I still think we are doing pretty good in keeping the energy level high and not burning out."
Many people saw Spirit and Aurora were to miss IEM Melbourne and thus looked to you guys as the team to push Vitality all the way again. They’re the only team to beat you in the last couple of months, and you’ve closed the gap with that narrow loss at BLAST Lisbon. What makes them the best right now, and how are you planning to crack them?
"I think their individuals obviously make them the best: ZywOo, ropz, FlameZ… they are really good players they are shooting pretty well, you know? When you have the best players in the world, it's pretty difficult to find a gap to exploit.
"I don't feel like we are technically too far away from them. I think we are pretty close, but when the day comes and they are just better individually then that’s the edge that gets them the win.
"I'm looking forward to the finals if we are going to play them again, because I feel like maybe this time we can catch them."
It’s your second time in front of this Aussie crowd, and I’m hearing your third time to Australia. How keen are you to play in front of this crowd again, has it been something you’re looking forward to?
"Yeah, I'm really looking forward to it, to be honest. I was in Sydney for IEM and then I came to Melbourne for a two weeks. It's probably my favourite place on Earth. I think the people here are really, really nice and it's a lovely city.
"So I'm really looking forward to going on the stage and playing in front of the crowd. I hope they will cheer for us but the best part is they cheer for everything. They cheer for good Counter-Strike; it's not, like, just one of the teams."
You've had the extra day off now with Thursday and Friday. Any plans for the team in and around Melbourne, or will it be heads-down, hard at work?
"I'm sure that we'll have a little practice, of course. We don't want to take too much of a break, but maybe we'll see a little bit of the city before we prepare for our semi on Saturday."
MOUZ take on Falcons in Saturday's semi-final, live from Rod Laver Arena. For more CS2 news and coverage stay tuned to esports.gg.
