MOUZ have done it. After starting Stage 3 of the BLAST.tv Austin Major 2025 with two straight losses, they turned it all around and made the playoffs with three wins in a row. This kind of comeback is rare at a Major. It shows just how mentally strong this young team is. With an average age of just 22, MOUZ are proving they can stay calm under pressure and win when it matters most.

MOUZ’s Stage 3 Reverse Sweep

They lost their first match to Virtus.pro in a very close game on Mirage. That one could have gone either way. Then came FaZe, where rain played out of his mind. FaZe had multiple star players stepping up – Håvard "rain" Nygaard, Jonathan "EliGE" Jablonowski, Oleksandr "s1mple" Kostyliev, and David "frozen" Čerňanský all played great. MOUZ had no answers except for Lotan "Spinx" Giladi, and they fell to 0-2 in the Swiss stage. At that point, many people counted them out. But MOUZ came alive.

Their first elimination match was against Liquid. They won the first map easily, but got crushed on their own pick, Nuke. It all came down to Mirage – and it was a thriller. MOUZ survived multiple elimination points, played strong clutches, and finally won 22-19 to stay alive.

Next, they faced Aurora. Aurora won Inferno, but MOUZ answered with strong wins on Train and Mirage. Every player stepped up, with Dorian "xertioN" Berman playing especially well. That win brought MOUZ to 2-2.

In their final match, MOUZ played Legacy, a team many thought would be an easy opponent. But Legacy shocked everyone by destroying MOUZ 13-4 on Ancient. It was a rough start. Then on Inferno, Legacy again had the lead – 10-6 – but MOUZ came back and won 13-11. On the final map, Nuke, Legacy led 9-3 at half and 10-6 overall. But MOUZ shut them down completely, winning round after round to finish the map 13-10 and complete the reverse sweep.

Mental strength shines

This was one of the best comebacks we’ve seen at a Major. MOUZ now enter the playoffs on a three-win streak, full of confidence. That’s a big change from their past reputation. MOUZ were known as a team that often failed under pressure in playoffs. But things have changed.

MOUZ’s average age of 22 makes their mental toughness stand out. Past MOUZ teams crumbled in high-pressure playoff matches, but this roster thrives. Since adding Spinx in January, they’ve reached playoffs in every 2025 tournament, including finals at PGL Cluj-Napoca 2025, ESL Pro League Season 21, BLAST Open Spring 2025, and IEM Dallas 2025. 

Playoff matchup: MOUZ vs. Spirit

Now, in the quarterfinals, they face Team Spirit. It’s a tough matchup, but MOUZ have beaten Spirit twice already this year – at BLAST Open Spring and at ESL Pro League. That gives them a mental edge going into this next match.

MOUZ is a powerhouse with five individually exceptional players, who each bring unique strengths to the table. This balanced firepower gives them the edge to beat Spirit, who lean heavily on their stars, donk and sh1ro, to carry matches.

MOUZ’s strength lies in their versatility. Spinx’s reliable rifling can lurk rounds, while Ádám "torzsi" Torzsás’s AWP locks down angles. xertioN’s aggression and Jimi "Jimpphat" Salo’s clutch plays keep them alive in tough spots. Their strong maps, like Ancient and Nuke, let them control the pace in a Bo3. Spirit, meanwhile, depends on Danil "donk" Kryshkovets’ entries and Dmitriy "sh1ro" Sokolov’s sniping to win. If either struggles, Spirit falters, as their supporting players often can’t match MOUZ’s depth.

Conclusion

MOUZ’s reverse sweep at BLAST.tv Austin Major 2025 Stage 3 is a testament to their mental toughness. From a 0-2 start, they battled through elimination matches against Liquid, Aurora, and Legacy. MOUZ proved they don’t crack under pressure anymore. With a strong 2025 record and wins over Spirit, MOUZ enters the playoffs with confidence.