In the quarterfinals of IEM Melbourne 2025, we anticipate a match between two teams still searching for stable form: The MongolZ are attempting to bounce back after a setback in the previous tournament, while Liquid continue to fine-tune their synergy with a revamped roster. Both teams made it to the playoffs by defeating more renowned opponents — FaZe and NAVI, respectively. In this article, we'll analyze the current form of the teams, predict the map pool, and try to forecast who might come out on top in this challenging matchup.
Current Form of the Teams
The MongolZ currently appear unstable. Their failure in the previous tournament cast doubt on their claims to be a solid T1-level team, but the situation is changing in Melbourne — they defeated FaZe in the decisive match to advance to the playoffs. The team's average rating over the past month is 5.9, indicating a decent individual level, albeit with a note of inconsistency.
Liquid are also in a rebuilding phase. After a flop at PGL Bucharest 2025, where they finished last, the team has slowly started to find their game. In this tournament, they already surprised by knocking NAVI out of the competition. Their average rating for the month is 5.8, indicating roughly equal form with their opponent.
Map Pool
The MongolZ will likely remove Train, as they don't play this map at all (0 matches). As a pick, Inferno seems the most logical choice — it's the most reliable map in their pool with a 73% win rate over 11 games. Possible picks also include Anubis (69% win rate over 13 matches) and Ancient (64% over 22 games). Mirage with a 62% win rate also looks like a safe choice.
Liquid, on the other hand, might prefer Anubis — a map on which they traditionally perform confidently, and although The MongolZ have a high win rate, they don't seem unbeatable on it. Inferno is also a possible choice if Liquid wants to play in a more predictable style on a map familiar to both sides.
| Map | The MongolZ WR | M | B | Last 5 Matches (The MongolZ) | Liquid WR | M | B | Last 5 Matches (Liquid) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Train | 0% | 0 | 23 | FB, FB, FB, FB, FB | 100% | 1 | 17 | FB, FB, FB, FB, FB |
| Mirage | 62% | 21 | 1 | L, L, W, L, L | 25% | 8 | 17 | FB, FB, L, L, L |
| Dust II | 58% | 12 | 12 | W, L, L, L, W | 33% | 12 | 17 | L, L, L, L, W |
| Inferno | 73% | 11 | 3 | L, L, W, W, W | 62% | 13 | 5 | W, W, L, L, W |
| Nuke | 38% | 8 | 18 | L, L, L, W, L | 31% | 13 | 11 | FB, FB, L, L, L |
| Anubis | 69% | 13 | 7 | W, L, W, L, W | 63% | 19 | 0 | L, L, L, W, W |
| Ancient | 64% | 22 | 0 | L, W, W, L, W | 60% | 15 | 4 | L, L, W, W, W |
Past Encounters
In the past few months, The MongolZ and Liquid have faced each other six times — and all these encounters ended in favor of The MongolZ. The last two matches took place at PGL Bucharest 2025, where MongolZ claimed victory on Anubis (13-7) and Mirage (13-11).
Match Prediction
The match promises to be very close — both teams are on the rise, trying to prove their worth after setbacks. The MongolZ seem slightly more confident in terms of statistics and map pool, especially if they manage to secure Inferno as their map. However, Liquid has the experience and potential to challenge even on less comfortable maps.
Prediction: 2-1 in favor of The MongolZ
IEM Melbourne 2025 takes place from April 21 to 27. The entire tournament is held in Melbourne, Australia, at the Rod Laver Arena. Participants compete for a prize pool of $300,000. You can follow the results and progress of the tournament via this link.
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