Team Liquids BLAST Open Rotterdam Kampagne ist zu Ende after a 0-2 defeat against The MongolZ am 22. März. The Mongolian squad, riding high on their tournament momentum, proved too much for the North American roster in a series that featured overtime drama and standout individual performances.
Map 1: Ancient (The MongolZ 16-14)
Ancient was Liquid's map pick, making the loss even more painful. The MongolZ took control early on the CT side, building an 8-4 lead at halftime. Liquid mounted an impressive comeback in the second half, clawing their way back to force overtime. However, The MongolZ held their nerve in the extra rounds, securing only what they needed and closing the map 16-14.
Map 2: The MongolZ Close It Out
With momentum firmly on their side after the overtime win, The MongolZ carried their confidence into the second map and never looked back, completing the 2-0 sweep to eliminate Liquid from the tournament.
Key Performers
EliGE was named the series MVP despite being on the losing side — a testament to his individual brilliance even as his team fell short. The veteran rifler fought hard across both maps but couldn't single-handedly overcome The MongolZ's cohesive team play.
Tournament Implications
Liquid finish their Rotterdam run in 9th-12th place, earning $7,500 for the team and $25,000 for the organization. It's a disappointing result for a roster that entered the tournament with playoff ambitions.
The MongolZ, meanwhile, continue to establish themselves as a serious force in international CS2. After their historic 2-0 over MOUZ earlier in the tournament, this victory over Liquid confirms their growing ability to compete with — and beat — tier-1 opposition consistently. They advance to face the winner of Spirit vs 9z for a shot at the playoffs.
