MOUZ spent the final week of May 2026 in Hamburg for a dedicated pre-Major bootcamp. The trip coincided with a surprise roster reshuffle announced in the weeks leading up to IEM Cologne 2026 — with Brollan returning to the active lineup and xertioN taking over IGL responsibilities.
The IGL swap
Brollan's return to the active roster does not include a resumption of in-game leadership duties. Instead, MOUZ handed IGL responsibilities to xertioN, a decision that surprised much of the community but reflected months of internal discussion about roster structure.
Why the swap
Brollan's brief stint away from active competition led to reflection about what the roster needed most. Coaching staff concluded that xertioN's tactical framework better suited MOUZ's preferred playstyle, freeing Brollan to focus on individual firepower and support roles.
Hamburg preparation
MOUZ chose Hamburg specifically for the bootcamp because of its proximity to Cologne. The city offered a familiar environment, professional training facilities, and enough distance from LANXESS Arena to maintain the isolated focus that MOUZ prefers pre-tournament.
The MOUZ bootcamp routine
- Extended review sessions of past Cologne matches
- Detailed map veto simulations across the active map pool
- Individual aim training
- Team-specific setups against likely opponents
- Media appearances trimmed to protect focus
The Fort Worth decision
MOUZ's absence from BLAST Rivals Fort Worth 2026 — originally attributed to visa complications — proved strategically beneficial. The extra week of preparation enabled the Hamburg bootcamp to run longer than would have been possible had MOUZ attended the Fort Worth event.
The vlog
Brollan's return was captured in the "IEM Cologne VLOG" content series that MOUZ published. The vlog documented his arrival at the bootcamp, integration back into the daily rhythm, and the mental process of returning to competitive play after time away.
Cologne outlook
Analysts remained skeptical of MOUZ's Major chances given the disruption of a mid-cycle roster change and IGL transition. The Cologne stage would ultimately confirm those concerns — MOUZ finished the tournament 12-14th, an underwhelming result for a roster with their talent ceiling.
