This victory marked their second title win in a row, successfully defending their crown as Pro League champions.
MOUZ OWN ESL PRO LEAGUE.
@mousesports ARE YOUR BACK TO BACK #ESLProLeague CHAMPIONS ON DIFFERENT VERSIONS OF THE GAME
— ESL Counter-Strike (@ESLCS) May 12, 2024
“It feels amazing, back-to-back,” exclaimed Jimi “Jimpphat” Salo after the game.
“It means a lot, especially with this team, with Ludde (Brollan). It’s good to win a tier-one trophy again.”
Despite their consistent presence in the playoffs of Counter-Strike events, MOUZ had struggled to perform beyond the group stage in previous events.
“Group stage merchants, but also Pro League merchants,” joked Kamil “siuhy” Szkaradek, highlighting their reputation.
The grand final showcased MOUZ’s dominance, with Mathieu “ZywOo” Herbaut unable to replicate his stellar form from earlier in the tournament.
Vitality faltered, with key players like William “mezii” Merriman and Dan “apEX” Madesclaire posting disappointing performances.
Vitality’s coach, R��my “XTQZZZ” Quoniam, expressed disappointment, citing poor communication and execution as reasons for their defeat.
ZywOo, despite his quiet finals showing, still received HLTV’s MVP award, but MOUZ’s Dorian “xertioN” Berman emerged as a standout player in the title decider, leading the charge with stellar performances.
For MOUZ, it wasn’t just xertioN shining; the team as a whole outclassed Vitality.
With siuhy boasting a 1.26 rating and Ludvig ‘Brollan’ Brolin stepping up when needed, MOUZ secured the victory convincingly.
The grand final was one-sided, with Vitality struggling to gain momentum on any of the three maps.
MOUZ’s strong performances on Inferno, Mirage, and Nuke left Vitality unable to mount a comeback.
MOUZ’s victory showcased their prowess in ESL Pro League, solidifying their status as elite contenders in the Counter-Strike scene.
Despite their previous disappointments, this youthful squad has found success on the Pro League stage, defending their title in impressive fashion.
Their flawless run in the tournament, coupled with a convincing grand final victory, was a stark contrast to their semi-final exit at the PGL Copenhagen CS2 Major.
MOUZ’s dominance in the studio setting was evident, with players like ��d��m ‘torzsi’ Torzs��s emphasizing their prowess.
While questions remain about their performance in larger arenas, MOUZ’s back-to-back Pro League victories are a testament to their potential.
As for ZywOo, despite missing out on the grand final, his exceptional performance throughout the tournament earned him another MVP award.
MVP No. 1⃣9⃣ pic.twitter.com/MgBYjJG7p6
— HLTV.org (@HLTVorg) May 12, 2024
]]>
Their journey to this triumphant moment was nothing short of impressive, as they overcame a challenging line up of opponents, including FURIA, FaZe Clan, G2, and ENCE.
This image will go down in history.
The last CS:GO LAN CHAMPIONS
@torzsics @siuhycs @jimpphatCSGO @FROZENNcs @xertioNNCSGO@sycronecs #ESLProLeague
pic.twitter.com/xkyAYIeuX8
— ESL Counter-Strike (@ESLCS) October 1, 2023
The young in-game leader, Kamil “siuhy” Szkaradek, who had previously guided GamerLegion to the grand finals of the BLAST Paris Major, played a pivotal role in MOUZ’s success.
His aggressive play calling style blended seamlessly with the team’s abundance of talent.
One standout player in the finals series was the 17-year-old Jimi “Jimpphat” Salo, who displayed exceptional performance with a 1.25 HLTV rating in the final match.
Jimpphat’s youth and clutch kills in critical rounds made him a shining star for the squad.
MOUZ’s victory at this event not only secured them the ESL Pro League Season 18 title but also elevated their status in the rankings among pundits and analysts.
Their clean sweep in the finals showcased their dominance and resilience in a competitive field.
On the other hand, NAVI, although falling short in the finals, had an impressive performance leading up to the match, not dropping a map throughout the Pro League.
In the grand final showdown, MOUZ asserted their dominance right from the start on Inferno, winning crucial rounds and establishing a 4-0 lead.
Despite NAVI’s efforts to catch up, MOUZ maintained their edge, thanks in part to Valeriy “b1t” Vakhovskiy’s struggles on the T side.
MOUZ secured a 16-10 victory on the opening map.
The pressure mounted on NAVI as they headed into their pick, Overpass, and MOUZ continued their dominance.
A remarkable performance by ��d��m “torzsi” Torzs��s and Kamil “siuhy” Szkaradek gave MOUZ an 11-4 lead at halftime.
Although NAVI showed signs of life with a pistol round win and a five-round streak, the 17-year-old Jimpphat’s rifling skills halted their comeback, ultimately leading MOUZ to a 16-9 victory.
In the final showdown on Mirage, NAVI put up a better fight, with Oleksandr “s1mple” Kostyliev making his presence felt.
NAVI briefly took the lead at 5-3, but MOUZ regained control, securing a 9-6 lead at half-time.
Despite NAVI’s efforts to mount a comeback, MOUZ maintained their composure.
NAVI couldn’t stage a comeback, and MOUZ sealed their victory with a sweep in overtime, ultimately winning the ESL Pro League Season 18 grand finals.
After turning in a massive performance throughout the season, ��d��m ��torzsi�� Torzs��s was awarded the HLTV MVP for season 18.
MOUZ’s remarkable journey through this tournament, featuring a young and talented roster led by siuhy, solidified their place as a force to be reckoned with in the Counter-Strike world, as they look forward to continuing their success in the upcoming CS2 era.
]]>