by In a statement victory that silenced critics, MOUZ overcame Team Falcons 3-1 in the grand final of PGL Cluj-Napoca to claim their first trophy since ESL Pro League Season 19—and their first in front of a live audience in over five years.
After dropping former IGL Kamil “siuhy” Szkaradek, the Counter-Strike squad’s metamorphosis was clear, with 22-year-old Ludvig “Brollan” Brolin stepping into the IGL role with poise.
Though he wasn’t the top scorer, his leadership ignited a collective resurgence.
The match kicked off with a dominant 13-6 win on Dust2, only for Falcons to briefly regain momentum with a 13-4 victory on Mirage.
Yet MOUZ steadied themselves on Nuke (13–11) before accelerating on Ancient to finish 13–9 and complete the series.
Post-match, Brollan’s exuberance was palpable: “I’m f*****g happy! It’s the first tournament as IGL and I’m really happy I believed in myself and my teammates,” he exclaimed.
Coach Dennis “sycrone” Nielsen also credited the win to the team’s unwavering focus, noting that “for this group of people it’s a long time coming.”
?? C-H-A-M-P-I-O-N-S ??#PGLClujNapoca pic.twitter.com/Ib0xAhBA7Y
— PGL (@pglesports) February 23, 2025
While MOUZ celebrated their return to the winner’s circle, the event’s curtain-raiser delivered its own epic drama.
In a hard-fought decider for third place, Astralis faced off against a plucky FaZe Clan in a series that saw momentum swing like a pendulum.
The opening map on Mirage stretched into a gruelling five overtimes, with FaZe eventually edging out a 28–24 win despite Astralis holding a 12–4 lead.
The stakes were higher than mere bragging rights.
A victory would not only secure Astralis an important $150,000 cash prize but also 50 coveted VRS points—vital in a season where every point counts.
Amid the chaos, star player Nicolai “device” Reedtz battled illness on stage, even having to step away momentarily to regroup.
His determination underscored Astralis’ resilience as they mounted a comeback with a victory on Inferno (13-8) and sealed the series on Ancient (13-9).
