In the Group A upper half of IEM Cologne 2025 in Cologne, Germany, world number one Team Vitality defeated G2 Esports in a complete victory, successfully advancing to the knockout stage and securing a rematch with The MongolZ, who they faced in the Austin Major final in 2025. This match marks a new milestone in Vitality’s BO3/BO5 winning streak and will directly determine who will advance to the semifinals.
Key data breakthroughs
This victory marks Vitality’s 36th consecutive win in the BO3 and BO5 formats.
The results of the small games are:
Inferno: Vitality won the defensive phase and won 13–5;
Train: G2 led 7–5 at halftime, but Vitality won 8 games in a row after switching to defense and won 13–10.
Team and player performance
Vitality performed as stable as a chariot. In particular, apEX’s firepower suppression in the key round of the Train map, and ZywOo’s consistent dominance throughout the game; the latter has won multiple tournament MVPs including the Austin Major as of 2025, and has become the leader in the number of MVPs in HLTV history.
The MongolZ defeated Falcons 2–0 in another Group A semifinal, and Senzu won the MVP performance with a rating of 1.56, leading the team to advance to the upper half finals.
Event situation and schedule
The upper half of Group A will be played at the LANXESS Arena, the main venue in Cologne, on July 29, 2025 (UTC+2). The winner will directly advance to the semifinals of the knockout stage, while the loser will enter the lower bracket of the playoffs to compete for the quarterfinals ([HLTV.org][4]).
IEM Cologne 2025 has a total prize pool of $1 million, with the champion receiving $400,000, the runner-up receiving $180,000, and the third place receiving $80,000—both teams are aiming for top honors so far.
The significance of a Major final rematch
This matchup is of great significance. Vitality defeated The MongolZ 2–1 in the 2025 Austin Major final to win its second Major title, and ZywOo won the Major MVP, becoming the third player to win the Major MVP twice.
Being able to meet The MongolZ again in Cologne is not only a chance to recreate the classic scene of the Major final, but will also provide strong competitive highlights for domestic fans of both teams.
Comparison and Prospect Analysis
| Category | Vitality | The MongolZ |
| Recent Win Streak | 36 consecutive BO3/BO5 wins | Steadily advanced to Group A upper bracket semifinals |
| Historical Matchup | Won Austin Major final, holds psychological edge | Multiple Major final appearances, significant breakthrough for Asian teams |
| Key Players | ZywOo (multiple MVPs), apEX (stable in-game leader) | Senzu (highest rating 1.56), bLitz and 910 with many clutch plays |
| Map Strengths | Strong control on Inferno and Nuke; powerful Train offense | Excellent on Dust2 and Mirage; adapts well to various pacing styles |
From the data, Vitality currently has more winning streak inertia and team tacit understanding; The MongolZ The strong performance of individual players and the potential of “new forces impact” will compete for revenge opportunities.
Conclusion and prediction
Vitality is still the real overlord of the upper half of Group A with its stable team structure, full performance and winning streak. However, The MongolZ, with the experience of losing in Austin Major, is expected to be mentally prepared for revenge, especially with his outstanding performance in Dust2 and Mirage.
If Vitality can maintain the current rhythm on the road to the semi-finals, it will have the opportunity to write a glorious record of the eighth consecutive championship in Cologne; and if The MongolZ can have an outstanding performance, it may rewrite the historical blueprint of the Major finals and achieve revenge.
The event is about to enter a critical stage. The Cologne knockout match arrangement will be officially announced on the night of July 29 (Central European Summer Time). We look forward to the peak confrontation between these two top CS2 teams.
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