Games

PGL Cluj Napoca Preview: Absence of top teams is a golden opportunity for others

BBG News

PGL Cluj Napoca 2025: Where the best teams are absent, giving others an opportunity!

At PGL Cluj Napoca 2025, the upcoming major event, top-notch Counter-Strike squads will gather in fierce competition. Despite a substantial prize purse, some leading teams are absent, opening up space for lesser-known ones to shine and possibly claim victory at a prestigious tournament. Here’s who you should keep an eye on during PGL Cluj Napoca 2025!

Top Teams to watch out for at PGL Cluj Napoca

In the lack of teams such as Team Vitality, Team Spirit, NAVI, G2, and others, Cluj Napoca presents an opportunity for lower-ranked teams to establish their dominance. Here are a few teams we believe could shine, a few that might challenge them, and one underdog with the potential to surprise everyone at the event.

Favorites – Rise to the top

The MongolZ

  • Garidmagnai “bLitz” Byambasuren
  • Sodbayar “Techno4K” Munkhbold
  • Ayush “mzinho” Batbold
  • Usukhbayar “910” Banzragch
  • Azbayar “Senzu” Munkhbold

At IEM Katowice, The MongolZ was one of the most surprising standouts. Despite having a somewhat simpler path to the playoffs compared to several other teams, they managed to secure a top-four finish in Poland by overcoming opponents such as Eternal Fire, GamerLegion, and others. This achievement should not diminish the impressive performance showcased by The MongolZ.

MongolZ’s greatest asset is their effective teamwork and keen comprehension of each player’s abilities. Although some players occasionally outshine others, the team operates cohesively, creating opportunities for individual excellence. Their latest roster adjustment dates back to 2023 when they brought Senzu on board from Team NKT.

At the PGL Cluj Napoca tournament, MongolZ are carrying a strong wave of momentum that not all the other teams can claim. Their fourth-place finish at IEM Katowice allows them to approach games with fresh determination and bold strategies.

FaZe Clan

  • Håvard “rain” Nygaard
  • Helvijs “broky” Saukants
  • Finn “karrigan” Andersen
  • David “frozen” Čerňanský
  • Jonathan “EliGE” Jablonowski

At PGL Cluj Napoca 2025, FaZe Clan is generally recognized as the more prominent lineup, but unfortunately, they haven’t been delivering their usual top-notch performance lately. The primary cause for this dip in form seems to be the recent changes in the team composition. They recently parted with Ropz, a key member of the squad, towards the end of last year.

In 2025, team FaZe Clan introduced EligE, a player recognized for exceptional solo performances, yet who hasn’t achieved significant success in North America. There’s no questioning EligE’s talent as an individual, but the squad requires time to gel effectively. With many other teams withdrawing from Cluj Napoca, FaZe Clan will utilize PGL Cluj Napoca 2025 as an opportunity to strengthen their team dynamics and enhance their overall gameplay.

With more time together as a team and some gained experience, FaZe Clan might show significant progress at this upcoming event. Given their past performances, they could potentially be among the leading contenders. The advantage of facing fewer top-tier opponents worldwide adds to their chances.

MOUZ

  • Ádám “torzsi” Torzsás
  • Dorian “xertioN” Berman
  • Ludvig “Brollan” Brolin
  • Jimi “Jimpphat” Salo
  • Lotan “Spinx” Giladi

The team that placed among the top four at the Shanghai Major has struggled significantly in 2025, with disappointing performances in every tournament they’ve attended so far. For fans of MOUZ, this poor showing has been less than reassuring. Despite replacing Siuhy with Spinx from Team Vitality, the results for MOUZ have not improved as much as might be hoped.

As a fan, I’m thrilled about the team’s roster, especially considering the raw firepower it possesses. Many of its members have been playing together for quite some time now, which means the synergy is already established. The strategic approach will stay consistent, and the focus is on seamlessly incorporating Spinx into this well-oiled machine.

The main concern is how long this integration will take and significantly, if MOUZ can indeed make such a substantial improvement to potentially challenge victory at PGL Cluj Napoca 2025. Given the absence of top-ranked teams, this presents an ideal chance for MOUZ to demonstrate their abilities.

Notable Challengers – The ones that (maybe) can win

Eternal Fire

  • İsmailсan “XANTARES” Dörtkardeş
  • Engin “MAJ3R” Küpeli 
  • Ali “Wicadia” Haydar Yalçın
  • Özgür “woxic” Eker
  • Samet “jottAAA” Köklü 

At the IEM Katowice 2025 tournament, team Eternal Fire ranked among the top six competitors. Earlier this year, their Turkish lineup underwent a single modification when they moved Calyx off the roster and brought jottAAA on board as his replacement. A victory against Team Falcons marked the beginning of Eternal Fire’s run at Katowice, but they were defeated by Virtus.Pro in the upper bracket shortly after.

In the lower bracket, the team displayed great teamwork and played superbly. The cherry on top was their 2-0 win against FaZe Clan, securing their spot in the playoffs. Despite FaZe Clan having undergone significant roster changes and still adapting to their new members, Eternal Fire’s victory is a noteworthy achievement.

In the kick-off battle, I’m squaring off against Imperial Fe. Don’t get me wrong, Imperial Fe is an impressive foe, but they’ve got a spot in this tournament thanks to FURIA’s sudden withdrawal just before the game started.

Astralis

  • Nicolai “dev1ce” Reedtz
  • Victor “Staehr” Staehr
  • Martin “stavn” Lund
  • Jakob “jabbi” Nygaard
  • Casper “cadiaN” Møller

Astralis, once a powerhouse, seems to be struggling now, even with well-known players on the roster. Their performance at IEM Katowice was below expectations, leaving many of their fewer remaining fans disappointed. Yet, it’s clear that they possess the potential for greatness. After cadiaN joined the team, and given some time for practice, there’s hope that Astralis can regain its former glory.

For a team like Astralis, whose gameplay is deeply rooted in the Danish approach, emphasizing patience, precision, and sometimes overwhelming the opposition, teamwork or synergy is crucial to their success. Since many of their players have a long history of playing together, they possess the necessary skills for continuous growth. However, they may struggle at times due to a potential lack of firepower, an area that could potentially hinder them in future competitions.

If they manage some favorable games and boost both their personal and collective performance, they could deliver an impressive display in Cluj Napoca.

Dark Horse – Can they do it?

Falcons

  • Emil “Magisk” Reif
  • Nikola “NiKo” Kovač
  • René “TeSeS” Madsen
  • Damjan “kyxsan” Stoilkovski
  • Abdulkhalik “degster” Gasanov

At this competition, Falcons could be unexpected contenders due to their blend of experienced individual players and offensive prowess. However, they need more time playing together to build the teamwork and fluidity essential for success at this high level.

On their team, Falcons boasts some notable figures like Magisk, NiKo, TeSeS, degster. However, the most significant figure among them may not actually be a player; instead, it’s zonic who serves as the team’s cohesive force. This experienced coach has the potential to instigate change, much like how he did during Astralis’ unstoppable phase. With the right players in tow, and recent roster changes suggesting this could be the case, there’s a strong possibility that these players could lead Falcons to the pinnacle of success.

At IEM Katowice, Falcons ended up placed 13th-16th, getting defeated by G2 Esports. Their unfortunate matchups in the group stage led to a tough loss against a top-tier team. Seeing NiKo losing to his previous team isn’t pleasant, but with a bit of good fortune and less formidable opponents, they might have climbed higher in that tournament, even reaching the top.

At Cluj Napoca, where there’s just one group stage, the specific matchups (drawings) aren’t as crucial. The Falcons kick off against FlyQuest in their first game, a contest many anticipate will favor Magisk and company. Following this initial clash, it all comes down to who they encounter next, but due to the high caliber of teams participating in this event, the Falcons should find it significantly easier to advance to the playoffs regardless of their draw.

The PGL Cluj Napoca tournament begins on Valentine’s Day, featuring a Swiss-style competition format. Enthusiasts of Counter-Strike can watch all the exciting matches unfold live on Twitch.

Read More

2025-02-13 20:42

Previous post Sam Faiers and Paul Knightley’s Romantic Valentine’s Day Getaway to Soho Farmhouse
Next post Get Free Gifts, Cash & More in GTA Online’s Valentine’s Celebration!