MOUZ Win IEM Beijing Without Dropping a Map as xertioN Takes MVP

MOUZ won IEM Beijing without dropping a map, the 17th time a team has finished a Big Event unbeaten. The win gave the team their first IEM trophy and their second title of the Fall season. Dorian "xertioN" Berman was named MVP after a strong playoff run, beating out teammate Ádám "torzsi" Torzsás for the medal.

A flawless tournament

The final was the fastest best-of-five grand final in terms of rounds played. MOUZ closed the series on Dust2, ending it with a P90 rush. Speaking to HLTV after the trophy presentation, xertioN said the team had been very comfortable against their opponent's style. He said the team had known what the other side wanted to bring and had chosen to keep the pace slow and control the game on their own terms.

xertioN also addressed comments made before the final that the event might be the easiest IEM ever. He disagreed, saying it is very hard to beat any team, and that MOUZ had simply beaten the teams in front of them. He said he was proud of how the team played throughout.

A personal milestone

xertioN said his own form had been inconsistent in the group stage. He described his aim as not at its sharpest at the time, but said something clicked for him in the playoffs. He credited the coaching staff's preparation and said he could read the macro side of the game well, which helped his fragging.

He is the first IGL to win MVP since Jame won at Rio, and the first rifling IGL to do so since gla1ve at Beijing 2019. xertioN said being on that list is an honour and called gla1ve a role model, adding that he was the first real fragging IGL to reach that level of individual output. He was quick to say that the team trophy mattered more to him than the medal.

Looking ahead

xertioN said the win reduced some pressure on the team. Before the Major, MOUZ had set a goal of winning one of three tournaments. They reached the semi-finals in Bucharest, and their victory in Beijing meant they had achieved that goal. The team now turns its focus to Hong Kong. MOUZ are currently first in the VRS rankings, which xertioN said is positive for next season.

Asked about critics, xertioN said people are free to hold whatever opinion they like. He said MOUZ want to show they are a different team from the one fans knew before, and that the team has never won an IEM until now.