Vitality Wins First Map Against Mongolz in IEM Katowice 2025 Semi-Finals

Ahead of the match, apEX emphasized its importance in proving Vitality's dominance on the big stage, the captain also added that he just has a feeling they will win

The first map, Mirage—Mongolz’s pick—began with Vitality on the CT side. An entry kill from apEX and a well-handled A-site split secured their early lead. Despite the pressure, Mongolz remained composed, managing to plant the bomb in round three but failing to hold the site—3-0 and an early timeout. mzinho’s clutch attempt in the next round fell short, pushing the score to 5-0. Mongolz then executed a successful B hit, securing their first round, followed by a clean A take—5-2. A technical pause from Vitality followed.

A fierce mid-fight saw Vitality invest heavily, but shaky aim cost them, bringing Mongolz closer at 5-4. By the tenth round, the teams were tied at 5-5. In a chaotic post-plant situation, ZyWoo faced mzinho in a crucial duel. Despite taking heavy damage (-90 HP), ZyWoo repositioned and won the fight, helping Vitality secure a 7-5 lead by halftime, with apEX delivering an outstanding performance.

Vitality claimed the second pistol round, and Mongolz struggled to recover from their earlier losses. blitz made costly mistakes, falling twice due to overly aggressive plays. However, 910 kept hope alive with a crucial AWP clutch—11-6. blitz then secured another round, but that was all Mongolz could manage. The match ended with ropz’s flawless clutch, sealing the victory with a one-tap on the Mongolz captain.