It has been an intense day of Counter-Strike action at PGL Cluj-Napoca 2025, with only one more day remaining in the Group Stage. Most of the Playoff contenders have now secured their spots, leaving just three more teams to fight for survival in tomorrow’s decisive matches. Let’s get into the key takeaways from today’s matchups.
MOUZ’s Last Stand After a Strong Start
One of the biggest talking points of the day is MOUZ’s dramatic slide into the 2:2 bracket. They started the tournament in top form with a 2:0 record, but after back-to-back defeats, their Playoff hopes are hanging by a thread. Tomorrow’s match will be their final shot at redemption, and given their shaky performances in the last two games, missing out on the Playoffs is a real possibility.
Their matchup against the Falcons in the 2:1 bracket was a tough draw, but after winning the opening map, MOUZ should have found a way to close it out. Instead, individual performances made all the difference—while xertioN and torzsi struggled, NiKo and degster delivered for Falcons, sealing MOUZ’s fate in the lower bracket.
PGL Cluj-Napoca 2025, MOUZ (image via Getty)More Teams Secure Playoff Spots
Three more teams have officially punched their tickets to the Playoffs: Falcons, Eternal Fire, and paiN Gaming. These squads were among the favorites heading into the event, so their qualification isn’t a surprise. But predictable outcomes aren’t necessarily a bad thing—it just means the Playoff bracket will be packed with the best teams in the tournament.
They join FaZe Clan and The MongolZ, who became the first squads to book their Playoff spots yesterday. With $1.25 million in prize money up for grabs, the stakes couldn’t be higher, and the stage is set for some electrifying clashes in the next phase of the tournament.
Three Teams Eliminated from the Tournament
While some teams celebrated their Playoff berths, others saw their tournament runs come to a bitter end. Wildcard, MIBR, and Complexity have all been eliminated, making it a rough day for the Americas. Wildcard and MIBR simply couldn’t keep up, suffering decisive defeats to BIG and Astralis, respectively. Neither result came as a major surprise, given their performances leading up to today’s matches.
However, Complexity’s exit was particularly brutal. They fell 2:0 to SAW, a team that had already announced the departure of two of its players after the tournament. Complexity didn’t just lose to an already disbanding squad—they collapsed in spectacular fashion. After leading 11:3 on the first map, they threw away their advantage and then suffered a one-sided defeat in the second. While many argue that rosters need time to develop, this kind of performance could force Complexity to hit the panic button sooner rather than later.
PGL Cluj-Napoca 2025 (image via Getty)Tomorrow’s Decisive Matches
With the Group Stage reaching its climax, only three Playoff spots remain. The final day will see the remaining teams in the 2:2 bracket battle for survival in high-stakes matchups. Here’s what’s on the schedule:
2:2 Bracket Matches:
- Astralis vs. BIG
- MOUZ vs. Virtus.pro
- 3DMAX vs. SAW
Each of these matchups will determine the final three teams advancing to the Playoffs, adding even more excitement to an already thrilling tournament. Stay tuned for what promises to be a dramatic conclusion to the Group Stage at PGL Cluj-Napoca 2025.
