MOUZ beat BETBOOM 2-0 in Group B at IEM Beijing, winning Ancient 13-6 and Mirage 16-14 in overtime to secure a playoff spot.

MOUZ dominated Ancient, with torzsi, Spinx and xelex each posting a rating above 1.50.

Mirage was a tighter contest, but torzsi’s AWP impact helped MOUZ close it out in overtime and reach the playoffs for the third consecutive time.

Torzsi led the series with 38 kills and a 1.46 rating, while xelex and Spinx also recorded 38 kills each.

MOUZ will face PARIVISION for a place in the semifinals, while BETBOOM drop to the lower bracket to play Aurora.

Dorian “xertioN” Berman said MOUZ hope to win one of their next two tournaments, Beijing or Hong Kong, to build momentum through a demanding travel schedule.

xertioN called this the best MOUZ roster he has seen, saying the roles fit better and the team is among the trophy contenders, though he declined to rank them precisely.

He said the lineup balances aggressive and passive players better than the team with Spinx and Jimpphat, and praised Oldřich “PR” Nový’s versatility and Adrian “xelex” Vincze’s work as a CT-side anchor.

xertioN and the coach are giving xelex more room to develop his own calls and decisions, with xertioN hoping xelex will eventually direct him at times, especially on maps where xelex controls key areas.

xertioN said his growth as an in-game leader is progressing, but he is not in his best individual form and finds it difficult to balance preparation with personal practice during the packed schedule.