G2 ended their six-series losing streak with an unexpected 2-1 victory over world No. 1 MOUZ in their opening match at BLAST Rivals 2026 Season 2. The European squad recovered from a defeat on Nuke to secure victories on Ancient and Inferno, earning a place in the playoffs. Artem "r1nkle" Moroz and Guy "NertZ" Iluz delivered crucial performances, helping G2 defeat the recently crowned IEM Beijing champions.
G2 entered the tournament in Hong Kong under considerable pressure after losing six consecutive series and failing to win a single match across their previous three events. MOUZ, meanwhile, arrived as clear favorites following an undefeated championship run at IEM Beijing. Despite their contrasting recent results, G2 produced a determined comeback to secure one of their most important victories of the season.
The series began on Nuke, where MOUZ established control through a strong attacking performance. G2 managed to disrupt their opponents' economy by winning a crucial low-buy round, allowing them to recover and reach halftime with the score tied at 6-6. However, MOUZ became considerably more effective after switching to the defensive side, consistently denying G2 opportunities to execute their strategies.
MOUZ dominated the second half, winning seven of eight rounds to secure a comfortable 13-7 victory. Lotan "Spinx" Giladi was particularly impressive, recording 19 kills and eight deaths on the opening map. NertZ struggled to make an impact for G2, finishing Nuke with just three kills, leaving his team needing a significant improvement to remain competitive.
G2 responded strongly on Ancient, their own map selection, where a varied attacking approach initially caused problems for MOUZ. However, the European squad recovered through several important rounds, including a remarkable 1v3 clutch from Adrian "xelex" Vincze. MOUZ eventually established a 12-8 advantage and appeared close to securing a straightforward series victory.
With elimination from the match approaching, r1nkle and NertZ stepped up to keep G2 alive. The duo delivered several crucial kills, allowing their team to win four consecutive rounds and force overtime. r1nkle finished Ancient with 31 kills and 18 deaths, while NertZ contributed 26 kills. G2 eventually completed the comeback with a 16-14 victory, ending MOUZ's 14-map winning streak and forcing a deciding map.
The deciding map, Inferno, began with an impressive attacking performance from G2. NertZ immediately recovered his confidence, helping his team win the opening five rounds and establish early control. Although MOUZ managed to respond during the first half, G2 maintained their advantage and entered the break with a narrow 7-5 lead.
NertZ continued to make an impact after switching sides, winning an important clutch during the second pistol round. Matúš "MATYS" Šimko then delivered one of the decisive moments of the series, eliminating four MOUZ players in a crucial defensive round. His performance helped G2 overcome a brief comeback attempt and close out Inferno 13-7, completing the unexpected 2-1 victory.
Artem "r1nkle" Moroz was G2's highest-rated player across the series, finishing with 51 kills, 39 deaths, and a 1.24 rating. The Ukrainian AWPer was particularly influential on Ancient, where his 31-kill performance helped the team recover from a four-round deficit. His improved form represented an important development after several difficult tournaments.
MATYS also contributed significantly, recording 46 kills and a 1.02 rating across the three maps. NertZ finished with 43 kills and a 1.04 rating, recovering from his difficult opening map to become one of the key figures in G2's comeback. For MOUZ, Spinx was the strongest performer with 56 kills and a 1.24 rating, but his individual efforts were not enough to prevent defeat.
The victory guarantees G2 a place in the BLAST Rivals 2026 Season 2 playoffs and provides an important confidence boost ahead of PGL Major Singapore. Their unexpected success against the world's top-ranked team demonstrates that the roster remains capable of competing with elite opponents despite its recent struggles.
MOUZ, meanwhile, must continue through the Group B lower bracket after suffering their first series defeat since PGL Masters Bucharest. The loss comes just three days after their flawless IEM Beijing championship run, highlighting the challenges of maintaining consistency across consecutive international tournaments. The team will need to recover quickly to avoid an early exit in Hong Kong.
Ending a six-series losing streak represents a significant step forward for G2, who have struggled to produce consistent results throughout the final months of 2026. Their victory over MOUZ showed improved resilience, stronger individual performances, and an ability to recover from difficult situations against top-level opposition.
With the PGL Major Singapore approaching, G2 will hope to turn this result into sustained improvement. The performances of r1nkle, NertZ, and MATYS provide encouraging signs for the roster as it prepares for the season's biggest remaining tournament. Their next matches at BLAST Rivals will offer another opportunity to demonstrate that the victory over MOUZ was more than a temporary return to form.
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