FUT reached the semi-finals of the Esports World Cup after beating MOUZ 2-0, taking Dust2 16-13 in overtime before closing the series out 13-5 on Ancient. The result eliminated MOUZ from the tournament and set up a semi-final between FUT and FURIA.
MOUZ went into the quarter-final having lost their previous two meetings with FUT, and they changed their veto in response. HLTV, which reported the result, described the decision to move their map pick away from Nuke as a head-scratcher, and noted that the switch did not pay off.
A 5-0 start that did not hold on Dust2
MOUZ opened Dust2 with a 5-0 run, but FUT recovered and took firm control of the half. HLTV credited a proactive, in-your-face CT setup that left MOUZ struggling to settle: map control was contested throughout, fast flanks were found, and FUT went into the second half in front.
MOUZ hauled themselves back into the map after the side switch. Their utility usage set them up for multiple successful retakes, and FUT gave ground with a handful of rounds HLTV put down to oversteps, enough for MOUZ to force overtime. FUT settled from there and took the extra period 4-1, going one map up heading into their own pick.
Ancient never became a contest
Ancient was, in HLTV’s description, completely one-way traffic. Ádám “torzsi” Torzsás produced a handful of impact moments for MOUZ, but the map offered the team little else to point to. FUT outclassed MOUZ both tactically and as individuals, and MOUZ again looked short of answers against FUT’s boisterous style of play.
The 13-5 scoreline closed the series and ended MOUZ’s Esports World Cup. FUT’s reward was a semi-final against FURIA, with HLTV writing at the time that there was a real chance the young side could go all the way to the grand final. The win was FUT’s third over MOUZ in as many meetings between the two.