The MongolZ have announced an academy roster to compete in Counter-Strike 2. The organization is recently runners-up at the BLAST.tv Austin Major. It has one of the youngest rosters in tier one Counter-Strike. Yet, it is aiming to develop yet more young talent in their native Mongolia.
The even younger roster faced their senior counterparts during a Counter-Strike celebration in Ulaanbaatar. They announced the new lineup at a homecoming event following their run at the Austin Major.
Roughly half of the population which is only 3.5 million, live in the capital city of Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. It ranks among the least densely populated nations on Earth.
Despite the low population, gaming cafes were widespread in Mongolia. Many of these cafes hosted LAN tournaments. Together, they fostered a strong Counter-Strike culture. This culture helped the first generation of The MongolZ break into international tournaments. It also inspired the new generation of players we see today.
One such example of that culture was elucidated by The MongolZ Twitter/XUsukhbayar 910 Banzragh during the major. He said he had to travel hundreds of miles just to compete at a LAN event. At the time, he only had enough money for a one-way ticket. “Winning was a necessity,” he said.
The MongolZ’s X account shared videos during the Grand Final showing large public gatherings across Mongolia watching the match. The contest ran from 3:30 AM to 6:46 AM local time. The unusual timing made the watch parties even more awe-inspiring — a truly remarkable sight.
After The MongolZ’s incredible run at the BLAST.tv Major, their massive support and cultural impact became clear. Given this momentum, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Mongolia produce some of Counter-Strike’s most exciting talents in the near future — despite its small population.
