Azbayar "Senzu" Munkhbold’s inclusion on HLTV’s Top 20 Players of 2025 marks an historic moment: a player from a fully Asian roster — and specifically from Mongolia — has broken into the list. The 19‑year‑old rifler earned the recognition after an outstanding season in which he collected four EVPs and produced a 1.30 rating during The MongolZ’s run to the BLAST.tv Austin Major grand final.
Asia‑Pacific had produced Top 20 talents before, but those players largely reached global stardom after moving to European or North American teams. Senzu’s rise is different: he climbed to the world stage while remaining in the Asian ecosystem, becoming the first player to do so without relocating to the West and completing a near‑decade arc for Mongolian Counter‑Strike that began when Temuulen "Zilkenberg" Battulga and Enkhtaivan "Machinegun" Lkhagva first burst onto the scene in 2016.
Senzu keeps a measured perspective on his achievement. "It feels really nice to be in the top 20 for the first time," he said in an interview, adding that this is only the start for Mongolian CS. He avoided getting carried away: "Maybe feeling proud does not happen in the middle of everything," he reflected.
Senzu’s path into esports started very early. He first encountered Counter‑Strike at about four years old, watching a cousin play and, later, using a parent’s computer when the house was empty. He transitioned to CS:GO around age 10 and was competing locally by the time he was 13 or 14.
A formative friendship began in custom servers with teammate Ayush "mzinho" Batbold. A youthful prank — reporting mzinho after an account‑related administration issue — did not prevent a fast friendship from forming. The pair cultivated a local following and became known both for their skill and for a cheeky trash‑talking reputation in Mongolian LAN cafés and small competitions.
In August 2021, on his 15th birthday, Senzu had a chance encounter that helped change his trajectory. While picking up a used mousepad, he found himself at the same location as members of a Mongolian bootcamp. He was invited to share a meal with the players and coaches; the experience, he remembers, was warm and meaningful. One of the early mentors he met there, coach Erdenedalai "maaRaa" Bayanbat, would later play a central role in his development.
Senzu and mzinho cut their teeth on local teams such as TBC and The Shine. In the summer of 2022, still only 15, Senzu joined The MongolZ — a historic organization in Mongolian esports whose ranks had included veterans like Tsog "Tsogoo" Mashbat and Bold "ncl" Batsukh. Although that early lineup did not immediately climb into the global top 100, Senzu’s potential attracted attention.
That promise led to a turbulent episode: a move to the NKT project alongside Indonesian star Hansel "BnTeT" Ferdinand and Erdenetsogt "erkaSt" Gantulga, with Machinegun as coach. The stint was short and marked by controversy. In mid‑2023, NKT accused Senzu of involvement in an internal fraud incident that resulted in him being moved to the bench. Later explanations and reporting suggested the matter involved borrowed in‑game items and gambling, and the episode left bruises on a young player’s reputation.
Senzu has been candid about the fallout and the reasons for his decisions. When he left NKT in 2025 mid‑season, he insisted it was his choice, pointing to unpaid wages and difficult circumstances on return to Mongolia. He acknowledged that the experience, while painful, taught him important lessons: "Sometimes the worst things in your life give you valuable lessons and help you become a better person," he said.
Fortunately for Senzu, The MongolZ and coach maaRaa were prepared to look past the scandal. The organization brought him back in September 2022 after buying out his NKT contract and clearing his debts — a bold bet on youth and local talent. Reunited with compatriots, speaking his native language and still only 17, Senzu began to unlock the potential that scouts had long seen.
The MongolZ’s ascent through 2024 and into 2025 was rapid. They dominated the Asian regional circuit, taking first place at events such as MESA Pro Series Fall and eXTREMESLAND; Senzu posted a 1.48 rating at one of those regional wins. Crucially, they also secured their Major RMR qualification and made an impression on the international crowd with a top‑four showing at ESL Challenger Atlanta, where Senzu collected his first EVP.
At the Copenhagen Major they became the youngest squad in attendance, with an average age around 19.5, and advanced past the Opening stage for the first time in Mongolian Major history, a breakthrough that hinted the team could compete on the biggest stages.
Their momentum continued across several events. After a domestic LAN victory, The MongolZ claimed Nomadic Masters — an international title earned by beating BLEED — and then set their sights on YaLLa Compass in June. Entering that event as underdogs among established names, they topped their group and took down veteran European teams including Astralis and Ninjas in Pyjamas to lift the organization’s most prestigious trophy to date. For Senzu it was his sixth LAN win and his second EVP, all before his 18th birthday.
November brought another landmark: victory over HEROIC to win the Thunderpick World Championship in Berlin. The win came with a big prize and an emotional boost, as a contingent of Mongolian supporters had traveled to Europe to cheer the squad, creating memorable celebrations for players and fans alike.
The Shanghai Major later tested the team’s mettle. The MongolZ assumed the role of Asia’s flagbearer after local contenders exited, and they marched to the quarter‑finals with a flawless group stage. Senzu, however, struggled in his Big Event playoff debut at that Major and finished the rematch against MOUZ at a 0.54 rating — a humbling result after months of success.
2025’s early months were a mix of highs and lows. The MongolZ confirmed their Shanghai form with a top‑four finish at IEM Katowice, but Senzu’s tournament began slowly after a lengthy break and he posted subdued numbers in some key maps. He bounced back in PGL Cluj‑Napoca’s Swiss group stage with a 1.27 rating but wilted under pressure in a quarter‑final against Astralis, posting a modest 0.79 series rating.
At ESL Pro League the pattern repeated: dominant group performances paired with playoff admonitions. The MongolZ reached four consecutive Big Event playoffs, transforming into a dark horse at every major stop, but their playoff poise — especially for a young star like Senzu — was still a work in progress.
A stumble came at BLAST Open Lisbon, where the team missed playoffs, and PGL Bucharest ended in a disappointing group‑stage exit after losses to Falcons, 3DMAX and Betclic. The grueling schedule left little time for reflection: soon the team traveled to IEM Melbourne, where Senzu produced a crowd‑pleasing 1.70 rating on Ancient against Liquid in front of a large stadium audience, but suffered another heavy semi‑final loss to Vitality.
Through the first half of the season Senzu’s pattern of brilliant group play and inconsistent playoff output continued, leaving analysts wondering whether he and the roster could close the gap to the world’s elite. At IEM Dallas he delivered a standout quarter‑final performance against Aurora — 39 frags, 86 ADR and a 1.57 series rating — showing that he could finally piece together a full series when it mattered.
The defining moment of the year arrived at the BLAST.tv Austin Major. The MongolZ began with mixed results but found top form as the event progressed. A dramatic best‑of‑three against G2 on Dust2 became a showcase for Senzu. He amassed a historic 36 kills by the end of regulation — the most in regulation at a Major in the current era and among the highest tallies at Big Events — and added even more in overtime as the map extended to 53 rounds, the longest map at a Major to date in the new generation of the game. He finished that match with a 1.64 rating and numerous multi‑kill rounds, a performance that cemented his arrival on the world stage.
As the tournament unfolded, The MongolZ reached the grand final. They produced a stunning upset over several top teams en route, but in the final they met Vitality — the dominant side of 2025 — and ultimately fell. Senzu left Austin with a strong EVP and a 1.30 Major rating, but with the bitter taste that comes from being so close to a Major trophy.
After a summer break the team sought to convert their narrative into sustained domination, but results were mixed. An early exit at IEM Cologne came at the hands of Natus Vincere’s revamped lineup. The roster did, however, continue to show flashes: they beat Vitality at BLAST Bounty in a studio event — a result made sweeter by Senzu’s 1.46 rating, 104 ADR and 41‑frag effort — though they lost the final to IEM Cologne champions Spirit.
The autumn brought redemption in Riyadh at the Esports World Cup. The MongolZ swept through the bracket, defeating several established sides before facing Vitality again in the semi‑final. This time the Mongolian side prevailed, buoyed by contributions from support players and a strong team effort. In the final they defeated Aurora to lift another Big Event trophy. Senzu produced an extraordinary showing on Nuke — a 2.71 rating, a tournament‑defining ADR and a 25‑frag performance — which earned him a critical EVP and helped propel The MongolZ to the top of the Valve world rankings for a time.
Those wins were a vindication of the team’s philosophy: investing in local talent, giving young players space to grow, and trusting a Mongolian coaching staff. Senzu celebrated these moments modestly and returned to competing immediately: FISSURE Playground 2 in Belgrade followed, where The MongolZ again made the final after knocking out teams such as G2 and Liquid. They narrowly lost to FURIA in a five‑map final, despite a heroic 1.72‑rated Inferno from Senzu and several standout plays across the series. He notched notable personal milestones at that event, including records for aces alongside mzinho, and collected another EVP.
By late season the schedule and intensity had begun to take a toll. The MongolZ showed signs of fatigue at ESL Pro League Malta, suffering losses to HOTU and Inner Circle and exiting outside the top echelon. They later fell short in the successor event to the Thunderpick competition, losing a semi‑final to NAVI, though Senzu’s consistency over the year still produced his fourth EVP.
Shortly after that run of events, The MongolZ announced that Senzu had been benched following discussions between players and management. The news shocked the Mongolian fanbase and the wider community. In a brief statement on social platforms he expressed gratitude to the organization and apology to supporters, indicating the decision felt like leaving home.
When asked about the reasons later, Senzu explained that burnout and the relentless travel and tournament schedule had contributed to the break. Given the intensity of a calendar filled with back‑to‑back international trips and the pressure of representing a nation at the highest level, the explanation resonated with many observers.
The team continued with a stand‑in and managed to reach further playoffs, but it was clear the squad missed the firepower and emotional lift their star rifler provided. As of this profile, no firm date has been given for Senzu’s return to active competition; he and the organization are taking time to manage recovery.
Why did Senzu finish as the 13th best player of 2025? The answer lies in both volume and moments. He amassed four EVPs across the season — three earned at Big Events and one as his team’s top performer during the Austin Major run — and compiled a string of high‑impact tournaments. His metrics against elite teams and his ability to produce explosive maps underlined his candidacy: a solid 1.10 rating versus top‑10 opponents, 0.73 kills per round, and a notable share of matches with extremely high ratings.
A turning point in his case was that he finally conquered some of his playoff frailties during the Dallas‑to‑FPG2 stretch, producing a 1.16 playoff rating in that period. That purple patch helped him reach a 1.07 rating in big matches and a 1.14 rating across grand final maps, impressive marks for a teenager.
At the same time, gaps limited how high he could climb on the list. Only one EVP came at the very highest tier of elite events, his rating versus top‑five opposition was modest, and inconsistent performances in some major playoff matches remained a concern. Those factors combined to cap his final placing at 13th on the list.
Looking ahead, Senzu offered a glimpse of the next generation: he singled out Anarbileg "cobrazera" Uuganbayar — a headshot‑heavy rifler who was set to join The MongolZ for 2026 — as a player with Top 20 potential. The endorsement underlined the depth emerging from Mongolia and the broader Steppe region.
Senzu’s story is more than statistics. It is the arc of a teenager from Ulaanbaatar who fell in love with Counter‑Strike on a borrowed computer, learned through local bootcamps and friendships, survived controversy, and then helped lift his nation’s flag on the biggest stages. At 19, benched for rest yet already a Top 20 player, Senzu remains a symbol of Mongolian Counter‑Strike’s ascent — proof that small nations can produce world‑class talent without the traditional pathway of relocation. The coming seasons will tell whether this chapter is an opening salvo or merely the first act of a long international career.