At just 18 years old, The MongolZ’s rifler Ayush “mzinho” Batbold has become one of Counter-Strike 2’s most exciting rising stars, but his journey began with an act of sacrifice few would expect.
The young Mongolian player revealed in the team’s documentary that his grandmother took out a retirement loan to buy him his first computer when he had nothing. Reflecting on the moment that changed his life, mzinho said, “I didn’t have a computer. I begged from my grandmother and she got a retirement loan and bought a computer. I guess in a way, it’s really all because of her.”
Born on June 28, 2007, mzinho has already earned more than $250,000 in tournament winnings with The MongolZ, a figure that proves his grandmother’s decision was a life-changing investment. Without her belief, he may never have reached the professional stage, where today he competes against the very best CS2 players in the world.
His path to success was far from straightforward. Starting his career in 2020, he played for smaller Mongolian teams like w2c, struggling to make his mark in the regional scene. He later joined The Black Company and The Shine, where his talent was clear, but the big wins didn’t come. Everything began to change when he joined The MongolZ in 2023, where his growth and persistence paid off.
That computer, bought through his grandmother’s retirement loan, became the foundation for everything that followed. It was the bridge between a dream and a career. Without it, Mongolia might never have witnessed one of its own competing at the highest level of Counter-Strike.
His story resonates because it challenges generational stereotypes about gaming. In many Asian households, careers in esports are often viewed with skepticism. Yet mzinho’s grandmother defied those expectations, putting her own financial security at risk to support his passion.
That faith has been rewarded on the global stage. With The MongolZ, mzinho has achieved victories at major tournaments such as YaLLa Compass 2024, which featured a $200,000 first-place prize, and the Thunderpick World Championship 2024 with its $500,000 prize money.
Since then, mzinho has helped lead the team to top-four finishes at Intel Extreme Masters events and strong runs at several international tournaments throughout 2024 and 2025, even winning the Esports World Cup 2025 trophy after beating Aurora Gaming 3-0 in the finals. Each success underscores not only his skill and dedication but also the lasting impact of his grandmother’s faith in him.
As he continues his career in 2025 and further, the returns on that retirement loan are measured in more than prize money and sponsorship deals. Every achievement reflects the power of family support, persistence, and trust in unconventional dreams. For mzinho, each trophy and paycheck is proof that one selfless act of belief can reshape a life and inspire an entire community.
Published: Sep 25, 2025 03:59 am