Mouz (stylized asMOUZ), formerlymousesports, is a professionalesports organisation based inGermany. It fields teams in several games but is particularly known for itsCS:GO team. MOUZ was one of the founding members of theG7 Teams.[2] MOUZ'sLeague of Legends team currently competes in theESL Pro Series, having formerly competed in the European Challenger Series.
Mousesports was formed in 2002 inBerlin,Germany, as aCounter-Strike team. The team began to compete in small tournaments, which gradually lead to their progression in larger ones, as well. By 2006, when G7 Teams was created, mousesports was one of the greatest gaming organisations in Europe, consisting ofCounter-Strike,Warcraft III,Quake 4,Battlefield 1942 andUnreal Tournament divisions.
On 13 May 2007, mousesports announced that it had acquired Nihilum, the officially recognised premiere worldwideWorld of Warcraft organisation, with Nihilum recognised as a subsidiary of mousesports.[3][4] The guild was remade into a community called "Nihilum: mousesports MMO". Nihilum was mousesports' consistently strongest gaming team in the European competition.[5] However, the relations between mousesports and Nihilum grew uncertain in the fall of 2008 and finally, on 10 November, it was announced that the former PvE team ofSK Gaming would be merging with the players of Nihilum, effectively ending the partnership that lasted for over a year and a half.[6] Despite this, however, mousesports continued to maintain the Nihilum brand and on 1 August 2009, launched a new community website to connect theWorld of Warcraft guild Method, along with the WotLK Wiki and the Nihilum brand under a single domain.[7]
On 20 April 2009, mousesports announced that it would be withdrawing its support forDefense of the Ancients despite the huge amount of success they were having.[8] In early 2010, the organisation announced the addition of a star-studdedStarCraft: Brood War roster, which originally consisted of several American, Canadian, German, Polish and Ukrainian players.[9] Since their original induction into the organisation, the team completely switched focus toStarCraft II during theWings of Liberty beta period and has since become one of the greatest-renowned teams.[10] In one of the greatest-known tragedies inelectronic sports history, mouzCounter-Strike player Antonio "cyx" Daniloski died on 29 July 2010 in a car accident caused by tire failure after missing a flight to China to compete for his team.[11] The aftermath of his death featured numerous memorials, tributes, eulogies and a permanent dedication on the official mousesports website.[12] Several months following Daniloski's death, mousesports announced the retirement of remainingCounter-Strike players Fatih "gob b" Dayik, Navid "Kapio" Javadi and stand-in Christian "Blizzard" Chmiel, effective following the ESL Pro Series Season XVII Finals.[13]
In March 2012, mousesports announced that it would be ending its support of itsCounter-Strike division, citing the organisation's perception of the lack of market, considering the rising prominence ofDota 2 andLeague of Legends.[14] Mouz picked up a newCounter-Strike: Global Offensive roster later that year.[citation needed]
In April 2017, mousesports signed the roster of the formerDota 2 team, Ad Finem, marking the first return for the organisation to the game in nearly two years.[15]
On 2 August, Christian 'loWel' Garcia was released from his contract with mousesports. On 4 August formerPenta Sports playerMiikka 'suNny' Kemppi was announced as his replacement. Less than a week later, on 8 August, mousesports released Denis 'denis' Howell from his contract and signed Martin 'STYKO' Styk to replace him, formerly ofHellRaisers.[16]
In December 2017, the mousesportsDota 2 team disbanded.[17]
On 27 June, mousesports announced the acquisition of Janusz "Snax" Pogorzelski fromVirtus.pro as a replacement for the benched Martin "STYKO" Styk.[19]
On 30 July, mousesports announced that they were acquiring the Rocket League team of Tigreee, Alex161, and Skyline.[20] Alex161 and Skyline previously played under Servette Esports, with Tigreee being acquired fromTeam Secret. This Mousesports team began play in RLCS Season 6, as Alex161 and Skyline retained their qualified spot won under Servette.
On 15 October, mousesports announced the return of Martin "STYKO" Styk to the starting line-up.[21]
On 15 November, the coach of theTom Clancy's Rainbow Six Siege team announced the team was dropped by mousesports and he would not stay with the team.
On 10 January 2019, mousesports announced the acquisition of Linus "al0t" Möllergren fromcompLexity Gaming, replacing Skyline.[22]
On 14 March, mousesports revamps their roster with the acquisition of woxic, frozen, andkarrigan.[25] While oskar is released, suNny and STYKO is benched from the line-up.
On 22 June 2020, mousesports announced their withdrawal from theRLCS and competitiveRocket League as a whole and released their roster.[26]
