April 28, 2025
In a defining moment for Counter-Strike 2 history, Team Vitality has risen to the occasion once again, conquering IEM Melbourne 2025 and in doing so, claiming the coveted ESL Grand Slam Season 5. With this win, Vitality not only proved their dominance over the international scene but also became the first team with a French core to achieve esports’ most prestigious crown.
The story of Vitality’s 2025 season is not just one of victory, but of relentless pursuit, collective belief, and a standard of excellence that has now been permanently etched into Counter-Strike history.
Vitality vs. Falcons: A Grand Final for the Ages
The Grand Final between Vitality and Team Falcons delivered exactly what the fans craved — high drama, heroic plays, and a match that swung wildly back and forth before its thrilling conclusion.
The best-of-five series unfolded like this:
Inferno (13-2 Vitality): Vitality came out swinging, suffocating Falcons with relentless pressure and flawless rotations.
Dust2 (16-12 Falcons): Falcons responded in style, punishing Vitality’s mistakes and showcasing sharp shooting across the board.
Train (13-9 Vitality): Vitality reasserted themselves with strong CT side play, holding tight angles and denying Falcons entry at every turn.
Mirage (13-10 Falcons): Falcons once again refused to go quietly, with key rounds won by SunPayus and BOROS pushing the series to a decider.
Nuke (22-20 Vitality): In one of the most nerve-wracking finals maps in recent memory, Vitality clawed back from a 6-12 deficit to force triple overtime before finally closing it out.
Nuke wasn’t just a map — it was a warzone. Every round was a chess match. Every clutch, a mini-saga. As the final round timer ticked down and Vitality secured the win, players dropped their mice, hands thrown skyward in pure emotion. It was an ending worthy of a movie script.
Other Standout Moments from IEM Melbourne
IEM Melbourne 2025 wasn’t just about Vitality. Across the tournament, there were countless jaw-dropping plays and legendary moments:
w0nderful’s 1v3 clutch against FaZe stunned analysts and fans alike, cementing him as a rising star to watch.
NiKo’s incredible ACE under heavy pressure reminded everyone why he’s still one of the game’s deadliest riflers.
jL’s 1v4 comeback, with pure mechanical genius, flipped an entire series upside down.
Twistzz’s 1v3 defuse clutch saved his team’s tournament life in the lower bracket.
m0NESY’s 1v2 post-plant play continued to prove his maturity at just 19 years old.
Of course, ropz, with his silent but deadly style, was pivotal for FaZe Clan in pushing matches to the brink.
The tournament wasn’t just a showcase of teams — it was a celebration of individual greatness and the human drama that makes esports so addictive.
ZywOo: The Star Among Stars
While the entire Vitality roster played their roles to perfection, it was Mathieu “ZywOo” Herbaut who once again rose above the field.
ZywOo’s numbers at Melbourne were eye-watering: sky-high KD ratios, a mountain of clutches, and opening kills that changed the flow of entire maps. Yet beyond the stats, it was his presence that defined Vitality’s play. When ZywOo was alive in a round, enemies hesitated, plans shifted, and panic set in.
Awarded the MVP of IEM Melbourne 2025, ZywOo further solidified his reputation as arguably the greatest player of the CS:GO and CS2 eras combined. For Vitality fans, seeing him crowned MVP on the Grand Slam stage was a fitting reward for years of brilliance.
The Road to the Grand Slam: A Season of Mastery
Vitality’s journey to the Grand Slam wasn’t a flash in the pan. It was a season-long masterclass in how to build and sustain greatness under pressure.
Their historic run included victories at some of the most important events of the year:
IEM Katowice 2025
ESL Pro League Season 21
BLAST Spring Final 2025
IEM Melbourne 2025
Each win showcased a different side of Vitality. Whether it was their explosive fragging power, surgical mid-round calls, or ability to dig deep under pressure, they consistently proved they were a step ahead of the rest.
More importantly, Vitality’s Grand Slam marks a historic first — the first French-majority team to achieve this honor. It’s a monumental achievement not just for the organization, but for the broader French CS2 community, which has waited years to see a national roster lift the highest prizes once more.
Vitality’s Grand Slam: A Moment for the History Books
With their win at IEM Melbourne 2025, Vitality joins an elite list of Grand Slam winners:
Astralis (Season 1)
Team Liquid (Season 2)
Natus Vincere (Season 3)
FaZe Clan (Season 4)
Vitality (Season 5)
Each of these teams dominated their eras. But Vitality’s run feels especially sweet for fans because of the added weight of national pride, years of roster reshuffles, heartbreaks, and narrow losses that finally gave way to this crowning moment.
The Future Is Bright for CS2 and Vitality
As the confetti settles and the cheers fade from Rod Laver Arena, attention now turns to what comes next.
Vitality’s Grand Slam marks not an end, but a beginning. CS2’s competitive landscape is wide open, with young stars rising and veterans evolving their games. Rival teams like Na’Vi, Falcons, FaZe, and MOUZ will be looking for revenge.
For Vitality, the mission will be maintaining their momentum — defending their titles and perhaps even chasing new records as the CS2 era matures.
Whatever the future holds, one thing is certain: Vitality has set the bar. They are the team to beat — and the legends whose names are now written permanently in the stars of Counter-Strike history.
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