- Team Vitality has made its mark on the international scene by winning the StarLadder Budapest Major 2025 after defeating FaZe Clan in the Grand Final.
- This latest victory confirms the team's global dominance and brings the number of international titles won by the Counter-Strike 2 roster in 2025 to nine, bringing a historic season to a close.
- This is the first time since 2019 that a team has won two consecutive Majors. For Team Vitality, this is their third Major victory in three years: a record that firmly establishes the club among the best teams of all time in Counter-Strike.
Team Vitality confirms its supremacy in Counter-Strike 2 by defeating the Americans of FaZe Clan in the Grand Final of the StarLadder Budapest Major 2025. This victory marks another highlight for the roster, already crowned at the BLAST.tv Austin Major 2025 in June. Voted Esports Team of the Year at both the Esports Awards and The Game Awards, Team Vitality fully embraced its status as a leader, demonstrating remarkable tactical mastery, precision, and composure throughout the competition.
Once again, the team was driven by the outstanding performance of French star Mathieu “ZywOo” Herbaut, crowned MVP of a Major for the third time in his career. Named Player of the Decade at the Esports Awards in August, ZywOo further cements his status as a favorite to claim the best Counter-Strike player of the year title for the fourth time.
DOMINATING THE COMPETITION FROM START TO FINISH
Team Vitality’s Counter-Strike 2 roster fully confirmed its status as a global reference. Qualifying for the playoffs with a 3–1 record, the team then secured a decisive 2–0 victory against The MongolZ in the quarterfinals.
Riding this momentum, Team Vitality faced a strong Team Spirit squad from Russia in the semifinals. After a highly contested series, showcasing elite-level play and team cohesion, Team Vitality won 2–0. Their first map on Mirage featured one of the most remarkable comebacks of the year, securing their place in the Grand Final.
Sunday’s Grand Final delivered a spectacular best-of-five clash against FaZe Clan. Against the American side, Team Vitality demonstrated exceptional tactical and mental superiority. The match offered a world-class spectacle for over 20,000 fans at the Budapest Arena, as well as for viewers around the globe.
With this victory, Team Vitality claims its ninth international title of 2025, adding a memorable chapter to one of the greatest seasons in Counter-Strike 2 history.
TEAM VITALITY: COUNTER-STRIKE 2 TEAM OF THE DECADE
Back at the top of the global rankings, Team Vitality closes the 2025 season in outstanding fashion with a ninth international major title this year. Earlier in the season, the Counter-Strike 2 roster had already won the ESL Grand Slam and set a record with a 30-match winning streak.
2025 was also marked by unprecedented recognition on the international esports stage. Team Vitality was crowned Esports Team of the Year, while Mathieu “ZywOo” Herbaut was named PC Player of the Year and Player of the Decade at the 2025 Esports Awards. The organization also received the Best Esports Team award at The Game Awards, cementing an exceptional season.
With this ninth trophy of the year, Team Vitality has become a benchmark for Counter-Strike 2 organizations, both in terms of gameplay, consistency, and team cohesion. The French club asserts itself as one of the greatest esports organizations worldwide, and with this momentum, it now looks to 2026 with the ambition of continuing to add its name to the trophies on the global stage.
“Winning nine international titles in a single season is simply incredible. 2025 will always resonate as the Vitality era. It perfectly reflects the talent, commitment, and cohesion of our roster, who have made history and set new standards for the entire industry. We are overjoyed to wear this third star on our jersey - it’s both powerful and completely insane! Even though we weren’t favorites going into this last tournament, this victory truly crowns the team’s collective effort and concludes a historic season in the best possible way. We are proud, excited for our fans and partners, and already looking forward to new challenges in 2026!” explains Fabien “Neo” Devide, President and Co-Founder, Team Vitality.
