Following the Esports World Cup closing ceremony, the Esports Awards named Mathieu « ZywOo » Herbaut Esports Breakthrough Player of the Decade. Nicknamed « The Chosen One » (l’Élu), for being born on the day the game was released (November 9, 2000), the Frenchman has won all the major titles since joining Team Vitality and was named the best player in the world three times.
This international distinction, presented by industry professionals, cements zywOo's place at the highest global level. In six years, he has established himself as an iconic figure in esports and grown within his beloved club. A true star player, he now shines a light on French esports at the top of the international scene and continues to push the boundaries of the game.
A trophy cabinet worthy of the greatest
Revealed at Team Vitality in 2018, during the club's launch on Counter-Strike, ZywOo was only 18 years old when he made his first steps on the international scene. In his very first season, he won the title of best player in the world and quickly established himself among the elite (HLTV rankings): #1 in 2019 and 2020, #2 in 2021 and 2022, #1 in 2023, #3 in 2024).
With 27 HLTV MVP titles to his credit (a record on the scene), two Majors (Paris 2023 and Austin 2025) and one Grand Slam (2025), the Lensois native has built a trophy cabinet that places him among the greatest Counter-Strike players of all time.
Since his debut, zywOo has embodied excellence, consistency, and humility at the highest level. This new distinction comes to honor an exceptional career, marked by his unique ability to shine in decisive moments and lift his team to the top of the world.
Today, he is one of the iconic faces of Team Vitality and a leading figure in international esports. This award, presented by the Esports Awards, cements his legacy among the legends of the past decade.
2025: the year of all records
For Team Vitality, ZywOo and his teammates, 2025 will go down as a historic year. With a series of 30 consecutive victories, seven major titles won on Counter-Strike 2, including a second Major in Austin and a Grand Slam, the team established itself as one of the most dominant in the history of the game.
With ZywOo, the true driving force behind this success, Team Vitality laid the foundations for a golden age for the organization and for French esports, now dubbed “the Vitality era”. This distinction also reaffirms the club's commitment to supporting and discovering exceptional talents, while contributing to the prominence of French and international esports.
