French CS legend Richard “shox” Papillon sat down with us to share his thoughts ahead of the BLAST.tv Austin Major 2025. In this in-depth interview, shox discusses Vitality’s dominant run and the pressure that comes with it, why Falcons and MOUZ are the biggest threats, and how a recent CS2 update could shift the meta on an individual level. He also explains why he doesn’t believe in NAVI this time and reveals which team he’d choose if he were to return to the scene as a coach.
What are you most excited about for this Major?
I’m looking forward to seeing if Vitality can keep winning. They’re clearly a step ahead of other teams, but we saw some small mistakes from them in Dallas, which they admitted themselves. They’re having a big boot camp before the Major, so I expect them to come back fully focused. Still, the pressure of the Major is different.
I’m a bit worried for them — maybe they won too much too soon, and the more you win, the harder it is to keep winning. I’m also curious about Spirit. They didn’t play at big events like Dallas or Melbourne, where teams like Falcons, MOUZ, and Vitality competed.
Even though they won the last PGL, it’s hard to tell how good they really are. They might not be better than Falcons or MOUZ, but they still have donk. And with donk, anything can happen. He’s the kind of player who doesn’t crumble under pressure — especially at a Major — and might even perform better than usual.
Lastly, I just rewatched the final between Vitality and MOUZ in Dallas. There was a new update that changed animations, but I think more changed than Valve mentioned. The spread feels harder, especially with the M4. I saw missed shots and more one-taps — it felt more accurate.
I also think there’s less peek advantage now. I noticed AWPers holding tighter lines and not going for wide swings, which used to be necessary. Something feels different in how the game plays individually.
Do you think this update will level the playing field or make the best players even stronger?
I think it will make the best players even better. Before, some players could abuse the game mechanics — wide swings, full spray, and still get kills. Now it’s more about positioning and precision. Spraying doesn’t feel as strong, and aiming for the head matters more. This is just my impression from playing and watching Dallas, but I definitely feel something has changed.
So the meta might shift at the Major, but you’re not sure how much?
Yes, exactly. I think it’s not so much about team tactics, but more about individual play — clutch moments, how players hold or peek angles, and how anchors play on CT side. If wide-swinging isn’t as strong, we might see AWPers have more impact again. The meta won’t change tactically, but individually, yes.
Everyone compares Vitality’s win streak to NiP’s era. As a pro player, do you think they’re comparable?
It’s not possible to compare. I respect NiP’s record — I played against them back then and it was tough — but that was almost 15 years ago. Everything’s changed: players, structure, how teams practice, coaching staff, mental support — even the game itself. Back then, some teams weren’t fully professional. You can’t compare the CS we played then with today’s game. What NiP did was insane for that time.
What Vitality is doing now is also insane, but in a much tougher and more competitive environment. The schedule today is packed, much more than back then. So rather than comparing, I think we should appreciate both for what they were. NiP dominated their time, just like Vitality is doing now. And when a team dominates like this, it raises the level for everyone else. People try harder to beat them, and the scene grows stronger overall.
Which team do you think is closest to breaking Vitality’s streak?
I’d say Falcons. For me, only Falcons and MOUZ are real threats to Vitality. But MOUZ has a mental barrier when facing them. Every time they play Vitality, they seem to feel the pressure and don’t perform at their best. I think they have all the tools to win, but they need to fix the mental part.
Falcons are different — players like m0NESY and NiKo thrive on facing the best. They’re fearless and hungry. Falcons vs. Vitality games are always close, even closer than MOUZ vs. Vitality. I don’t know exactly what Falcons need to finally beat them, but it feels very close.
Vitality has a break before the Major. Will this help or hurt them compared to teams playing more often?
I don’t think it’s a problem for Vitality. It’s actually an advantage. They’ve been in this position before and know how to handle it. Their staff is excellent. They’ll take some days off, then have a solid bootcamp and go straight to the Major. I don’t see this being an issue for them.
What do you expect from the French team 3DMAX?
I don’t think they’ll do anything crazy. I don’t see them making playoffs, maybe not even the last stage, though they could. But I do see them as a dark horse that could upset a favorite in a best-of-one during the Swiss stage. You don’t really want to face them because they’re unpredictable. One day they can be weak, but the next, they can play with confidence and beat top teams.
Aside from Vitality, which other teams are top contenders at this Major?
Falcons and MOUZ.
No NAVI, why not?
They’ve been struggling since September. That’s almost 8 months. Every team has down periods, but great teams bounce back in 2–3 months. When it lasts this long with the same roster, it usually means they don’t know how to fix the problems.
Could this be like G2 in Shanghai, when they knew roster changes were coming and just played freely?
Maybe. It could help them have a good run — but not enough to win the Major. I don’t believe in it.
So your picks for the Major are Vitality, Falcons, and MOUZ?
Yes.
What’s holding MOUZ back from actually winning, in your opinion?
I think it’s mostly mental. I don’t know if they’re working with a mental coach, but they should. The team plays great otherwise — good chemistry, good additions, solid gameplay. But they keep losing only to Vitality. They need help managing stress in big matches. In group stages or quarters, they’re fine. But the closer they get to the trophy, the worse they seem to play.
Looking at xertioN’s stats, it seems like he drops off in important matches. Could teams be targeting him?
Maybe. That could make sense. He’s the playmaker and takes a lot of risks. If they work, he can win games. If not, it can cost them. Maybe top teams know how to shut him down — that’s something worth exploring.
You think FaZe might be a underdog this time around?
Definitely.
Your Pick: Skin.Club Pick’em Challenge
Shox has made a selection of teams that could surprise and are favorites to win this major. Now the choice is yours, with the Skin.Club Pick’em Challenge you can make your own list of main players, predict the results and climb the leaderboard based on your feel for the CS2 game. Pick who will dominate, who will crash, and who will surprise – all before the matches even start.
The better your predictions, the higher you rank. You’ll be rewarded with rare CS2 skins, while the grand prize – AWP | Dragon Lore – will go to the most accurate Pick’em masters. Whether you’re chasing bragging rights or a dream skin, now is the time to put your tier list to the test.
