For a few hours now, France has been celebrating the return of a team of five French players to a Major, with 3DMAX qualifying 3-0 in Shanghai, three years after Vitality’s last participation in the PGL Stockholm Major. But once the excitement subsides, eyes will once again turn to Vitality and their ability to offer ZywOo a second Major title.
A Reassuring RMR
This summer, Vitality lifted their first and only trophy of 2024 by winning the IEM Cologne after an exceptional year in 2023. Since that victory, the team has experienced more mixed results, although they were never far from a win, with defeats always being very close, such as in the semifinals of the BLAST World Finals against G2 or a month earlier in Copenhagen, at the same stage of the competition during the BLAST Fall Finals, again against G2.
If some doubts about the team’s level still worried fans at the start of the competition, Vitality set aside their problems and quickly reassured everyone. With solid Bo1 victories against GamerLegion to begin and then against BetBoom, the real test was the match against FaZe in a Bo3. They passed this test with ease. Despite a stressful end to Dust2—where matches usually tipped in favor of apEX’s opponents—this time ZywOo and flameZ made the necessary efforts to secure the qualification with a 3-0 record without dropping a map.
Between “mezii hate” and leaks
A prime target of criticism, mezii made his return to competition in Shanghai after a break due to his paternity. Inconsistent in 2024, the Brit benefited from the “dad buff,” achieving stats rarely matched by him this year on several maps. With an HLTV rating of 1.28 and significant clutches, the player, often seen as the team’s weak link, transcended himself.
Vitality’s problem in 2024? Individual inconsistency. While ZywOo dodges criticism because his level remains exceptional, his four teammates have never maintained a consistent performance level.
Sources: 🇮🇱 Spinx is expected to leave Team Vitality in 2025
Both the player and the team have expressed mutual interest in parting ways and the Israeli is currently exploring his options pic.twitter.com/lcxOzvBbGx
— KRL (@KRL_STREAM) November 14, 2024
Always on the lookout for potential movements around the club, French streamer KRL revealed on November 14 that Spinx and Vitality had agreed to part ways in 2025. It’s a team at the end of its cycle that presented itself at the RMR in Shanghai and will compete in the Major in December. The Israeli player has desires elsewhere and will part ways with ZywOo. Good luck to him! He is among the players who haven’t managed to confirm their 2023 performance level. Ranked as the 5th best player in the world last year according to HLTV with a 1.17 rating, his standards are more around 1.10 this season.
Always on the lookout for a good deal, Vitality’s management was reportedly not opposed to selling their captain apEX, but the three-time Major winner is indeed expected to stay. In contrast, their Israeli star player seems closer than ever to the exit.
Sources: Vitality’s Co-Founder, Fabien 'Neo' Devide, is reportedly looking to sell Team Vitality’s IGL, apEX, without informing staff or the captain himself
This wouldn’t be Neo’s first bold move; in 2021, he signed the Danish trio without consulting the team or staff. pic.twitter.com/8m8N9SFJku
— KRL (@KRL_STREAM) November 20, 2024
The Power of the Last Dance
The myth of the dead team—you’ve heard it before in Counter-Strike. It is indeed real when talking about French teams. When Team LDLC wanted to disband, plagued by internal tensions, they went to Sweden to win the first French Major at DreamHack Winter 2014. Almost the same players, the same problems, and a group on the brink of explosion triumphed a few months later in Cluj with EnvyUs.
Since then, managing the end of cycles has become normal in Esports and on CS2. It has transformed into a strength of wanting to finish together. Several teams will come with a group that will part ways in 2025. NiKo will leave G2, MOUZ is reaching the end of the journey, FaZe seems destined to change, and probably only NAVI is likely to pass the post-Major period peacefully.
When Vitality approaches its best level, few teams can compete. Firepower, mid-round calls, and the best player in the world over the last five years: ZywOo. In Cologne, Natus Vincere, unquestionably the team of the year 2024, could do nothing. If the run repeats, the outcome could be the same in Shanghai. To be a contender for his succession in the HLTV ranking, ZywOo (1.31 rating this year) must aim for the title and MVP to edge out m0NESY (1.30) and donk (1.27) in a photo finish. This additional motivation makes me think that, for French Counter-Strike fans, the dream of a second Major title for Vitality is possible.
