The French powerhouse Vitality claimed a brilliant victory at the IEM Melbourne 2025 grand final, defeating Falcons with a 3:1 scoreline. Their dominance throughout the tournament left no chance for their opponents, and the triumph officially secured their place as the winners of the last Intel Grand Slam in history. This victory marks a historic moment for the CS2 scene and cements Vitality’s status as one of the greatest teams of their era.
Vitality’s Path Through the Tournament
Vitality navigated the tournament flawlessly, maintaining full control at every stage:
Group Stage:
- Victory over FlyQuest (2:0)
- Victory over Liquid (2:0)
- Victory over Falcons (2:0)
Playoffs:
- Semifinal: Victory over The MongolZ (2:0)
- Final: Victory over Falcons (3:2)
How the Grand Final Unfolded
The grand final at IEM Melbourne 2025 started on Inferno (Vitality’s pick), where the French side dominated Falcons with a crushing 13:2 win. From the first rounds, Vitality set the pace, winning the pistol round, taking control of Banana, and completely shutting down Falcons’ attacks. ZywOo (17 kills, 2.10 rating) and apEX (111.8 ADR) led the charge.
On the second map, Dust2 (Falcons’ pick), the match was much closer. Despite Vitality’s strong start, Falcons adapted with a solid offensive and resilient defense. kyxsan (26 kills) and m0NESY were crucial to Falcons’ success, with the team winning four consecutive overtime rounds to claim a 16:12 victory.
The next map, Train, saw Falcons initially take the lead 7:5 in the first half thanks to strong performances by m0NESY and TeSeS. However, after the side switch, Vitality took full control: ZywOo (24 kills, 1.62 rating) and flameZ (8 assists) dominated on defense, allowing Falcons to win only two rounds on offense. Vitality closed out the map 13:9, securing the championship.
On the fourth map of the IEM Melbourne 2025 final on Mirage, Falcons defeated Vitality 13:10, leveling the overall series score. After an even first half (6:6), Falcons won the T-side pistol round and started to dominate, combining slow executes with aggressive pushes through mid and short. Vitality tried to fight back through individual plays from ZywOo, but M0NESY with the AWP and NiKo with clutch moments secured crucial rounds for Falcons. With better control over the economy and attack planning, Falcons confidently closed out the map and pushed the series to the decisive Nuke.
On the decisive fifth map of the IEM Melbourne 2025 final on Nuke, Falcons started strong on the CT side with a 9:3 lead, but Vitality mounted a comeback in the second half, tying the score at 12:12 and forcing overtime. Both teams delivered incredible plays: ZywOo won a crucial 1v3 clutch, kyxsan secured a match point for Falcons with a 1v2 clutch, while ropz and mezii kept Vitality alive with key plays. Only in the third overtime did Vitality finally break through, winning 22:20 to claim the tournament title and secure the last ESL Grand Slam in history.
Team’s Best Player
The undisputed hero of the tournament was ZywOo. His exceptional consistency, standout performances across all maps in the final, and leadership helped Vitality dominate:
- 17 frags and a 2.10 rating on Inferno
- Key clutches and 24 frags on Train
- Overall tournament rating — one of the best in Intel Grand Slam history
The End of the Intel Grand Slam
The victory at IEM Melbourne 2025 was Vitality’s fourth and final needed win to complete the Intel Grand Slam V, having previously won:
- IEM Katowice 2025
- ESL Pro League Season 19
- IEM Dallas 2025
- IEM Melbourne 2025
This marks the end of an era, as the Intel-ESL partnership officially concludes.
Prize Winnings and What’s Next
For their victory at IEM Melbourne 2025, Vitality secured:
- $125,000 in first-place prize money
- $1,000,000 bonus for completing the Intel Grand Slam
Vitality’s next appearance will be at BLAST Rivals 2025, where they aim to continue their historic winning streak and further solidify their dominance in the world of Counter-Strike 2.
