Team Vitality asserted their dominance with a 3-0 sweep over MOUZ to claim the ESL Pro League Season 21 championship title! From beginning to end, the event showcased the unmatched synergy of Vitality’s roster, the tactical depth of their strategies, and the individual brilliance of each player. With the intense competition culminating on Dust2, Nuke, and Inferno, Vitality clinched their second trophy of the year and added crucial momentum toward securing the ESL Grand Slam Season 5.
Vitality launched their Playoff campaign in style, overwhelming Team Liquid in a 2-0 rout. Their strong map control and the explosive entries by flameZ set the tone early. ZywOo made sure Liquid never found their footing by relentlessly denying map control, punishing rotations, and ensuring Vitality always kept the economic advantage.
The team then faced a surprisingly scrappy MongolZ squad. While many considered this matchup to be straightforward, MongolZ displayed resilience and individual brilliance, stealing rounds through unorthodox aggression. Yet, Vitality remained calm, using methodical mid-round calls by apEX and capitalizing on errors to close out the series in a controlled fashion.
Meanwhile, MOUZ found themselves in an early stumble after running into Vitality in the Swiss Stage. Overwhelmed in key rounds and suffering from the pressure, MOUZ had to regroup. Spinx and Brollan orchestrated a team talk focusing on map fundamentals and synergy, which helped them regain their stride in subsequent matches. They managed to scrape through and qualify in the fourth round of the Swiss bracket, setting them up for a challenging path in the Playoffs.
In the Quarterfinal vs. G2 Esports MOUZ managed to prevail in a three-map thriller, showcasing the steadfast rifling of Jimi “Jimpphat” Salo and the tactical adjustments by Brollan. Their victory was a significant boost to their confidence, especially after the earlier loss to Vitality.
In a match that had many leaning toward a Team Spirit victory, MOUZ pulled off an astonishing upset. Dorian “xertioN” Berman stepped up, landing critical multi-kills, and Spinx continued proving his worth with crucial mid-round calls. MOUZ sealed their place in the grand final, brimming with enthusiasm and the desire to even the score against Vitality.
Grand Final Showdown: A Dominant Vitality Statement
When the stage lights illuminated for the ESL Pro League S21 grand final, expectations were high for a competitive series. However, Vitality left no room for doubt as they stormed to a 3-0 victory (Dust2 13-9, Nuke 13-4, Inferno 13-5), capping off a sensational run.
On the first map, Vitality’s strategic intent was clear. We saw them hammer MOUZ’s B site with rapid hits, forcing Jimpphat into tough holds. Vitality jumped out to a 9-3 lead with crisp executes, well-coordinated flash assists, and near-flawless trading. Shahar “flameZ” Shushan led the scoreboard on Dust2, amassing 21 frags and 6 assists against 14 deaths. His explosive entries on both catwalk and tunnels decimated MOUZ’s defensive setups.
MOUZ attempted a late surge once they switched to the T side, but the deficit was too large to overcome. Despite some missed shots by ZywOo, Vitality retained their composure, claiming the map with a 13-9 finish.
And then there was Nuke, where Vitality carried over their momentum, refusing to be rattled by MOUZ’s attempts at aggression. They snatched an early 9-3 advantage, courtesy of well-timed rotations and mid-round calls that capitalized on MOUZ’s repositioning errors. Both Robin “ropz” Kool and Mathieu “ZywOo” Herbaut boasted 17 frags each. Their synergy in holding key angles, as well as their ability to punish MOUZ’s eco rounds, helped keep the pressure fully on MOUZ.
A swift pistol round victory in the second half handed Vitality an unassailable lead, and MOUZ never recovered. The scoreboard read 13-4 at the end of Nuke, placing MOUZ with their backs firmly against the wall.
Last but not least, on Inferno we saw Vitality’s methodical dismantling of MOUZ in the first half, securing yet another 9-3 lead. Their dominance in banana control, coupled with agile shifts toward the A site, left MOUZ scrambling. Although MOUZ managed to trade a few early second-half rounds, it was too little, too late. Vitality swiftly capitalized on MOUZ’s questionable CT setups, leaving them with no time to breathe.
A finishing scoreline of 13-5 cemented Vitality’s status as ESL Pro League S21 champions. The entire squad fired on all cylinders, with apEX and ZywOo each dropping 16 frags while orchestrating near-flawless site hits and retakes.
ZywOo Sets MVP Record, Surpassing s1mple
One of the biggest narratives coming out of the tournament is Mathieu “ZywOo” Herbaut surpassing Oleksandr “s1mple” Kostyliev for the most HLTV MVP medals in history. In earning his 22nd career MVP at ESL Pro League S21, ZywOo now sits alone at the top of the charts, eclipsing s1mple’s 21.
ZywOo averaged a 1.43 rating with 90 ADR, putting him in a league of his own. His performance was noteworthy not just for the raw numbers but for the consistent excellence he displayed over the 15 maps Vitality played.
Team Vitality now finds themselves just one victory away from clinching the ESL Grand Slam Season 5, a prestigious accomplishment that entails winning four S-Tier ESL events within a series of 10 consecutive attempts. The team has five more chances to seal the deal. The IEM Melbourne 2025 in April is their next opportunity to complete a historic run and bag an additional $1 million in prize winnings, distributed directly to the players.
We have every reason to believe that Vitality’s success story is far from over. As they march on, eyes around the globe will remain fixed on their quest for the ESL Grand Slam—a quest that could be completed sooner rather than later.
MOUZ’s commendable run also underlines how competitive today’s CS2 ecosystem is, with multiple teams able to pull off upsets against the giants of the scene.
