Mathieu “ZywOo” Herbaut once again proved why he is considered one of the greatest players in Counter-Strike history. In the BLAST.tv Austin Major 2025 semifinal between Vitality and NAVI, the French AWPer didn’t just perform well — he became the defining figure of the match. Two maps, two leading performances, and a 2–0 victory that sent Vitality straight into the grand final.
Mirage — Controlled and Composed
On the first map, Mirage, ZywOo finished with the following stats:
- 17 kills, including 9 headshots
- 66.6 ADR (Average Damage per Round)
- +6 K-D difference
- HLTV Rating 2.1: 1.23
Despite a relatively modest ADR, ZywOo secured frags in the most critical moments. His consistency in clutches and multi-kills allowed Vitality to hold the lead throughout both halves. His impact wasn’t just in the numbers — it was in the tempo he set, shutting down NAVI’s aggression, providing key trades, and locking down crucial areas of the map.
Nuke — A Personal Showcase
On Nuke, ZywOo turned the map into a one-man show:
- 24 kills, 15 of them headshots
- 112.8 ADR — sheer dominance
- +8 K-D difference
- Rating 2.1: 1.54 — highest in the entire match
In the second half, ZywOo wasn’t just killing — he was demoralizing. Every push ended with a frag, every position he played became a trap for NAVI. His multi-kills and smart retake timings left NAVI with no realistic comeback chances.
Compared to His Opponents
On Mirage, NAVI’s top performer was b1t, with 16 kills, 70 ADR, and a 1.14 rating — but he didn’t have nearly the same influence as ZywOo, who constantly saved rounds for Vitality. On Nuke, w0nderful came closest with 19 frags and a 1.31 rating, but ZywOo was simply operating on a different level: 24 kills, over 110 damage per round, and total controlled aggression. No one on the server could match his consistency or clutch potential — it was one-sided domination.
Community Reaction
Analysts and fans unanimously crowned ZywOo as not just the MVP of this match, but of the entire playoffs so far. His calm, calculated, yet aggressive style was the catalyst behind Vitality’s commanding victory.
ZywOo’s Nuke game was an absolute masterclass. You can’t beat Vitality when he plays like this. — Reddit comment after the match
ZywOo delivered a signature carry performance: no theatrics, just flawless gameplay, stability, ice-cold precision, and maximum efficiency. His showing on Mirage was a strong foundation, while Nuke was pure dominance. Thanks to his brilliance, Vitality today looked like a championship-caliber team.
