Mathieu “ZywOo” Herbaut once again reminded the world why his name has long been etched in Counter-Strike history. At IEM Dallas 2025, he didn’t just help Team Vitality claim the title — he became the face of their triumph, earning the 26th MVP award of his career. This achievement not only strengthens his place among the greatest players of all time but also brings him one step closer to the Player of the Year title.
ZywOo’s MVP performance: stats that speak for themselves
Throughout the tournament, ZywOo averaged a 2.1 rating of 1.27, one of the best numbers recorded at a major event in 2025. In the grand final against MOUZ, he led the scoreboard in multiple categories:
- Most kills (59)
- Highest overall damage (ADR 99.6)
- Top rating on Mirage (1.80)
Mirage was the pinnacle of his dominance — his map control, aggressive entries, and phenomenal precision gave Vitality a clear advantage before the first half even ended.
But ZywOo didn’t just frag. He read the game, denied space, and suffocated opponents with pressure and tempo.
2025 — one of the best years of his career
IEM Dallas 2025 became the fifth event this year where ZywOo was named MVP. His MVP titles in 2025 so far:
- IEM Katowice 2025
- IEM Melbourne 2025
- BLAST Rivals 2025: Season 1
- BLAST Open Lisbon 2025
- IEM Dallas 2025
And the year isn’t even halfway through. In a hyper-competitive landscape featuring names like donk and m0NESY, ZywOo continues to demonstrate a rare trait — consistent superiority.
ZywOo’s greatness goes beyond aim
What sets ZywOo apart from other stars is his blend of instinct and intellect. He doesn’t force plays needlessly, but he’s far from passive. His decisions are mathematically precise — when to slow down, when to push, when to save the AWP, and when to risk everything. Against MOUZ, he saved multiple rounds that seemed unwinnable. He’s not a vocal leader or a hype machine — he leads by example, round after round.
Surpassing device and s1mple?
With every new MVP medal, ZywOo climbs a legendary ladder already occupied by names like device (19 MVPs) and s1mple (21 MVPs). But right now, he already holds:
- The most MVPs in 2025
- The highest average rating among all Top 20 players
- A clear path to his fourth HLTV Top 1 title
His main rival this year remains donk, but so far, ZywOo remains half a step ahead. Up next is the BLAST.tv Austin Major 2025, followed by the main objective of the second half of the season — IEM Cologne. If ZywOo keeps this pace, 2025 may become the most successful individual season in the history of Counter-Strike.
