by Team Vitality secured their place in Counter-Strike history with an emphatic 3-0 victory over Team Spirit in the grand final of IEM Katowice 2025.
This win not only ended Spirit’s reign as defending champions but also marked Vitality’s first-ever Katowice title, cementing their status as a powerhouse in the Counter-Strike 2 era.
Champions ?? pic.twitter.com/leYj88IryN
— Team Vitality CS (@TeamVitalityCS) February 9, 2025
Vitality controlled the series from start to finish, dismantling Spirit with clinical precision.
The final scorelines told the story: Dust2 (13-6), Nuke (13-5), and Mirage (13-11).
Vitality’s dominance was evident not just in the number of rounds won but in the way they systematically outplayed Spirit, forcing them out of their comfort zone and exposing their over-reliance on individual star performances.
The series kicked off on Dust2, where Vitality’s coordinated strategies and strong defensive holds left Spirit scrambling.
Mathieu “ZywOo” Herbaut was in sublime form, anchoring the defence with impeccable AWP play and recording an outstanding 1.69 series rating.
His ability to shut down Spirit’s advances set the tone early, leaving the Russian squad with little room to manoeuvre.
On Nuke, Vitality’s map pick, their tactical depth was on full display.
The French squad showcased flawless rotations and effective utility usage, suffocating Spirit’s attempts to find openings.
Robin “ropz” Kool, Vitality’s newest recruit, delivered a masterclass in lurking, posting a career-best 2.18 rating on Dust2 and continuing his impactful performance on Nuke.
His presence looks to have revitalised Vitality, adding a layer of strategic nuance that proved too much for Spirit to handle.
Mirage provided the closest contest, with Spirit showing flashes of the brilliance that carried them to the final.
Boris “magixx” Vorobiev stepped up in key moments, keeping Spirit in contention with clutch plays.
However, Vitality’s composure in high-pressure rounds, led by veteran in-game leader Dan “apEX” Madesclaire, secured a hard-fought 13-11 victory to close out the series.
For apEX, this victory was more than just another trophy; it was the culmination of a decade-long pursuit.
Having first competed at IEM Katowice in 2015, the 31-year-old had long dreamt of lifting the coveted title.
“It took time, but I’ve finished the game, won every big tournament,” apEX said proudly after the match.
“It finally happened. It was my best final in years individually. I wanted this so much.”
With his 32nd birthday on the horizon, apEX silenced retirement rumours with a defiant message: “To all the people who want me to retire, I won’t. I’m sorry.”
?? @TeamVitalityCS LIFT THE #IEM KATOWICE 2025 TROPHY ?? pic.twitter.com/4LhcJehGlC
— ESL Counter-Strike (@ESLCS) February 9, 2025
The addition of ropz has been transformative for Vitality.
Since joining less than two months ago, the Estonian rifler has seamlessly integrated into the roster, bringing stability and firepower.
His performance at Katowice was nothing short of spectacular, ending the tournament with a 1.23 rating—the fourth-highest of his career at major events.
Vitality’s struggles on the terrorst side earlier in the season were nowhere to be seen.
They boasted a tournament-high 60.4% terrorist side win rate, a significant improvement from their 46.5% at BLAST Bounty Spring and 40.9% at the LAN Finals.
William “mezii” Merriman’s comments about the growing pains of new rosters proved accurate, as Vitality showcased a newfound synergy that overwhelmed even the best defences.
While Vitality celebrated, Spirit faced hard truths.
Danil “donk” Kryshkovets entered the final chasing his eighth MVP medal but struggled to find his usual dominance.
Despite a highlight-reel Desert Eagle quad-kill on Dust2, he finished the series with a disappointing 0.88 rating, unable to deliver the heroics Spirit often relied upon.
The series exposed Spirit’s over-reliance on donk’s individual brilliance.
When he faltered, the team lacked the depth to compensate.
Magixx’s clutch performances kept them competitive on Mirage, but it was clear that Spirit’s game plan needs to evolve to avoid such dependency in the future.
With Spirit dethroned, Vitality’s victory signals a shift in the Counter-Strike landscape.
Their cohesive team play, tactical depth, and individual brilliance have set a new standard.
YOUR #IEM KATOWICE 2025 #ESLProTour DHL MVP
THE CHOSEN ONE, @zywoo@DeutschePostDHL pic.twitter.com/b1i8O40RbQ
— ESL Counter-Strike (@ESLCS) February 9, 2025
ZywOo picked up his 21st Most Valuable Player award, which tied Oleksandr “?s1mple?” Kostyliev’s record tally, with both of them also winning the MVP at 14 ‘Big Events’ throughout their careers.
Vitality’s triumph at IEM Katowice 2025 is more than just another title—it marks the beginning of a new era.
The question now isn’t whether they can win, but how long they can maintain their dominance.
