Team Vitality has made history at the Intel Extreme Masters (IEM) Melbourne 2025. They secured their place as only the fifth team to win the prestigious ESL Grand Slam. This victory marks their 21st consecutive win of the year.
It further solidifies their status as the best Counter-Strike 2 (CS2) team in the world. In a thrilling Grand Final against Team Falcons, Team Vitality emerged victorious with a 3-2 scoreline. Mathieu ‘ZywOo’ Herbaut, the star player, was named MVP of the tournament.
This was thanks to his exceptional performances. He was joined by teammates Dan ‘apEX’ Madesclaire, Shahar ‘flameZ’ Shushan, William ‘mezii’ Merriman, and Robin ‘ropz’ Kool in this historic win. The journey to the Grand Final saw Team Vitality overcome Team MongolZ in the Semi-Finals.
This set the stage for an electrifying showdown against Team Falcons. The final concluded with a triple-overtime decider on the map Nuke. It was a testament to the team’s resilience and skill.
This win not only adds the coveted ESL Grand Slam to their trophy cabinet but also brings the team a $1 million cash prize.
Vitality’s grand slam victory
This year, Team Vitality has also clinched titles at IEM Katowice, ESL Pro League Season 21, and BLAST Open Spring 2025.
This showcases their dominance in the CS2 competitive scene. To celebrate this extraordinary achievement, Team Vitality has partnered with the basketball brand DearBBall to launch an exclusive capsule collection. This limited-edition drop includes a dedicated hoodie, sweatshirt, and t-shirt for each player.
They are available in black or white, celebrating their unique contributions to the team’s success. Team Vitality’s president, Fabien “Neo” Devide, expressed his pride in the team’s achievement. He stated, “This is a historic moment for Team Vitality as we become the 5th club in history to win the ESL Grand Slam.
We are now part of a legendary club that has left its mark on the game’s history. After more than six hours of play, I’m proud of the mentality and the incredible display from this team.”
Founded in 2013 by Fabien “Neo” Devide and Nicolas Maurer, Team Vitality has grown to become a leader in the esports world. They operate internationally across 11 games, including League of Legends, VALORANT, Rocket League, and StarCraft II.
The club’s community boasts over 12 million fans across social media networks. Team Vitality’s victory at IEM Melbourne and their overall success this year exemplify their commitment to excellence. It also shows their ambition to become the world’s leading esports organization.
This landmark achievement solidifies their legacy in esports history.
Image Credits: Photo by Giorgio Trovato on Unsplash
April Isaacs is a news contributor for DevX.com She is long-term, self-proclaimed nerd. She loves all things tech and computers and still has her first Dreamcast system. It is lovingly named Joni, after Joni Mitchell.
