Vitality have etched their name into Counter-Strike history once again. With a 2-1 victory over The MongolZ in the BLAST.tv Austin Major grand final, the European juggernaut capped off the first half of 2025 with their seventh consecutive title — and their first Major of the year.
Austin Major 2025United States, Austin, Moody Center
Vitality
The MongolZ
MOUZ
From Setback to Supremacy
Despite entering the event as favorites, Vitality’s run wasn’t without turbulence. Their shocking 3-13 opening loss to Brazil’s Legacy shattered a 30-series win streak and raised doubts. But in true champion fashion, apEX’s squad bounced back with wins over Nemiga, 3DMAX, and Virtus.pro, reasserting their dominance and advancing to the playoffs.
There, they dispatched Natus Vincere and edged out MOUZ in a thrilling three-map semi-final before taking on The MongolZ for the trophy.
The Grand Final: Mirage Mayhem to Inferno Redemption
The MongolZ made a statement early. Their pick of Mirage paid off with a brutal 13-5 win, capitalizing on Vitality’s slow start and showcasing explosive impact from Azbayar “Senzu” Munkhbold and Usukhbayar “910” Banzragch. The Mongolian squad had control, aggression, and flair.
But that’s where the dream ended.
Vitality fired back on Dust2 with surgical precision. Led by a 1.81-rated CT half from ZywOo, they stomped to a 13-4 equalizer. Then came Inferno — the decider — where Vitality’s class and composure sealed the deal. ZywOo’s 1v2 anti-eco clutch in round two broke The MongolZ’s momentum, and from there, it was a clinical dismantling. Final score: 13-6.
Seven Straight and Counting
This Major win joins a growing trophy cabinet for Vitality in 2025:
- IEM Katowice
- ESL Pro League Season 21
- BLAST Open Lisbon
- IEM Melbourne
- BLAST Rivals Season 1
- IEM Dallas
- BLAST.tv Austin Major
Katowice 2025Poland, Katowice, Spodek ArenaVitality
Team Spirit
Natus Vincere
Season 21Sweden, Stockholm, ESL StudioVitalityMOUZThe Mongolz
Open Spring 2025PortugalVitalityMOUZTeam Spirit
Melbourne 2025Australia, Melbourne, Rod Laver ArenaVitality
Falcons EsportsThe Mongolz
BLAST Rivals Spring 2025DenmarkVitalityFalcons EsportsTeam Spirit
Dallas 2025United States, Dallas, Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention CenterVitalityMOUZFalcons EsportsThat’s seven wins, a 30-series streak, an ESL Grand Slam, and now, a Major — putting them firmly in era territory. “Seven trophies in seven tournaments, what else can you do?” apEX asked post-match, declaring, “You can already see the best team of 2025.”
Individual Milestones: apEX, ZywOo, mezii, and flameZ
This win carries personal significance for Vitality’s stars. apEX now joins the elite three-time Major club, alongside Astralis legends and Fnatic’s core. With 33 titles, he surpasses dupreeh as the winningest player in CS history.
For ZywOo, the MVP medal in Austin was his seventh consecutive Big Event MVP, his second Major MVP, and 20th Big Event MVP overall — tying Nicolai “device” Reedtz’s calendar year record of seven and edging closer to s1mple’s mark of eight.
Meanwhile, William “mezii” Merriman etched UK CS into the record books with the region’s first Major trophy, and Shahar “flameZ” Shushan earned his long-awaited Major breakthrough.
The MongolZ: A Glimpse of Greatness
Though they fell short, The MongolZ’s Austin campaign was their most convincing yet. Overcoming FaZe (with a stand-in) and paiN, the team showed a newfound resilience. Senzu, often criticized for disappearing on stage, delivered impactful clutches and carried Mirage with authority. It wasn’t a win, but it was a warning shot from Asia’s finest.
ZywOo’s MVP Domination
Just hours after lifting the trophy, HLTV confirmed what we all expected — ZywOo, with a 1.58 group stage rating and 1.33 in the arena, claimed his second Major MVP. He now joins coldzera and device in that rare club, and with six months to go, is in prime position to shatter the yearly MVP record.
His 1v2 clutch on Inferno’s second round sealed The MongolZ’s fate and propelled Vitality to a 4-1 lead they never surrendered.
Source: Hltv.org. Edited photo
Conclusion: An Era in Bloom
Vitality’s seventh title, their first Major in 2025, and their continued reign over CS2 mark the start of something greater — a true era. All eyes now turn to the season’s second half: Can apEX and co. maintain this level, or are we witnessing the peak before the plateau?
One thing’s for sure — if they keep this up, the word “dynasty” won’t just be thrown around, it’ll be carved into Counter-Strike history.