Vitality Dominates the 2025 Season — What to Expect from Them in 2026

The 2025 season became a true breakthrough for Team Vitality. The team consistently won major tournaments, triumphed at two Majors, and finished the year as the strongest squad on the CS2 scene. Vitality proved that their success was not accidental, but the result of systematic work and strong team play. A new season lies ahead, and the main question is whether the French organization can maintain its level in 2026. In this article, we take a closer look at what to expect from Vitality in the 2026 season.

Why Vitality Became the Undisputed Team of 2025

Team Vitality’s success began early in the year, after the organization decided to bench Lotan “Spinx” Giladi—who later joined MOUZ—and sign Robin “ropz” Kool from FaZe Clan. The first major tournament for the updated roster was BLAST Bounty Spring 2025, where the French team finished in 5–8th place. Immediately after that, Vitality claimed victory at Intel Extreme Masters Katowice 2025, defeating Team Spirit 3–0 in the grand final.

It was after IEM Katowice 2025 that the Vitality era truly began, as they went on to win the following tournaments:

• ESL Pro League Season 21
• BLAST Open Spring 2025
• Intel Extreme Masters Melbourne 2025
• BLAST Rivals Spring 2025
• Intel Extreme Masters Dallas 2025

Team Vitality also won the first Major of the year, BLAST.tv Austin Major 2025. In addition, they secured the ESL Grand Slam Season 5, earning a $1 million prize. At that point, it became clear that Vitality were the main contenders for victory at every major tournament.

After the summer Major, the team entered the new season without making any roster changes—a completely logical decision, given how well the current lineup was performing. The first major event after the break was Intel Extreme Masters Cologne 2025, where Vitality finished in 3–4th place, an unexpected result for many fans. At BLAST Bounty Fall 2025, Esports World Cup 2025, BLAST Open Fall 2025, Intel Extreme Masters Chengdu 2025, and BLAST Rivals Fall 2025, Vitality were eliminated in the playoffs, sometimes finishing second. This raised concerns: were they losing the form they had shown earlier in the season?

Amid these results, however, Vitality won ESL Pro League Season 22, once again proving that finishes in 2nd, 3rd, or 4th place were only temporary difficulties the team was actively working through.

Ahead of StarLadder Budapest Major 2025, held from November 24 to December 14, Vitality entered as one of the favorites—but not a guaranteed champion. The main reason was their 0–3 loss to FURIA in the final of IEM Chengdu 2025. Many analysts predicted that if the two teams met again, FURIA could secure a convincing victory, especially given the BO5 format of that final. These predictions were not unfounded: FURIA were in excellent form, having won four trophies in the previous two months.

It is important to note that Vitality’s success does not rely on just one star player, ZywOo, who often earned MVP titles. The team has a clear strategy against any opponent. They remain calm even when trailing 2–10, allowing them to turn games around and secure victories.

After defeating FaZe Clan in the final of StarLadder Budapest Major 2025, head coach Rémy “XTQZZZ” Quoniam admitted that the team faced certain difficulties after the loss to FURIA at IEM Chengdu. However, Vitality put in maximum effort to resolve those issues and ultimately claimed a confident victory at their second Major of the year.

The System Behind the Success: Roster, Roles, and Identity

Team Vitality’s dominance in 2025 was not just about ZywOo’s individual brilliance, but about a clearly structured internal system. Vitality looked like a team with a fully formed identity: disciplined, structured, yet flexible enough to adapt to any opponent and to the evolving demands of CS2.

Each player had a clearly defined role and area of responsibility. ZywOo remained one of the key figures, but the team did not depend solely on his individual performance. Through strong internal communication, Vitality consistently created space for AWP play, allowing them to win rounds even in matches where ZywOo was not posting standout statistics.

Tactical preparation and the work of the coaching staff also played a major role in Vitality’s dominance. The team possessed a deep map pool, high-quality strategies, and the ability to change tempo mid-match. They felt equally comfortable in slow, methodical rounds and in aggressive executions. Systematic analysis and adaptation to CS2 trends allowed Vitality not only to maintain a high level but to improve throughout the season, preserving mental stability and avoiding serious slumps.

As a result, Team Vitality’s roster looked fully complete. In 2025, the team had no obvious weaknesses and required no urgent changes in roles or lineup. A key factor in this stability was captain apEX, who was responsible for structure, discipline, and the team’s emotional balance. His leadership helped teammates stay focused even in difficult moments. Thanks to apEX’s clear leadership and the cohesive work of the entire roster, Vitality moved from being simply a strong team to becoming a consistent favorite at every tournament.

Can Vitality Stay on Top in 2026? Expectations and Possible Challenges

After winning StarLadder Budapest Major 2025, Team Vitality—like most top teams—headed into the winter break to rest and prepare for the 2026 season. Their first tournament of the year will be BLAST Bounty Winter 2026, though this event is unlikely to be a top priority. The real start of the season is expected to be IEM Kraków 2026, which is part of the ESL Grand Slam race and is already considered a key early-season objective.

The main question, however, is whether Vitality can maintain their form and continue their dominance. In 2026, competition will only increase: rivals will make roster changes, study Vitality’s tactics and playstyle more closely, and try to adapt specifically against them. All of this could impact the French team’s results. That said, Vitality are well aware of these risks and are preparing for an intense battle, with the goal of becoming even stronger.

After the Major victory, team captain apEX spoke openly about their ambitions for the following year. According to him, the main objective is a second consecutive ESL Grand Slam, and it all starts in Kraków. Vitality also plan to return to the Major in Cologne and aim to show their maximum potential there. These statements confirm that the team is highly motivated, understands the growing level of competition, and knows that in 2026, every opponent will be looking to knock them off the top of the CS2 world.