Vitality CS2: a final defeat in the EWC semi-final marks the end of an era

Vitality CS2 suffered a final defeat in the semi-finals of the Esports World Cup (EWC) 2025, marking an important end of an era for this iconic Counter-Strike 2 team. After a season that started off brilliantly, the Bees saw their hopes collapse, unable to overcome this crucial hurdle in several major tournaments. Here are the key points summarizing this situation:

• A dominant start to the season where Vitality seemed unbeatable, stringing together spectacular victories.
• Repeated failures in the semi-finals against increasingly tough opponents, notably The MongolZ.
• Superior tactical evolution from opponents that put the Bees’ adaptability to the test.
• Strong individual performances but a collective cohesion that falters under pressure.
• A necessity for Vitality to rethink its strategy and mentality if it wants to reconnect with success.

This last defeat highlights the current challenges for a team used to ruling the CS2 scene. We will explore in detail the different aspects of this end of an era through several in-depth analyses, from competition dynamics to the expectations weighing on Vitality and their future prospects.

A significant semi-final defeat at the EWC: Vitality facing The MongolZ

Vitality’s last semi-final match at the EWC 2025 will go down in history as a remarkable defeat. After cruising through the initial phases of the tournament, Vitality had to bow out 2-1 against The MongolZ, an up-and-coming team that exploited the French side’s tactical and mental weaknesses. The match took place over three maps: Mirage, Dust2, and Nuke, offering a spectacle rich in intensity but also revealing the difficulties of the Bees.

On Mirage, The MongolZ perfectly controlled the game with a final score of 13-8. Their rigorous defense and coordination prevented Vitality from imposing their style. The French side’s reaction was quick: on Dust2, Vitality responded with controlled aggression and remarkable team play, securing a 13-9 victory. The highlight of the match was on Nuke, where The MongolZ’s surge in the first half, with an impressive 9-0, smothered all comeback attempts by the Bees. Vitality ultimately conceded 13-7, sealing the match’s fatal outcome.

Looking at individual performances, Techno’s mastery, a player from The MongolZ, was decisive. Far from lacking talent, Vitality saw its usual leaders like ZywOo, ropz, or flameZ struggle to find their rhythm in crucial moments. This defeat highlights a lack of collective inspiration, a nervousness that hinders the execution of their potential.

This match also serves as a reminder of how high and constantly evolving the level of competition in CS2 esports is. Opponents keep innovating, forcing top teams to adapt quickly to avoid being overtaken. Despite its history and undeniable qualities, Vitality must now face rivals capable of disrupting its dominance, as evidenced by The MongolZ, a new unstoppable force.

The semi-final losing streak for Vitality CS2: a psychological barrier?

The observation is obvious: Vitality has been facing a recurring difficulty for several months in surpassing the semi-final stage in major CS2 tournaments. Whether at IEM Cologne 2025 or BLAST Bounty Malta, the French team often hit this same obstacle, often against opponents like The MongolZ or MOUZ, who have exploited every weakness. These repeated setbacks raise the question of a possible mental barrier hindering Vitality’s progress in major tournaments.

In these decisive phases where every round counts, it is noticeable that the team struggles to handle pressure. Strategic errors and moments of hesitation become more frequent, while the opponent appears more confident and well-prepared for Vitality’s tactics. This phenomenon impacts group dynamics and in-game execution, making it difficult to convert individual potential into decisive results. This negative spiral also fuels a certain frustration among supporters and analysts, who do not always understand this blockage.

Several factors can be identified that feed this losing streak:

• A favorite status that adds additional psychological pressure on the team.
• A playing style that has become insufficiently surprising, making Vitality more predictable against seasoned opponents.
• Mental fatigue after a busy season where expectations were high.
• Sometimes static tactical choices, lacking creativity at critical moments.

These challenges are not unique to Vitality, but for a team of this magnitude, it is crucial to quickly find solutions. Around the star players and the captain, it is essential to cultivate mental resilience to avoid the pressure further compromising their journey. The CS2 esports scene is both ruthless and thrilling, offering examples of spectacular turnarounds when a team manages to push beyond its limits.

Discover Vitality’s recent journey at Starladder Budapest Major 2025 to gauge the impact of their mindset in competition.

An impact on CS2 esports: Vitality and the end of an era

The semi-final defeat at EWC 2025 not only symbolizes a failed match but marks the end of an era for Vitality CS2, a team that has shaped the recent history of the game. This French organization dominated the CS2 scene for several seasons, collecting titles and becoming a key pillar of the sector. The end of this era comes with a crucial need to reinvent itself to remain competitive in a constantly evolving landscape.

Vitality embodied a glorious phase, exemplified by the victory at the Paris Major in 2023, where it inscribed its name among the legends of the game. With players like ZywOo and ropz who are among the best worldwide, the team delivered a style that was both spectacular and effective, capable of inspiring a broad community. This period helped strengthen France’s appeal in esports, a market in full expansion.

However, the emergence of new competitors and the constant metamorphosis of strategies in CS2 expose Vitality to a major challenge: maintaining its level of excellence by renewing its approaches. The role of management, coaching, and individual player development becomes paramount when facing teams like The MongolZ who bring fresh energy and controlled aggression.

This shift is visible in the evolution of recent tournaments:

Tournament	Vitality’s Result	Eliminating Opponent	Strategic Impact
IEM Cologne 2025	Semi-final	MOUZ	Tactical rigidity put to failure
BLAST Bounty Malta	Semi-final	The MongolZ	Superior opponent adaptation
EWC 2025	Semi-final	The MongolZ	Mental pressure and nervousness

We understand how much these successive setbacks fuel debates within the esports community linked to Counter-Strike. To better follow these issues, also consult the analysis of the 2025 CS2 tournament season, illustrating the rise of new players.

Strengths and weaknesses in the Vitality CS2 team composition

Vitality still retains key elements in its roster that guarantee strong competitiveness in CS2, but recurrent weaknesses disrupt overall harmony. The balance between brilliant individual players and collective cohesion appears fragile during decisive phases. We have, therefore:

• ZywOo, often acclaimed as one of the best players in the world, maintains an excellent level.
• ropz, a versatile player, remains a major tactical asset.
• flameZ brings consistency to performances but sometimes struggles to be decisive.
• A management team that must adapt to increasing pressure and better manage mental preparation.
• The necessity to integrate or renew certain strategic components to surprise opponents.

Individual performances are still very solid, but it is in this capacity to generate an effective team effect, especially in key moments, that Vitality meets its limits. This tension is visible in tight matches where important rounds often do not go their way.

It seems clear that a profound reassessment of the playing style and a renewed collective dynamic are essential. It is not just about recruiting or training a new player, but about reviewing the overall approach—both tactical and psychological.

Vitality’s history makes it one of the iconic teams of French esports, but this period of questioning will be decisive for their future.

An uncertain future and major expectations for Vitality CS2

As the 2026 season begins under a sky laden with uncertainties, Vitality CS2 must urgently face a crucial challenge: to overcome these disappointments and come back stronger in competition. The goal is clear: to reconnect with a constant presence in finals and become one of the undisputed leaders of CS2 esports again.

For this, several areas of focus are to be prioritized:

1. Mental strengthening and stress management: notably through psychological support, essential to overcome the pressure of major events.
2. Tactical innovation: Vitality must diversify its strategies to prevent opponents from reading their game plans too easily.
3. Teamwork: improve the fluidity of exchanges and synergy between players, especially in decisive phases.
4. Revaluation of coaching and video analysis: fully use tools to anticipate opponents and refine adjustments in real time.
5. Fan engagement around the team, essential to create a positive atmosphere regardless of the result.

These avenues will be illustrated in upcoming tournaments, notably during events in London, such as BLAST London 2025, where Vitality will need to show convincing signs of rebound.

Supporters play a more crucial role than ever to encourage the team during this difficult period. Solidarity must prevail, as every player, even the best, goes through tough phases. It is in these moments that the Vitality community can make a difference and help its players regain confidence and ambition.