Team Vitality have etched their names into Counter-Strike history. With a dominant grand final victory over FaZe Clan at the StarLadder Budapest Major 2025, Vitality secured their second consecutive Major title, becoming the first team since 2019 to achieve a championship double.
After a season filled with deep playoff runs but limited trophies, Vitality delivered when it mattered most. They powered through one of the most stacked playoff brackets ever assembled and lifted the only trophy that truly defines greatness.
Team Rosters – FaZe vs. Vitality
FaZe Clan: broky, karrigan, frozen, jcobbb, Twistzz
Team Vitality: apEX, ZywOo, flameZ, mezii, ropz
Ten elite players entered a best-of-five grand final with history on the line. Only one team would walk away immortal.
Map Veto Overview
- FaZe removed Train
- Vitality removed Ancient
- FaZe picked Nuke
- Vitality picked Dust2
- FaZe picked Inferno
- Vitality picked Overpass
- Mirage remained
The series opened on Nuke, a battleground both teams know well.
Nuke – FaZe Strike First (13–6)
FaZe came out swinging. Early mistakes from Vitality, including missed defuses and late-round timing issues, allowed FaZe to seize momentum. Twistzz and karrigan punished every opening, while jcobbb continued his incredible pistol-round form.
Vitality struggled to stabilize. Despite flashes of brilliance from mezii in clutch situations, FaZe controlled the tempo and closed Nuke convincingly, handing Vitality a sobering start to the final.
Dust2 – Vitality Answer Back in Style (13–3)
Dust2 was a complete reversal. flameZ ignited the map with a stunning four-kill Glock round, and FaZe never recovered. Vitality exploited weak rotations and repeatedly cracked open the B site.
ZywOo and mezii dominated mid-round fights, while FaZe’s economy collapsed under constant pressure. Vitality stormed through the map, delivering a near-flawless performance and tying the series in emphatic fashion.
Inferno – Vitality Take Control (13–9)
Inferno proved to be the turning point. FaZe found early success, but once Vitality’s rifles came online, the balance shifted. ropz anchored key positions with surgical precision, while mezii delivered yet another clutch to swing momentum.
FaZe mounted a late push, but Vitality’s structure held firm. A composed finish saw the defending champions claim the map and move one win away from history.
Overpass – Total Domination (13–1)
Any hopes of a FaZe comeback were crushed on Overpass. Vitality were ruthless from the opening pistol. ropz was unstoppable around Monster and Bank, while ZywOo picked apart every rotation.
FaZe were suffocated on both sides of the map. Even desperate force buys failed to slow Vitality’s march. The final round fell, and with it, the Major trophy was decided in brutal fashion.
A Defining Legacy for Vitality
With this win, apEX now stands among Counter-Strike’s greatest leaders, lifting three Major trophies across two different Vitality lineups. ZywOo further strengthened his case as one of the greatest players of all time, adding yet another Major to an already legendary résumé.
ropz’s decision to leave FaZe for Vitality was validated on the biggest stage possible. Sacrificing personal spotlight for championships has paid off in the ultimate way.
Vitality didn’t just win the Budapest Major, they confirmed their dominance over 2025 and secured their place in Counter-Strike history.
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