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The Esports Awards 2025 in Las Vegas delivered a big night for Counter-Strike 2. Mathieu “ZywOo” Herbaut won Best PC Esports Player, and Team Vitality earned Esports Team of the Year.

These awards highlight how dominant Vitality were early in 2025, but they also arrive at a moment when the team is searching for answers.

Vitality’s Early 2025 Dominance

Vitality’s award is rooted in a historic first half of the year. The team won titles at IEM Katowice, ESL Pro League Seasons 21 and 22, BLAST Open Spring, BLAST Rivals Spring, IEM Melbourne, IEM Dallas, the BLAST.tv Austin Major, and they closed the run with the ESL Grand Slam Season 5.

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No team matched their consistency or firepower. Their run made them the clear top team in the world.

ZywOo Repeats as Best PC Esports Player

ZywOo was once again the most impactful player in CS2. He collected multiple MVP awards, delivered elite consistency at every major event, and remained the key factor behind Vitality’s early success.

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Even so, he has not fully been able to pull the team out of its recent struggles.

The Second-Half Slowdown

Despite strong fundamentals, Vitality’s form slipped in the second half of 2025. They reached multiple semifinals and finals, but their dominance faded. Runner-up finishes at IEM Chengdu and BLAST Open Fall exposed recurring issues in late-round situations.

Vitality repeatedly lost 5v4, 4v3 and even 1v5 rounds. Their semifinal loss to Falcons at BLAST Rivals Season 2 showed the same pattern. flameZ later admitted the team lacked clarity and needed better structure.

Vitality remain dangerous, but not the unstoppable force they were earlier in the year.

Rivals Rising: FURIA and Falcons

While Vitality stalled, FURIA transformed into the strongest team heading into Budapest. They won four titles since the summer break and dominated Vitality at both IEM Chengdu and BLAST Rivals Season 2. molodoy has emerged as a top CS2 player, and FalleN’s leadership is producing disciplined, confident play.

Falcons have also surged. With m0NESY and NiKo in top form and improved teamwork, they have beaten Vitality multiple times and now look like real Major contenders.

All Eyes on the Starladder Budapest Major

The Budapest Major is the last event of the year and the stage where everything will be decided.

Vitality’s key questions are clear: Can they fix their late-round issues? Can the roster settle under pressure? Can they rebuild their map pool? And will the awards give them the confidence boost they need?

FURIA and Falcons enter Budapest as favorites. Vitality enter as a dangerous dark horse capable of either a deep championship run or an early exit.

Conclusion

Vitality and ZywOo earned their awards through a historic first half of 2025. But the Budapest Major will determine whether they can revive that form or whether a new era, led by FURIA or Falcons, is about to begin.

Budapest will tell the true story of 2025.