Team Vitality solidified their position as the undisputed best Counter-Strike team in the world after a commanding 3-0 victory over NAVI in the Grand Final. The win marks their third consecutive title this year, extending an incredible 22-map win streak and continuing the momentum from their record-breaking 2025 season. As the team looks ahead to IEM Rio, they stand on the precipice of history with a chance to become the first organization to win the Intel Grand Slam twice.
Following the final, William “mezii” Merriman discussed the team’s current form, their mindset, and the structural decisions that have kept them at the top.
A dream run built on humility
For mezii, the current streak is a testament to the collective effort of both the players and the support staff. Despite the overwhelming success, the roster’s focus remains entirely on continuous improvement.
It is a bit of a dream,” mezii said regarding the team’s current trajectory. “Everything that is happening right now, the wins that we are having, the map streaks, all the records that are being broken. I think it is incredible. I am just happy that everyone in the team is still staying humble and we are still staying as a team that is still hungry to keep winning and keep pushing ourselves.
Conquering their biggest opponent
While rival rosters are constantly trying to dethrone the reigning champions, mezii acknowledged that Vitality’s biggest threat has often been their own internal dynamics. Reflecting on the latter half of the previous year, he noted that frustration sometimes led to poor performances.
A turning point came after the Budapest Major, where the team made a conscious decision to shift their mentality and demand more from each other.
We want to continuously keep pushing ourselves as a team, as individuals, and make sure that we win as much as we can,” mezii explained. “We do not want to have any regrets and think we could have won this tournament or that one. Now, we want to keep winning everything.
He remains confident that if the team maintains their work ethic, their position at the top is secure. “If we keep innovating, keep working hard, I do not think teams can get close to us.”
Strategic breaks and preventing burnout
A key factor in Vitality’s sustained success this year has been strategic scheduling. The decision to skip Pro League earlier in the season was a deliberate move to prevent the exhaustion that plagued them the previous year. mezii praised the Vitality management for prioritizing player well-being.
Of course, as a player you want to play as much as you can, but at the same time at the end of it you are going to feel exhausted,” mezii noted. “It is important as a player, as a team that we have these breaks where we can kind of refresh, get remotivated again, and push on for the next tournament.
He also credited the organization for taking the logistical burden off the roster.
I am really happy with how all the staff at Vitality deal with this. As a player, we do not have to worry too much. They ask for our input, but they are the main ones dealing with our schedule, making sure that we feel refreshed.
Chasing history in Rio
With IEM Rio just weeks away, Vitality has the opportunity to secure their second Intel Grand Slam. While mezii respects the competition, his belief in the roster is unwavering.
That is the goal,” mezii stated. “We know it is going to be tough. Just because we have won a few tournaments at the start of this year does not mean it is guaranteed that we are going to go win the next one. But we know if we keep working hard and we keep pushing ourselves, if we play at our right level and do the right things, we know we are going to be winning tournaments.
You can see the full interview with the Englishman down below.
