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December 14, 2025 | Alexander Saraff

Vitality end FaZe’s miracle run and claim back-to-back majors

mezii proved himself as the top performer of the grand final ahead of ZywOo, ropz and frozen.

mezii proved himself as the top performer of the grand final ahead of ZywOo, ropz and frozen.

Vitality cement 2025 with a 37-series long streak, 9 trophies including two majors, and a Grand Slam title.

Now the only question for them is if they are greater than peak Astralis from 2018.

“Astralis won 10 trophies with one major in one year and we won 9, but two were majors,” apEX said in his post-match interview. “I don’t know who is better, but we accomplished something incredible this year.”

Karrigan: “I’m gonna fight until they put me on the bench”

FaZe came out swinging in the first map of this final, winning Nuke 13-6. However, they were unable to replicate the same form on the following maps.

Vitality destroyed FaZe on Dust2 with William ‘mezii’ Merriman and Mathieu ‘ZywOo’ Herbaut stealing the show, allowing FaZe only three rounds total.

“Hopefully no changes, that’s what I wish for in Christmas,” Finn ‘karrigan’ Andersen said after the match. “Vitality was too much for us today, but next year we will be better”

“People have told me to retire for 7 years, they probably do now as well,” karrigan said. “But I’m gonna fight until they put me on the bench.”

Things heat up on Inferno

On Inferno, FaZe looked truly threatening, as they looked to bring the form they showed against NAVI. Luckily for Vitality, they had mezii. He was a nightmare on CT-side, and closed the half with a brutal trigger discipline moment under the highest of pressure.

Vitality managed to close out on T side, as they made great reads and executed admirably, considering the pressure.

Vitality ropz demonizes FaZe

Robin ‘ropz’ Kool finalized his MVP candidacy at this event by going 22-7 in K/D in the final map. Alongside ZywOo and Daniil ‘donk’ Kryshkovets, he was one of the highest rated players of the event.

Vitality close their Major playoffs with only a single map loss, that being their opening map in the final on Nuke. Besides that, they had close maps, but looked like the Vitality from the first season that would always find a way.

Match Statistics

Team Vitality vs FaZe Clan | Starladder Budapest Grand Final

6-13 (Nuke) – karrigan | 1.56 rating

13-3 (Dust2) – mezii | 1.70 rating

13-9 (Inferno) – mezii | 2.00 rating

13-2 (Overpass) – ropz | 2.89 rating

Author

Alexander Saraff

Read more about me

I'm an aspiring journalist in the world of esports. I first got into MOBAs watching SMITE in 2015, and got hooked on CS from the MLG Columbus Major.

My goal as a journalist in this space is to tell the esports stories that will live on in history, and give insight into the stories behind the scenes when they're relevant.

Besides that, I have a bachelor's in philosophy and have an interest in German thinkers from the 18th-19th century.

Read more about me