Mathieu “ZywOo” Herbaut is one of the best CS players of all time and Vitality’s 2025 is one of the best years for a team of all time. But for some reason, they don’t like starting the Major with a win.
At the BLAST Austin Major they started with a 13-3 loss on Inferno to Legacy and – no disrespect to Legacy – that was one of the most shocking results of the whole Major. Vitality losing their opening game was more surprising than them winning the whole event.
This year at the Budapest Major they took a 13-7 loss to FaZe, but have since blazed through to the playoffs winning their next 3 games. Talking on the All About CS podcast with James Banks and Devilwalk, ZywOo jokes about Vitality’s slow starts to majors.
“We like to be slapped in the first game. It’s a good reminder that in the Major we can’t underestimate anyone.”
And while Vitality is still one of the favorites going in to the Playoffs of the Budapest Major, they’re not the overwhelming favorite coming off six straight tournaments wins. But comparing the season is unrealistic, according to ZywOo.
“We can’t compare the two seasons. The first one we still don’t believe was real and the second one we want to do the same [as the first]”
Together with Spirit and FURIA, who have won 3 straight tournaments going in to the Major, they make up a very close top 3. That takes some of the pressure off Vitality.
“We are in the top 3, but we have less pressure. The expectation is lower, but we want to push ourselves to feel a bit of pressure, because we play well under pressure.”
Pressure or not to win the Major you have to be very good. For Vitality their first step is taking down The MongolZ on Thursday with a matchup against Falcons or Spirit looming.
Watch the full episode just below:
