Mathieu “ZywOo” Herbaut is a professional Counter-Strike player from France, widely recognized as one of the most talented competitors in the game’s history. Since his early days in the competitive scene, ZywOo has achieved numerous accolades, securing multiple MVP titles, leading his team to major championship victories, and earning recognition as one of the best individual players in Counter-Strike. His precision, game sense, and consistency make him a dominant force in the professional scene.
Personal Information
ZywOo was born on November 9, 2000, in Lens, France. He began playing Counter-Strike at the age of seven, receiving encouragement from his mother, who ensured he balanced gaming with his education. Despite his early interest in esports, he completed his secondary education and earned his baccalauréat before fully committing to a professional career in competitive Counter-Strike.
Career History
ZywOo started playing competitive Counter-Strike in 2014, playing for the French squad dizLown. Over the next few years, he moved through several lesser-known teams, including Nevermind, E-Corp Bumpers, WySix Team, and against All authority (AAA). During this period, his performance gained attention, but it wasn’t until he joined Team Vitality in October 2018 that he truly stepped into professional play and onto the global stage. Under the Vitality banner, ZywOo quickly became one of the most highly regarded players in professional Counter-Strike.
Current and Former Teams
- dizLown (2014-2015)
- Nevermind (2015)
- E-Corp Bumpers (2016)
- WySix Team (March 2017 – September 2017)
- against All authority (AAA) (September 2017 – October 2018)
- Team Vitality (October 2018 – Present)
Notable Achievements
Throughout his career, ZywOo has established himself as one of the most decorated players in Counter-Strike history. His notable achievements include:
- HLTV Player of the Year: Named the best player in the world by HLTV in 2019, 2020, and 2023, making him one of the youngest players ever to achieve this distinction.
- MVP Awards: Winner of 21 HLTV MVP awards, recognizing him as the best performer in numerous tournaments.
- Major Championships: Claimed victory in a range of premier tournaments, including the BLAST Paris Major 2023, ESL One: Cologne 2019, and DreamHack Open Atlanta 2018.
Notable Tournaments Victories
- 🏆 BLAST Premier: World Final 2023 – 1st place, $500,000
- 🏆 BLAST.tv Paris Major 2023 – 1st place, $500,000
- 🏆 Intel Extreme Masters Katowice 2025 – 1st place, $400,000
- 🏆 Intel Extreme Masters Cologne 2024 – 1st place, $400,000
- 🏆 Gamers8 2023 – 1st place, $400,000
- 🏆 EPICENTER 2019 – 1st place, $250,000
- 🏆 BLAST Premier: Fall 2020 – 1st place, $225,000
- 🏆 Esports Championship Series Season 7 – Finals – 1st place, $225,000
- 🏆 BLAST Premier: Fall Final 2023 – 1st place, $200,000
- 🏆 ESL Pro League Season 16 – 1st place, $200,000
Awards and Recognition
- 21 HLTV MVP Awards, recognizing ZywOo’s dominance in individual tournaments.
- HLTV Best Player of the Year in 2019, 2020, and 2023.
- Youngest HLTV Player of the Year: Achieved the accolade in 2019 at the age of 19.
MVP medals:
- 🎖️ IEM Katowice 2025
- 🎖️ IEM Cologne 2024
- 🎖️ ESL Pro League Season 19
- 🎖️ BLAST Premier World Final 2023
- 🎖️ BLAST Premier Fall 2023
- 🎖️ Gamers8 2023
- 🎖️ BLAST.tv Paris Major 2023
- 🎖️ IEM Rio 2023
- 🎖️ ESL Pro League Season 16
- 🎖️ IEM Winter 2021
- 🎖️ BLAST Premier Fall 2020 Finals
- 🎖️ IEM Beijing-Haidian 2020 Europe
- 🎖️ DreamHack Open Fall 2020
- 🎖️ ESL One Cologne 2020 Europe
- 🎖️ cs_summit 6 Europe
- 🎖️ BLAST Premier Spring 2020 Europe Finals
- 🎖️ EPICENTER 2019
- 🎖️ DreamHack Masters Malmö 2019
- 🎖️ ESL One Cologne 2019
- 🎖️ ECS Season 7 Finals
- 🎖️ cs_summit 4
Trivia
- ZywOo is often referred to as “The Chosen One” due to being born on November 9, 2000, the same day Counter-Strike was commercially released.
- He is widely admired for his calm and composed demeanor, which allows him to maintain consistency even under intense pressure.
FAQ – ZywOo
What makes ZywOo one of the best Counter-Strike players?
ZywOo’s exceptional mechanical skills, game sense, and consistency make him a standout player. His ability to deliver crucial plays under pressure and his diverse skill set contribute to his reputation as one of the best players in the game.
How many times has ZywOo been named HLTV’s Best Player of the Year?
He has been named HLTV’s Best Player of the Year three times: in 2019, 2020, and 2023.
Which teams has ZywOo played for?
Before joining Team Vitality in 2018, ZywOo played for several smaller French teams, including dizLown, Nevermind, E-Corp Bumpers, WySix Team, and against All authority (AAA).
What are some of ZywOo’s most significant tournament wins?
Some of his most notable tournament victories include the BLAST Paris Major 2023, DreamHack Open Atlanta 2018, ECS Season 7 Finals, and EPICENTER 2019.
How did ZywOo start his professional career?
ZywOo started competing professionally in 2014 with dizLown and gradually worked his way through multiple French teams before securing a spot in Team Vitality in 2018.
What is ZywOo’s playing style?
ZywOo is known for his precision and tactical approach, excelling both as a primary AWPer and with rifles. His decision-making in critical moments often sets him apart from other players.
Why is ZywOo called “The Chosen One”?
He was born on November 9, 2000, the same day Counter-Strike was officially released, leading many to consider it a symbolic connection to his career in the game.
What awards has ZywOo won?
In addition to numerous MVP awards, ZywOo has been recognized as the best player in the world multiple times by HLTV.
What is ZywOo’s impact on Team Vitality?
Since joining Vitality in 2018, ZywOo has been the team’s key player, leading them to numerous international tournament victories and consistently putting up standout performances.
What is ZywOo’s reputation in the professional Counter-Strike community?
He is widely respected for both his in-game skills and his humble personality. Fellow players and analysts often rank him among the greatest Counter-Strike players of all time.
