Team Vitality has emerged as the champions of the BLAST.tv Austin Major, securing the 22nd title in the Counter-Strike esports series. The French esports organization defeated Mongolia’s The MongolZ in an intense best-of-three final at the Moody Center in Austin, Texas, with a packed crowd witnessing the drama unfold.
The match began on Mirage, the map pick of The MongolZ, where the opening half was a back-and-forth affair. The Mongolian team managed to edge out a narrow 7-5 lead at halftime, showing promise as they dominated early rounds. However, Team Vitality quickly fell into their rhythm in the second half, with the MongolZ holding on to little ground. With solid performances across the board, Team Vitality secured a dominant 13-5 win on Mirage, inching them closer to their first Major victory of 2025.
With the series tied at 1-0, Team Vitality bounced back on Dust II, their own map pick. They quickly asserted their defensive dominance, winning six rounds in a row to build an early advantage. The MongolZ countered with some strong offensive rounds, but by the end of the half, they found themselves in a tough spot, trailing 9-3. Team Vitality didn’t let up, extending their lead to 12-4 before sealing the map with a commanding 13-4 victory, forcing a final deciding map on Inferno.
The Inferno map started with a burst of energy from The MongolZ, who claimed the first pistol round and used some exceptional utility play to take control of the A site. However, Team Vitality responded with a clinical retake strategy, with the likes of Mathieu ‘ZywOo’ Herbaut and Dan ‘apEX’ Madesclaire leading the charge. The French squad powered through, taking a 9-3 lead into halftime.
The second half saw Team Vitality seize the momentum early with a crucial pistol round victory, extending their lead to 10-3. Despite some inspiring individual efforts from the MongolZ, including a spectacular one-versus-two clutch from Sodbayar ‘Techno4K’ Munkhbold in round 17, The MongolZ could not close the gap. Team Vitality capitalized on a few slip-ups in the MongolZ defense to claim a final 13-6 score on Inferno, locking up a 2-1 series win and the Austin Major trophy.
The victory marks another milestone for Team Vitality in the Counter-Strike competitive scene, rounding off the first half of 2025 with a Major title.
"We are incredibly proud of what we’ve achieved today," said apEX in a post-match interview. "The MongolZ played exceptionally well, and it was an honor to face them in such a high-stakes final. We’ve worked hard for this moment, and we’ll continue to build on this success as we move forward."
The win also extends the legacy of Vitality's star player, ZywOo, whose individual brilliance was a key factor in the team's dominant performances throughout the tournament. With this Major title under their belt, Team Vitality now shifts focus to future tournaments, eager to continue their dominance in the world of competitive Counter-Strike.
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