Vitality fended off six match points in the fifth map before clinching victory in a triple overtime thrillerIt was only fitting that a historic day be marked by a match of equally historic proportions. On Sunday, after a suspense-filled showdown, Team Vitality emerged victorious at the IEM Melbourne Counter-Strike 2 tournament, edging out Team Falcons in a dramatic 3–2 final. Having already secured titles at IEM Cologne in August 2024, IEM Katowice in January, and ESL Pro League Season 21 in March, the Bees not only reaffirmed their position as the world’s top team but also etched their name further into the annals of CS history by completing the Intel Grand Slam — awarded to teams that win four ESL S-Tier events within a ten-month window. This exceptional achievement not only grants them legendary status within Valve’s iconic franchise but also a $1 million payday. While the crowd at Melbourne’s Rod Laver Arena had been underwhelmed by lopsided quarterfinals and semifinals, Sunday’s final exceeded every expectation and quickly veered into the extraordinary. First, because the match went the full five maps. Vitality and Falcons each secured their respective map picks — Inferno and Train for the Bees, Dust II and Mirage for the Saudi-backed team. But it was the sheer implausibility of the final map, played on Nuke, that elevated this contest to the realm of legend. In his debut appearance for the Falcons, Ilya "m0NESY" Osipov came agonizingly close to claiming his first title. Falcons began the map in dominant fashion, racking up nine rounds on the CT side. They then added three more on the offensive side, bringing the score to 12–6. At that point, Damjan "kyxsan" Stoilkovski and his teammates held six match points. Cornered, Vitality had no choice but to win every remaining round to force overtime — and against all odds, they did just that. At 12–12, the title would be decided in extra rounds. Falcons struck first in overtime, earning two more match points, both once again neutralized by Vitality. In the second overtime, the momentum seemed to shift, with the Bees creating three opportunities to close out the series (18–15). Yet Falcons responded with resilience, leveling the score at 18–18. The third overtime unfolded amid peak tension, both on stage and in the arena. Trailing 19–20, Vitality finally broke through and sealed the victory at 22–20. This triumph, secured after more than seven hours of play, cemented the legacies of Dan “apEX” Madesclaire and Mathieu "ZywOo" Herbaut. The two stalwarts of the roster have now won every major title available on the CS circuit — with ZywOo once again named MVP of the tournament. Often criticized for any shortcomings within the team, William "mezii" Merriman also delivered a standout performance in the final, further justifying his place within a squad that now bears all the marks of an indomitable force. As for Falcons, this first outing with m0NESY may ultimately leave a bitter aftertaste. Still, the team — already champions of PGL Bucharest prior to the Russian AWPer’s arrival — has clearly demonstrated the potential to establish itself as a lasting presence at the top of the global Counter-Strike hierarchy.
It was only fitting that a match of equally historic proportions mark a historic day. On Sunday, after a suspense-filled showdown, Team Vitality emerged victorious at the IEM Melbourne Counter-Strike 2 tournament, edging out Team Falcons in a dramatic 3–2 final. Having already secured titles at IEM Cologne in August 2024, IEM Katowice in January, and ESL Pro League Season 21 in March, the Bees not only reaffirmed their position as the world’s top team but also etched their name further into the annals of CS history by becoming the fifth team in history to complete the Intel Grand Slam — awarded to teams that win four ESL S-Tier events within a ten-month window. This exceptional achievement grants them legendary status within Valve’s iconic franchise and a $1 million cashprize.
While the crowd at Melbourne’s Rod Laver Arena had been underwhelmed by lopsided quarterfinals and semifinals, Sunday’s final exceeded every expectation and quickly veered into the extraordinary. First, because the match went the full five maps. Vitality and Falcons each secured their respective map picks — Inferno and Train for the Bees, Dust II and Mirage for the Saudi team. But it was the sheer implausibility of the final map, played on Nuke, that elevated this contest to the realm of legend.
Six match points
In his debut appearance for Team Falcons, Ilya "m0NESY" Osipov came agonizingly close to claiming his first title. Falcons began the map dominantly, racking up nine rounds on the CT side. They then added three more on the T side, bringing the score to 12–6. At that point, Damjan "kyxsan" Stoilkovski and his teammates held six match points. Cornered, Vitality had no choice but to win every remaining round to force overtime — and against all odds, they did just that. At 12–12, the title would be decided in extra rounds.
Falcons struck first in overtime, earning one more match point, once again neutralized by Vitality. In the second overtime, the momentum seemed to shift, with the Bees creating three opportunities to close out the series (18–15). Yet Falcons responded with resilience, leveling the score at 18–18. The third overtime unfolded amid peak tension, both on stage and in the arena. Trailing 19–20, Vitality finally broke through and sealed the victory at 22–20.
ZywOo MVP, obviously
This triumph, secured after more than seven hours of play, cemented the legacies of Dan “apEX” Madesclaire and Mathieu "ZywOo" Herbaut. The two stalwarts of the roster have now won every major title available on the CS circuit, with ZywOo once again named MVP of the tournament. Often criticized for any shortcomings within the team, William "mezii" Merriman also delivered a standout performance in the final, further justifying his place within a squad that now bears all the marks of an indomitable force. Vitality is also on a 21-game winning streak and hasn't lost since January 24.
As for Falcons, this first outing with m0NESY may ultimately leave a bitter aftertaste. Still, the team — which won PGL Bucharest before the Russian AWPer’s arrival — has demonstrated the potential to establish itself as a lasting presence at the top of the global Counter-Strike hierarchy.
Header Photo Credit: ESL
