BLASTPremier
BLAST Rivals Fort Worth 2026, Grand Final, Day 5 - Team Vitality vs. Natus Vincere
05-03-2026 · 4h 55m
⚠️ VOD is unavailable.
blastpremier VODs on twitchBroadcasts 30+ hours are truncated. View the Raw Transcript VTT for the full version.
Ladies and gentlemen, five days of competition has led us to this moment.
The rivals are here and the stage is set.
We've seen heavyweight clash and we've seen the unexpected.
But there's still one more knockout to come.
There's no space for second guessing anymore.
Every champion was once a contender who refused to give up.
Today is not the day to let your dreams die.
Today is the day you fight.
Leave nothing to chance.
Everything you have.
This is your time.
Everything you've got.
There is no tomorrow.
Music
Fort Worth, Texas is champion shit Sunday.
Now yesterday, after all of the fairy tale runs, the magic, the miracles, everything
came crashing right back to reality.
And today here at the Dickies Arena, Normal Service Resumes.
They say that everything is bigger in Texas, and they're not kidding. We have got a huge
Grand Final rematch here today between two the best teams in the world
They'll be facing off right here at the heart of this stage. Let's talk about them on one side
You've got na'vi
They get knocked down
But they refuse to stay down.
They always get back up and want another swing at the Kings.
On the other side, team vitality.
The best team in the world, undisputed without a doubt.
Looking to put Navi to bed once again.
They did it in Rotterdam.
They set a message.
But tonight, Navi wants to shoot one right back.
Texas, and wherever you are in the world, welcome to Championship Sundae.
Well, welcome also from our side to the analyst desk.
My name is Shox, and I'm joined here by a bunch of the fans as well as Maui and Dust
for what is going to be an incredible Best of Five final between Navi and Vitality.
and thus it really is Navi has been chomping at the bit for this chance exactly right.
Of course they face him in Rio, but then they lost the final to them also recently
and they just can't even seem to get a map.
So they've got all that revenge stocked up.
Like you said, they haven't beat by tying the masses 2024.
That's a long ways away from here.
But yes, they are one of the teams that we've kind of chalked up
as being the number two team in the world.
And this is their chance to be a title contender, right?
And they don't want to be like mouse sports last year.
They want to keep playing second field of vitality for a whole season.
And they want to prove that they can get the W.
That's what they're going to go for today.
And I'm just getting the tingles.
You know, every championship Sunday,
it always feels a little bit different.
Like, there's a chance.
And I'm so glad we're in one of the most culturally rich parts
of America here.
I'm also so glad that so many of you
came out right away.
Some familiar faces here.
Yes, we absolutely love it.
Let's take a look at the bracket.
How did we end up here, Maui?
Because, yes, there was an underdog flair in the air,
I want to say, with Faze getting that victory over G2.
But it didn't continue into yesterday.
It was really the favorites that reigned supreme. It was a bit of a shame that you didn't even see one of the underdogs take a map versus the favorites
But shocks I'm not complaining. No, I'm not complaining to the two best teams in the world
Squaring off here in Fort Worth. Nah me neither, but if you were to go on Nova shots, I would you put your stocks
Oh, if I was on Nova shots, I gotta see the what the token values are. Okay, of course
I think there's value there does I think I'm seeing value. Are you seeing value? I'm seeing value in vitality
that's up to you. That's where
I'm on money's at. Okay, well,
let's keep it there. Let's get
all of our shot tokens there on
vitality. I'm not going to
disagree. I think that there's
cases to be made. We'll make
some of those cases for
Navi. But how can you go go
against the tried and tested
there? Yeah, indeed. And
that's exactly what the story
of today is, right? You
nobody dares to go up
against them. And that also
plays on everyone's mind when
they are playing vitality. I
think back just a gamer
Legion yesterday who kind of
had some of those moments in
the palm of their hands,
the palm of their hands, but the problem is actually getting it over the line.
The thing is vitality been, but they just don't break. I mean, that's the biggest
thing. As you said, there was plenty of opportunities for teams to pull upsets
over them. They did lose a couple of maps in the group stage. So they've
shown that they are a little bit more mortal than we're used to seeing them
throughout the course this year and really just throughout the course of
this roster. So we'll see what we're gonna get. That is amazing. We didn't
see the full thing, but obviously vitality and apex has so much history
here already in Texas with Austin last year where apex just completely
and thrall the crowd.
Disappointed them maybe, but I think
he turned them into lovers of vitality as well.
But they're up against Navi.
And yeah, Maui, we need some hope.
Paint me a little picture.
Well, the thing is with this Navi team,
I feel like you have so many streaks that
are being broken here in Fort Worth.
You already saw the Dust 2 streak from Vitality Fall.
You saw their overpass streak fall.
You know the record that these two teams have,
that it has been disastrous for Navi.
They haven't even won a map versus Vitality
this year, but why not break another streak here in Texas?
They're the number two team in the world.
They've got a steaming locomotive of a player in Macaulay.
And I think today is the best chance we've seen thus far.
Macaulay, the fans are behind you here this morning.
Yeah, well, good feeling, excited for the game.
You said yesterday that you really wanted this vitality rematch.
You've got it. How's preparation and how confident are you coming into this?
We're prepared, we are fully confident and let's see how it's going to go.
Did you catch their match yesterday against Gamer Legion and what did you think of their performance?
No, I didn't see it.
You didn't see it? Not at all?
No.
Do you think they're at full strength or do you see any weaknesses in them that you might be able to take advantage of here?
I mean, we just need to play our game. If we play our game, we are confident, we'll be able to beat them.
And you playing your game could mean that we might see an MVP performance from you. What do you think?
Maybe. Let's see. I don't care what the interview.
Okay. Good luck, man. Thank you.
We practice well. If we play good, we win. I don't care about the MVP. That's a pro player interview for you. I love it.
You know, keep the focus also speaking that we didn't even watch the match because they've been thinking about Vitaly for a very, very long time does because everyone has.
Indeed, everyone has vitality on the mind.
They already have 13 trophies in the cabinet,
and they spent the last year and a half
submitting themselves as the greatest team of all time.
It started with them getting an era last year,
winning seven titles in a row in that first season.
And this season, they have already won four in a row,
looking for number five.
Texas was the site of their first major,
looking for Fort Worth to be the site of their 14th title.
And we'll see if they can get it done.
All eyes are on them, and I feel
like they have a great shot to go ahead and make more history today.
Hey, Zywu, welcome back to yet another grand final.
What does Zywu have for breakfast on Championship Sunday?
Nothing. Nothing at all.
Nothing at all.
I'm just maybe having nothing breakfast now.
Maybe they're just nothing actually, just water.
Well, you had Navi for breakfast in Rotterdam.
Do you think they'll give you a bit more of a fight here in Texas?
Of course they will.
I said definitely better team since Rotterdam, so obviously it's going to be a really hard game, so we're just looking forward to that.
Every single tournament you play, it's like the target on your back gets bigger and bigger, everybody wants to take you down.
Do you enjoy that pressure?
Of course we all enjoy that, we enjoy the pressure, we love to play with this, so that's the point of this game, we like to play with it.
So we're looking forward to have this pressure again and play with it.
Good luck, have fun.
Thank you very much.
You're smiles all over eating Navi for breakfast and for Zairu.
I mean, he's had an incredible year.
It's just so interesting how he's been the best for a very long time.
And he's even turned it up a notch coming into 2026.
I like how he was kind of the silent assassin for a while, right?
He was always the number one player in the world, but you never really heard much from him.
He was kind of in the shadows, right?
You know, kind of a mystery.
But now you're seeing him kind of come even more alive as his team has become the greatest of all time.
It's like now he gets to kind of come out and celebrate and kind of show his personality a little bit more.
And, you know, I think last year there was a debate to be had on who was number one this year.
it's no contest like Zywu is way out in front. You can see he saw that confidence coming in this one too.
Yeah definitely so it is a best 5 right? We got five maps possibly that of course makes everything
even more trickier if you're the underdog coming into this one or does it present an
opportunity for Navi do you think? Yeah I think this is gonna be interesting one because I think
we know it's gonna get banned right? We're definitely not gonna see ancient you know Vitaliy
doesn't want to play that. I want to see Mikazo on ancient in a final. Unfortunately not gonna
have this. It is his best match so that would have been a really great chance for Navi. Obviously
we're not going to see overpass this Navi's band, but I'm curious what the order is going to be.
That's really the big thing about a BO5, and I think before there's always been pro-wirties
to play Dust2 and Fernand O'Marage. Will something else get pro-wirtied this time around? Does Navi
want to twist things? I think that's going to be interesting to keep an eye on. Well, we're
going to find out right now. No, I think that our biggest advantage would be Ancient,
for sure. It's their permaband, so not going to happen. Of course, it's not going to be
played to Ancient. It's one of their better maps, I think, of course, because it's shown
and some great level on that map and we didn't play it,
we're not playing against them.
He went for like a not-usual pick for them,
but they tried to punish us.
Let's see how it goes.
Last time he didn't work, but they have a good Anubis,
so let's see how it works.
All right, back here on stage at the Dickies Arena
with man like Maui, as you can see behind us,
there's a little bit of activity
as the players are getting set.
This is going to be an electric run final.
Oh, I feel like we really have a chance here
to witness history.
Maybe one team furthering the era,
but another that wants to break it.
All right, so best of five with calls.
Let's get into picks and fans.
Vitality fans, ancients.
Yeah, no surprise there.
We're not going to see Mikaze on his best map.
Boo-hoo.
Let's move on to Navi.
A-band, overpass.
Also, an expected ban.
Blade hasn't been liking this one with a C.
On to picks.
Vitality.
Nice chair from the crowd there with Nuke.
That's a bit of a surprise right there.
I didn't think that they were going to be going.
We haven't seen them play that in the last couple
series against each other.
Let's move on.
Na'Vi picks and Dubis.
Ooh, they're trying it again from Rotterdam.
Didn't work out for them last time.
We'll see what they fix up.
They go again.
Vitality, just two.
OK, OK.
The streak, though, was broken here in Fort Worth.
They're trying to create a new one.
Interesting.
Navi, garage.
This is where I feel like Navi has the best
chance to extend this series, but we
got to get to the fourth map first.
Cost of the decided is final.
Just the classic.
We're all great counter strike matches
and hope we find ourselves there today.
You think we will?
All five I think Navi's looking different. I think vitality are looking a little bit weaker than average
This would be the time. All right, Maui. Thank you very much. We cannot wait to get started here in Fort Worth
18 70 times when you feel that that that thing where you kind of beat them so many times you have that mental edge as well
But of course it never guarantees the next win. I think we've had it even a lot last year when we played against like the Mongols,
Maus, we beat them so much and then all of a sudden it gets a bit tougher because of course they're finding a new way to try and beat you, new tactics.
I just think that we need to play without fear, we need to play without pressure and we need to surprise them and not allow them to make a comeback.
We once again in the final so, but yeah, the final is made to win, not made to play so let's see how it goes.
We play better than before, obviously. We have a bit more confidence and then...
Yeah, everyone is speaking about the final boss, Vitality, to beat them.
Like everyone is speaking about, if you don't beat them, you don't deserve the trophy.
But, yeah, we'll have to see how it goes today and then hopefully,
and then I think we'll have a good change today at least.
Yes indeed, that's what they've been saying, especially Navi, Lexi B,
even at the beginning of this tournament.
You don't deserve it if you don't beat Vitality or you have to beat them today in a best of five
Incredible let's first start with the reaction to the video though because I thus I heard from your side a little bit of a nuke first
Oh, yeah, it's interesting right? I mean we knew that we're gonna get these five ads obviously, but it's all about the order
Where do you feel strongest?
Where do you want to get a hot start at and other times we've seen you know the priority be a map like dust to or maybe a
Map like mirage on the other end
But this time around they're going for their least played maps against each other which is gonna be new
to do was only one game between them on each map in the last year more than that you know it's been insane so yeah it's really surprising that you see vitality going back to nuke it's a map that they liked I'd say pretty early on with this roster apex has said himself that it's one of his favorites but his favorite doesn't mean their best so to me this is going to be more about a targeted game plan are you going to see them just kind of go for repeat calls or try to have these crazier mix ups which nuke definitely allows due to its more tactical nature.
They seem like they kept something in their back pockets for this Best of Five final facing Navi,
but riddle me this. I don't know if I'm reading this correctly. Navi hasn't won a map
against Vitality since I am Cologne 2024. That is indeed the case. It has not been a beautiful
history. You can see all the L's that they have taken and yeah it's been a long, long ride.
And also the other thing you gotta think about with this being the Best of Five grand finals.
This is the 15th Best of Five grand final that my Tati will have played. They only lost two.
only a loss to right one was the three Aussie to fury and Chong do and the other
was you know the crazy upset that G2 got on them in London some time ago so
they are just so proficient that's why everyone always kind of says if you're
gonna beat him it kind of has to be in the VO3 has to be in the semi-final but
Navi doesn't have that luxury they have to get it done today that they want to
silence the goats who disappears versus Vitali gosh take your pitch all right
okay nobody on the Navi side unfortunately even holds a 1.00 rating
just the bare minimum average that you would want from a professional
player when they face up in the server against the world's best. That is
obviously a huge bottleneck in terms of performance that somehow vitality
continues to retain that choke hold over Navi. But you got to break
records, okay? Stats are all in the past, okay? What's interesting is how
Navi are going to actually dictate what's happened in the future, which
is why I think some of their picks are a little bit interesting. We'll
get there when we do. Absolutely so. And I feel like it's all kind of
led to this for them, right? That that heartbreak and Rotterdam and
And also recently in Rio, this is now a best of five grand final and you need all the pieces
to step online.
And we got to talk about some of those pieces for Navi because MacCaza, wonderful.
What a tournament they're having.
Yeah, they're battling each other not only for the trophy, but for the MVP medal.
And obviously the trophy, as you heard MacCaza said in the interview, is the more important
priority.
But the fact that any one of those guys could do that in an event like this would
just be the cherry on top of what would be a great Sunday for them if they're
able to win this event.
So yeah, those are definitely two guys the hot.
They have the hot hand.
one of number two in the tournament so far. They've been playing excellent
Counter-Strike and really Mikaze has just been a steady development over time.
Mikaze has been the stable force. To me he feels inevitable when Navi load up in
the server. Unfortunately that hasn't always been the case for his vitality but
I would say the X factor is definitely wonderful. The fact that he has in the
past been the best player in the server against the Vitality team at
the most recent major and yeah he had a little bit of a difficult January
through March this year but now he's coming back online. Can you tell
Tell me what exactly has gone better for him.
How has he kind of found those percentages in his play?
I think it's always in him.
You know, that's the biggest thing.
It's like we even saw it last season, a hot cologne.
We even saw it a couple other tournaments.
Again, you mentioned the Budapest Major,
but it's just the consistency hasn't really been there
for him.
And I think that hopefully over time,
he's getting more and more comfortable.
I understand that performance coaches are working
with him a little bit more.
He's trying to find a better routine
to kind of get on that street.
But he's also just a great rifle,
I think, is the other big trademark.
Getting back to Mikaze, yeah,
you look at the map ratings.
His best match is not going to be here today.
We'll be here today is the more developed version of Macaulay that we've gotten throughout the course of this year
You know, this is a guy who is a huge rookie last year comes in was already a very strong CT player
T sides a bit weaker this year you're seeing convert more opening goals on the T side
You're seeing him play higher ratings on the offense
And so I really do think that this could be a game changer for easy just farming ancient forest that's
You could see on those numbers right there that he is a world class
I would say the best ancient player in the world
He's still a great player on the other map.
So even though I'd say the reason that he has such an otherworldly rating in total is gone,
you still have a guy that is an excellent entry fragger like Dusset.
And I feel like the way that Blade and Alexi have molded this guy to just be smarter about his mid-round,
late-round play.
Now he's become one of the better clutchers on the team too.
At ESL Pro League, I'm pretty sure he had a 1v4 ace clutch.
So this guy can really do it all at this point.
He just needed to get really working in that
novice system and figure out where he should
and shouldn't be pushing forward.
That's what we're saying all the time, right?
With any new player that comes into the system
and people are probably tired of hearing it,
but it always comes to fruition.
It just sometimes takes a while.
I feel like we're seeing from wonderful now as well
that he is just rising up in the ranks, right?
He's in that MVP race against Mikaze
with the AWP and with the rifle dust.
Yeah, indeed.
I mean, I think obviously the AWPing
is what's gonna be most known for,
the fast firing speed, the flashy plays,
How he's able to be aggressive defensively with the AWP and take those angles.
But what we really see is he's like that mid to late round specialist in AK-47 on his hand.
You put him in the pack as a trade fragger.
You put him in those clutch moments.
He's able to deliver time and time again.
He actually, I think at this event, I'll let you take this over.
But I want to say he has a similar amount of AK and OP kills already this event, if I'm not mistaken.
I, yeah, he's actually, I think it's pretty close.
I'm not sure the exact percentages off the top of my head.
But the thing is that wonderful if the OP didn't exist in Counter Strike,
I still think he's one of the 25 best players in the world.
OK.
He doesn't need the weapon to be his crutch,
as we've seen some other oppers in tier one CSB lately.
So the fact that he can make it work, just kind of,
we use the term confidence, but players,
it does really matter if he can just farm a few kills
with the AK, if he's able to actually pad out
his stats on the T side, be an integral part
to space taking efforts, which doesn't matter what gun
he has in his hands.
That's what leads to his consistency,
which I feel like he's finding over time,
and it's getting better and better.
Yeah, we have a feeling that they're going to be better against Vitality here today than they have been in the past.
Is that shared amongst you? I mean obviously, recency bias, they haven't dropped a map at this tournament, right?
But is there something that you've seen in a step up in their play, not only in the individuals, but the cohesion, the late round calling,
everything that makes you think, okay, maybe we do really have a shot here to see more than three maps?
Technically speaking, they're one of the most crisp looking teams outside of Vitality.
I think that's the biggest thing that I noticed from like a macro standpoint.
but even just looking at the development of this team
over time, going from a couple of splash results last year,
but nothing consistent to coming into this year,
and now they're making finals regularly.
They wanted an event, obviously.
So this is a team that has just had
that progression happen over time.
I think people are getting more and more comfortable.
They're one of the organizations
that elected not to make a move.
Some criticism came at them for doing that,
but they bore fruit with keeping
this five players on the server.
Again, you're seeing players get more comfortable.
They're performing at a higher level.
Their map pool is starting to recover
after a really, really tough 25, in my opinion.
So I think just everything is kind of improving for them is the point to me.
Yeah, we hate saying patience often and time for a roster, but sometimes it does come into
fruition.
So let's talk a little bit about their opponents then.
And as always, when you start talking about vitality in a grand final, you have to talk
about the accolades.
You have to talk about the road they are on, Maui.
And it's becoming honestly a bit larger than life at this point.
It's ridiculous.
We are right now just starting and maybe some people even want to finish the conversation,
whether this team is the greatest of all time.
I'd say for me, the jury's still out,
but they are furthermore securing their case
as the best of all time.
This team has taken the book that Astralis has written
and they're improving upon it.
The individuals, you could just point to any one of them
in the server at any given time.
He can give you win conditions.
And also the thing is that they recognize
in so many moments how to not give up advantages,
how to not actually just drop the ball.
That's so frequently, you get so many top teams
where you have players that just fall off on big stages.
Every single one of these guys
is proven beyond reasonable doubt.
Indeed, as you saw there on the graph,
they've only lost two series this entire year.
And again, this is their 15th best to five grand final
and this is only their 22nd event plate.
I mean, it's insane, the level of consistency,
you know, 21, top four finishes in a row are better.
So it's just that level that no one else really has.
And you've kind of talked about it,
it's their ability to have consistent performances,
to get the job done, they had the advantage.
But even when they don't have the advantage,
think about how many 4V5s this team wins.
that metric in the world right now it's also about the comebacks that they've
made yeah we talked about how they look a little bit shaky a little more
mortal you know but they've shown resilience to be able to come back and
get those games anyway and not let them slip out of their hands yeah it is
also the things outside of the server right which we we saw in the
Astralis era as well you're traveling all the time you have jet lag you need
to keep up the practice and Vitaly has been vocal in that well maybe we
haven't practiced as much as we previously have they said that Grand Slam
was really a big moment that they really wanted to take time for and
And that might explain that here in the plans that they lost their dust to streak.
They weren't as clean.
There's CT sides need a little bit of work here and there.
But the thing is, I feel like when they get into that best of five final or any final,
it just all drops away.
Apex said himself that it really nobody's going to remember a group stage map loss
in the face of a trophy, which he thinks is inevitable.
More times than not, he doesn't even like talking about the fact that the maps
have been close with some other teams.
He wants to always try to put those in the rear view mirror.
and he's one of the most critical people that you could have on the scene.
One that is always more and more hungry.
He has a voracious appetite for perfection,
and he doesn't let his players slip and slide.
And when the comms aren't good, he lets everybody in the fair down.
Oh, yeah. I might get to a critical mass,
but he's going to bring them back out of it anyway by saying,
guys, wake up. Like, we're vitality, right?
And I think the crazy thing about, you know, Apex is that,
you know, obviously you always care about the trophies.
You care about the majors. You care about the Grand Slans.
Those are the priority.
But you know, we always talk about the other smaller records that they have.
You know, these map streaks are the fact that they're only losing a couple of
series in a full year of play or something along those lines.
He keeps track of that stuff.
He knows him.
He knows every little side quest.
I guess you could say that they're on on this journey to submit themselves
as the best to ever do it.
So I think that's always something to think about as well.
It is.
It's funny because contrasted to rops, rops is just like, well, if we
lose our streak, we'll start a new one.
Yeah, it isn't a big deal.
I mean, it's easy for him to say he's done it once before.
Let's talk about a couple of players because we highlighted Mikaze on the other side and I want to talk about Flamesy a little because he's a phenomenal player, but there is a difference between his performance in 2025 and 2026 still.
Indeed. I mean Flamesy came into this squad and when they had that, you know, seven title run to submit their era of last year, he was a very strong player. He played his aggressive roles well, he played his anchor roles well.
But he kind of dropped off of the second season there for us.
You can see it on his face.
He's letting you know how, right?
But excited this year obviously because look at the difference
in rating in ADR.
Like it's absurd.
He's also more successful in his opening goals on the T side.
And his mentality is pivoted.
We talked to him yesterday in an interview where he kind of
talked about how now the focus is a little better.
He does more individual preparation.
He feels like the way he prepares is better.
He also feels like even if things are going wrong,
he's able to stay in it better mentally
because he's always an active part of the communication
and game plan.
Even if he's dead, he just knows eventually an opportunity is going to come where he can have impact and boy has it at the HLTV awards to kick off this year
Vitality swept them. They had coach of the year
They had in-game leader of the year player of the year opera of the year closer of the year anchor of the year
They had practically everything the only thing they didn't have was entry of the year in
2026 thus far. It's very difficult to even say that it is a surefire thing for Dom
That's how great flamesy has been playing. We have a transcendent talent there on spirit
But Flamesy is knocking at his door.
It's in fact, I'd say the door is a jar right now,
and he is getting his shoulder in right now
because he has been playing out of his mind.
You agree?
Yeah, he has.
Look, his best career events of his entire life,
three of them have come this year out of the top five.
I mean, it's actually unbelievable
that he already has you as number one in the world.
You have Robsos always gonna be up there as well.
But the fact that now Flames is coming
into delivering this, it's ridiculous.
It is.
I wanna pull your attention to this quote.
It was yesterday in a chat with you guys as well.
this is a big inspiration from Zaiwu just to go peek them and see who's better
in shooting. That was one of the runs that played yesterday versus game
religion where he ended up in the clutch, right? And he just hears them and
he immediately goes for the swing where maybe in the past he says I would have
retreated. I would have gone in the smoke. I would have played it a little
bit more safe. But I listened to Zaiwu on this. He does this so I do it. And
I think this is one of the cool things about seeing the development of
vitality because they never rest on their laurels when they are winning
everything and when they were winning everything. It's something Exotaz
also commented on. You see that they're willing to make more sacrifices for each other, help
each other out in different ways, right? They're even becoming a more complete team that even
when they don't have that much on point practice, you're going to see that come to fruition.
Yeah, the expression he gave was I want to give them trouble. That was the coolest line
I ever saw, right? And it's about creating distance. Look, one day this era will end,
but they want to create as much distance as possible for it does. And winning trophies
like this helps them do it.
I also think that when you're just sitting in the server, one of the best ways to
to learn how to play the game is you watch players better
than you.
Well, what better way to learn than what Flamesy said
and watching Zaiwu on a day-to-day basis?
So he's taken notes.
He's improved his game.
The way that he even goes back into his own demos
more frequently than he did before shows all signs
of self-improvement, and it's paying off.
To what's actually crazy, I was just thinking about this.
It's like, yes, he was the primary offer of this team,
but we all just credit him for being a really good hybrid.
He's actually one of the best entry
riflers in the world as well.
So the fact that you have that luxury of having
to die who basically can do your role just as well
you can. It's like, yeah, let me watch that guy with the rifle a few times to see how he's taken
his openings and how his confidence comes on to the server. And so I really like that thought.
Yeah, it's greedy. Yeah, a dairy, all of stats. The players are lining up backstage for the player
intros actually quite close together there backstage, right? So now you can see them,
you're about to walk next to them and take to the stage and for wonderful and for Navi,
but also for Blade, right? This is really, I feel like one of the crowning moments for
them if they are able to pull it off. It's going to be incredibly difficult. Now with all the material
that we have, Navi being on a tear, Navi having the tape of Rotterdam knowing exactly what they did
wrong. Vitality not always being as clean in the last couple of weeks as they have been. Maybe
not as perfect on the CT side Maui. I want you to paint me a picture of this upset.
Well we have a round example to show just kind of how Vitality has been playing a little
a little bit worse in their game against Gamer Legion here.
The way that you see the individuals from Vitality
just looks a little more spacey,
a little bit more stringy.
Sure, there's some good counter utility here
from Gamer Legion to get their kill,
but you see Mezzi just kind of swinging him up by himself
with a Mac 10 in hand.
Then you have Apex going for a solo play by himself.
And even though, yeah, they're up a map,
it was a dominant map on Mirage.
These are the moments that are actually kind of a trend
for Vitality at this tournament.
The way that they lost to Foot as well
just felt like it was poorer spacing.
You have Robson's IWU in a 2v3 and the Mali is just completely missed from IWU here.
There's these sloppy moments that you're getting from Vitality and yes, they still won the
series.
Yes, they're still in the grand final here, but these kind of moments weren't happening
in the last four tournaments.
If you look at the trading percentages, that also jumps off the patron mean that this
is the worst event in terms of their trade kill percentage that they've had in the last
five tournaments.
So some of the cracks are getting bigger for Vitality.
It is indeed a stark contrast to what we're used to seeing, right?
if you look at a map like overpass,
and we're watching through that clip.
Vitality is one of the teams that
uses utility that's on overpass in my opinion,
when they're on their game, right?
The fact that they're able to usually on T sides,
flush people out with Molotovs,
know where that guy's running to to get away from it,
and then you nade stack them.
The fact that they have those types of utility chains,
but we're seeing basic misses like that one
is certainly worrying.
And yeah, the trading positions,
one of the biggest things about Vitality is,
maybe they don't always have the trainer strat
no one's ever seen before,
but they usually have a well rounded playbook
that's well balanced,
and they're always spacing and trading efficiently.
So to see that decline is a bit worrying.
Part of it may be the fact that they haven't practiced
in a while is what they keep saying.
I don't know though, it doesn't matter.
What matters is what result you put on the stage.
It's true, and what matters is how you finished a job
because we were at the edge of our seats yesterday
versus game religion.
We thought, are they gonna push it into that third map?
But when you come to overtime in arenas like this,
when the pressure is really, really on Maui,
you can almost never bet against Vitality.
No, and they always get it done by the very end.
But I don't wanna see a Vitality team
that feels like, as they did against game religion,
that they can procrastinate through a map,
that they can eventually get it over the line.
We obviously know that they have the class
to just wipe the floor with a team like that.
They did it in the very first map.
But if we see more of the sloppy starts,
the rounds that aren't really pieced together as cleanly,
Apex himself has been talking about
just a lack of communication
or just they're not being on the ball in those moments.
Then a Navi team will be one that can take advantage.
Yeah, I mean, it's just about Navi
taking that next step.
Again, you see that steady,
incremental incline of how they've performed, how they've prepared, how they've gotten the results, the terms they play, players stepping up individually.
That's all well and good, but you have to be able to do it against this team, right?
The goats that are ahead of you at the number one pecking order, and I think that that's the big thing.
It's one of those things where, unfortunately, I have to see it to believe it, because I've just seen so many others come up to bat,
look really hot, and then not be able to show the same level when they play against team like Vitality.
It's also just like, quote-unquote, the aura that Vitality brings to them, because it's not just, you know, the results.
It's also you know who's across from you on that stage speaking of that aura. It's about that time. Let's get them on stage
For work Texas, what do you think should we finish this who's ready for the grand final?
It's a rematch. We're expecting it to be an absolute banger. The question is, who will
take the trophy? Will it be Navi? Or will it be Team Vitality?
Let's bring the teams on stage.
Now, baby!
At the very top, every round is a title fight, being the best comes with it's best yet,
but also it's pressure.
The scrutiny is never paid, even when you're winning, they are the most dominant teams
in the world.
Again, they step into their house, their comfort zone.
If it's Grand Finals, that's vitality territory.
Beautiful to watch, brutal to face.
That's vitality.
Navi are back once again in the rematch
they've been desperately waiting for.
The world's numbers one and two going head to head
In another blockbuster bout, both of these teams have left destruction behind them here in Texas.
But what happens when an unstoppable force meets an immovable object?
Vitality and chasing back-to-back BLAST titles while now being and looking to prove that even gods can bleed.
This is your BLAST PREVIOUS RIVALS Grand Final.
This is how it should end!
What an introduction Ian, my hat's off to you.
Everybody here has goosebumps, but now it's time to play.
And I think memories always play an important part.
And in Austin last year, Vitality often quotes that as a very important moment for them.
for them. Winning that major with the crowd all riled up against them. Nothing has changed
in that fashion dust, but they haven't either. Indeed, Austin was the site of their first
major with this iteration of the team. They will now hope Fort Worth serves as a place
they won their 14th title, Maui. This team has so many trophies in the cabinet. They're
looking to add to the collection today. The thing is that Navi against them in the
server have to recognize that their championship window, it's now it does not get much
better than Macaulay and wonderful both firing on all cylinders you've got a
vitality that has already shown that they can bleed in the group stage so to me
it's now or it's never and someone who is perfect for working on those exploits
making sure that you're having exactly where you want them is blade behind
now he's been there for so long he's made magic happen with much less as
As many people may know, Blade is the most woke coach in all of Tier 1.
I need him to be more liberal with his use of timeouts.
Okay, the last time that these guys faced off against each other,
his team was down in the hole 0-6 before he called his first one.
I needed a little bit faster. He's got to be a little bit quicker on the draw.
You know, I'm going to talk to my second favorite co-analyst to see if he has a chance.
Fort Worth, is nobody going to take this?
I rest my case. I see and I know how it is in the community when a team wins a lot. It was the same with Astralis. It's the same with Vitality now. You want to see them bleed. You want to root for the underdogs. That is also an opportunity that Navi have to take. Talk to me about this first map now, right? Talk to me about you. Talk to me about the start that Navi has to have.
Luke is going to be a toughie for Anast.
I think Bontowdy had kind of a rough end to last year,
if I'm honest on this map, Ali.
But they've won their last eight out of nine games on Luke.
And you look at over at the Navi side,
and in their last 12, they've lost eight of them.
They just do not have the same recent form.
I think one of the big things that we have to talk about,
because we've been talking in his name
the entire time, it's Mikaze.
He's that primary yard player.
He's clashing with the leader of the opposing force
in Apex.
You know, it's kind of a difference in philosophy.
A star player in the yard versus the end game
leader in the yard.
But here's the difference.
Apex puts up big numbers in grand finals
all the time and he's been the guy in this event when they started to waiver
that's been able to put up huge numbers and leave the team not only on the
leaderboard but also in the server with the mic. So I really am interested in
that matchup today. And if the tactics get a little too hairy from a cause a
right hand man in wonderful wonderful should be rotating over with the A.
W. P. Peek it up from secret trying to break the smoke so that they can
discover what the plan is from vitality. There's so many counters here
that Navier going to have to employ. The fact is this is a punish big
Vitality are definitely looking to just take the 1-0 lead here because this is a map that as you predicated
Thus, it's been a little bit rough for Navi. Yeah
I mean here's the thing when you look at the philosophy these teams bring to do both of them are super well-rounded
They know all your different, you know yard variations
You can throw the fast upper executes the rant takes everyone has the same play
But it's all about do you execute in the moment when the pressure is on are you able to make that mid-round adjustment?
when things get tight.
And that's where I think vitality just have more stability.
They have great anchoring, in particular
with Messi and Robs, defensively.
They just have a lot of smart players
who can act out individually
without needing too much direction.
They just have the hot hand in that regard,
but who's been hot as far as the tournament thus far
is gonna be that Mikaze Wonderful duo you talked about.
And we'll see if they can keep up that pace
in the most important match.
And even if Navi have some of the counters
to that outside yard take from Vitality,
Vitality have the best contingency plan and counter strike the way that Robs plays at Lobby is just so disruptive to any opposing teams defense
He'll pick your ramp player when they least expect it
They'll peek through the hut hold the door for the entire round
You don't even know if he's there or not half the time teams are playing Vitality on nuke. They're chasing ghosts
There are five consecutive finals for Vitality
They may have been caught slipping but not when it comes to the trophy the definitive kings of CS2
just looking to add one more notch to their belt.
In their way stand Navi a team ramping up,
chomping at the bit to get revenge on a vitality
that has embarrassed them again and again and again.
These chances at redemption do not come around often.
You come at the king, you best not miss.
Before you stands the greatest team of our time.
In the middle of a generational run,
team vitality comes across as limitless.
Today, they face another challenger. As far as they're concerned, it's this faceless blur of opposition.
But vitality be warned, because Navi's system quietly grows stronger. It adapts, it evolves.
And it's here, in Fort Worth, that we unleash these beasts head to head.
There are times in our lives that all of us here take for granted.
Don't let today be one of those days.
This is Counter-Strike at its finest!
Dickie Zorina!
Let them feel that success!
Heeeeeeeey!
Alright, Conner. Now, come on a cast. Let's get this grand finals going. We've got Navi and Vitality.
It's a rematch and Navi are back for blood.
The first test is to Mikaze. Brought up on the desk. He has to pass this.
Guarding outside going one for one.
might be enough loss of information but instantly flamesee appears
a bit of a reset on the situation they now can't see the cross and flames he's
making some noise outside it walks into this but he's fine
clinical triple tap out of that one flamesee what recovery can you make I
I bet absolutely nothing. Minute on the clock, bomb on the opposite side of the map here, Mohan.
That is the kind of clinical precision that we're gonna need from somebody out of Na'Vi at the get-go.
Like Maui Snake said, even when it's Blade, maybe taking timeouts a little too late.
Whatever it needs to be, it's gotta start well for Na'Vi tonight.
Yep. I was looking back at this core. Ooh, it's okay. Wait a second. He's got that second headshot.
Meant to be impossible. Two players on top of that bomb had possession. He catches them in transition.
He teased them with the feet on the ladder.
This is interesting actually Alexi's got a smoke to work with flames. He has 11 HP, but we're talking about pistol round
B 250 comes out. He's stomping one headshot makes a difference. Let's see because
Wow, that was close
Very nice round out a bit obviously and looking back on this core playing against vitality
The one guy they can rely on at least in the last 12 months wonderful
Overall, his stats are spectacular, just like everyone else, he's the team he struggles with against the most.
But everyone on Na'Vi, he's still got like a 1.10 in the last 12 months.
He's still actually doing quite well.
But because Mikaze doesn't have ancient, because Bit really does struggle versus this roster, the core is under question.
And that's why they can't take naps versus this team.
But here's a good start to try to change that.
He's coming with no hits after winning the first round.
Put pressure on the other members of Vitality to try to hit this wrap instead and we'll
see Bitt at bat once more.
Goes for the FOMAZ peak, dropped by the Tech 9.
They swap with both ends of this and EMAZ is going to run a bit of a risk by trying
to stick to the dual.
only one kill between the two
pharmacists.
But there's this third piece
that clearly vitality won't know
about in the Lexi B corner hole
goes unclear.
Easy clean up for him and a very
critical multi frag.
Finally, one of these naughty
members, but you put Zywu in a
clutch flames.
He may have come one kill short,
but this is a Zywu with an even
weapon and 45 seconds to still
figure this out.
What a movie.
He's actually pushed out the
decon.
This is genius.
He knows that stomping.
Oh, wonderful.
Yeah.
He was running the entire way.
My goodness.
the ladder it would have been a whole different story. Two kills without taking any damage.
Luckily this doesn't come to a bomb plant situation. Vitality do an excellent job of
trading all the way down to lower and now he brought it up. They've been struggling on
trade at this event. Something to keep an eye on. Also on the other side while lobby
stats look great. They beat phase twice. They get ancient in every single match and
And that's a huge map for them to kind of buff their stats versus everybody.
They won't have that today versus Vitality.
A couple skinnier teeth, 1v1s on the board, but it's rounds regardless.
Another round with no kit. How close these things have come.
It's going to be a tough go of it if a retake's needed.
Counting on Vitality to not get you into a post plan situation is pretty wild.
But they did play active positions last round to make sure they could trade early instead of
the chance that they could cross secret no one sees them or
For a fast upper pop
Someone pushing for info a little deep and it will catch you off
Because they dropped their 1-3 score line for the start of nuke and
Bit goes for a fresh position. We saw last round when he stuck around for that fight
There's a bit of confidence, but you can understand
how clean those pistol kills were.
Instead, it's a one and done this time yet again.
So ramp, serving up problems for Navi.
Norfers eye was found easily,
and Alexi's return back onto Roth still keeps this interesting.
So we've got pressure down into the B site.
Ema at a distance is able to get off of the back
of that site and still options open for vitality clearly
as they had elsewhere.
What if Alexi cuts off the second side of this throw?
He found Roth's, he'll find Flamesee.
But Flamesee survives the duel,
distracts him and tries to buy time and they're taking up her at the same time
messy hand with the plant here comes the assist that's both CTs confirmed and
Zywu has gotten himself back around towards hell as messy tucks in behind
this angle is going to catch off Alexi falls to bit her email for the 1v2 and
in anticipation of a Zywu peak he tries to get him to go tries to get him to
bite now he's stuck here now he's just got to react another one versus one
They have no kids again man. How's he gonna do this? He's got a tap.
Get the key.
Look at the field of views. That's exactly how he's gonna do it.
Another clutch. Puffs up Noffy.
Oh, he wasn't gonna get another peek. There was not gonna be another chance for him.
Look how close that bomb is.
Yeah.
Third consecutive nail biter. Third consecutive 1v1.
Noffy winning each and every one of them so far.
And even a 1v2 this time for him, it's well done.
For Navi, it doesn't matter that it's close rounds, that it's clutches.
In a series like this, even if Vitality beat them so consistently, they can play close.
Hey, Beck said in his interview with HLTV,
you know, he's never comfortable versus Navi,
no matter how it looks on paper.
No matter how many wins they get versus this team,
and I can understand why.
Navi have blade behind them.
They have these all this whole team playing together,
improving year over year.
They are the second best team right now,
even though it feels like they're still
cavernous depth between one and two.
When you say that, I like to put the emphasis on team, right?
Because that's where the evolution also exists.
Ah, we're not digging together. We've played the run too many guys. Let's fucking play the run too many.
Play the rounds to win. Well, 0-3.
That big vitality coming into this game? They're kind of exhausted. Ah, they've got to beat Navi again.
For Navi, they're angry, but they're energized.
They're excited for this opportunity.
Energy's a little bit different.
Wonderful fighting.
Mezzi in the middle of that one is everybody outside for vitality.
Falter is a wonderful comes up with a second kill.
Him and Ema, a double apiece.
Well, they have been absolutely eviscerated.
This one's not coming close.
The money might actually get into a good position here for Navi.
Now Ropp knows of all these three rounds that just happened.
Every kill actually still matters.
And he'd be the guy I picked to find those kills.
Just a couple of 1v1s before the round's over.
A fake drop, we get the rops that still play tricks in this 1v5, and he gets vision.
He'll catch him off, but plenty of players to peek him right after, so singular kill,
rops in the 1v5, Blade has to respect it.
Oh, he's smiling.
Oh, 4-0, Scarred will do that to a man.
Yeah, gotta be proud, like, individuals come through, and that's the only question for
Blade is, do I have the individual to pick out a team like Vitality?
Obviously he's very confident about his own tactics and his own strategy, and
Alexi's calling has obviously been fantastic.
That's not a question.
But can he stand as I move?
Drops.
Flamesy.
I mean, you just go down the list.
Path by investment.
We might have a show on our hands.
because he's been choosing to fight.
Yeah, he's been dropping down instantly,
but Wonderful comes in clean up crew.
Nicely done. Another multi-frag for Wonderful.
Robs again trying to get away with some antics,
but he's been found out,
and Wonderful is just gonna give him space
to play his own game,
because that support comes down from the B-bomb site.
So fearsome on the trades.
It means even Mikaze from the mini
with that smoke jab on the cross,
he knows that they're gonna try to wrap Minion
if they don't.
Maybe it's a squeaky hit,
but I'm ready for this one angle.
They still get that kill.
I don't mind it playing like this as long as it got that connection between him and Wonderville,
he could fast rotate over.
But obviously the plan is for him to get a lot more, stay alive a little longer.
Impact out of E-Mate.
Apex gets a damage, anybody.
Looking for a faster challenge in the BAN A site. It's an early hot position for vitality.
Because they burned off from behind the red box, has to make a move.
As Apex looks to lurk around this, can he find some kind of pathing that works out?
Can Zywoo dead first on the wall?
Dark pillar, is able to find himself a double.
Flanks, he has gone unnoticed, so the recovery is underway.
Apex found single kills his 1v3 attempt from Flancy.
We haven't seen a single clutch posted for vitality despite more than one attempt.
And at least this time he comes off the plant.
A beautiful 1v2 yesterday and this time not a single kill in this attempt.
It is 6-0, Navi.
They are absolutely running through this map now.
That's beautiful with three players alive here for Navi.
They don't fall for that lurk outside of him.
Apex gets the kill, but Mikaze makes sure to keep tabs on it.
And right here, I think Alexi gets the bomb dropped,
so they immediately know that it's this upper hit.
Where did Apex even get his first kill?
I think he got it deep outside.
Yeah, okay, it wasn't inside of Mini yet.
Actually, it looks like the squeaky player in the back of the head.
Okay, so he could peek in and then lurk back through the smokes, try to deal with McCauze who's still remained outside.
Wonderful's off on the prowl outer.
This is as good as it gets for Navi, just keep going honestly, it's got to be the advice.
So Vitality can prove that they've shown up to play today.
They won't get away with playing their B-plus game.
Spokes goes uninterrupted, Mikaze just lingering around here.
Starting to go for the cross, one makes it, Apex stomps his way over, not trying to hide
it to anybody inside that garage.
But Alexi with a new position, and I mean his fresh positions have worked out perfectly
in this A site.
It gets a little bit awkward.
We go one for one outside, and that unfortunately for Alexi is going to be him empty-handed.
His E-Mess still hangs on to main, and we've got bit active outside to help him
out with that.
He's able to turn back to Squeaky, another clutch attempt coming forward.
Mezzi to 57, bomb in his possession, and still ample time.
Oh, it's clean.
And he's ready for a second peek.
Can he finally put one on the board?
A much needed clutch for Vitality.
Oh, that's it.
And again, and again.
That's it for one of the.
What a play.
Has come up Navi.
Have you ever seen play celebrating
before a map is over?
Another clutch for Navi.
Oh, he is amped off at the moment.
I mean, all the positions they played to trade,
I was worried a bit for Alexi B when he pushed inside a squeeze.
You're looking at rocks on an angle like that,
and you shoot before you kill him.
I think for sure he's going to die,
but they have another player right behind him.
They're doing a great job of keeping
an inventory of everybody outside.
It hasn't been a total shutdown.
Again, lots of very close situations.
Just every clutch is na'vi.
I mean you gotta give it to wonderful again. He is the guy to rely on. I think if this
is gonna be some kind of upset in this series, he's shown us some of his best stuff in
So last six months, it's absolutely the best player they have versus Vitality.
Found out, Flamesy, denied, that's the one gun as well by Vitality bought up into this round.
And it finds itself on the dirt in an instant.
Wonderful's got that gap, easy pick off for Apex.
Things continue to go back to worse.
We've got Vitality totally trounced outside of the bomb site.
Yeah, they brought these staff buys close before, but at the start,
Maybe they want to take it to pit again. They've been doing a good job of finding a way to trade them out.
That's fair.
Everything's obvious now. Everything's failed.
They found any openings. It's that slight gap towards ramp.
But still not even pressing their luck to try to grab that rifle.
Smoked away from it. It still awaits his challenge.
He's doing this with no assistance nearby. This has been a familiar scene for a bit.
Clearly a big part of the game plan is him just not abandoning Ramp. Like he's always going to be fighting a little bit for information.
Let's see if he actually falls back this time.
Vod just flashes. Oh, Saewoo looks like he just ate one.
Kind of lays the drop in, and will take for 98 damage, puts fire in front, and in effort to support will get away with the double kill.
It's just fine for now.
It's gonna have to be an ace.
Messi gets the two kills, M4 for his efforts,
and now he's being toyed with.
So 15 seconds on that clock.
You're not getting this bomb planted.
Surely.
Ooh, they're gonna kill, and still, five seconds to spare.
He's trying to figure out their positions.
And it seems like he's reading this.
Now he's got confirmation on both of them,
but they toy with them once more,
and the frag grenade bounced off the back wall
and leads wonderful to another closing frag.
His eight of this map, Navi's eighth roundling as well.
They've quietly built up a bank account even though there are all these clutches. Look at the amount of money
They have to work with and the wonderfuls on 9k after buying is off
They can advantage these smoke breaks outside and even though bits having some trouble getting those malls
These is really like fighting back against ramp rotations are always so good so far
It's been referenced before but you want to play against vitality you can't just respect all the space
They want you have to take some risks
Feels like their opposition collectively has been learning that and working with it
And trying to mold themselves into what are vitality weaknesses if you can call them that
This map so far features seven of the eight opening kills all the way of Navi four out of the four one vx
Situations all the way of Navi. You couldn't ask for more to be going your way
And if you jump up on top of the garage, you've got Bacauze with the one and done, E-Mess trades clean, but you've got still this hot silo player in flame seat.
And so kills equaled out to the 3v3 we go.
They have to get the bomb back.
They would have loved to turn that into an idea right away.
We've already got a push for space.
Bomb's got collected. It's got a reroute.
And Pit makes that free move into lower.
It's also got to do it quietly, right?
Not wanting to give info away to these A players.
So this off, just lurking on its line.
line as a world where apex crosses over dry. All three T's now grouping up, but how
aware, not safe enough. Flames he toppled by the one shot of wonderful. He's been a
stick every single time he sets up position. He gets shot. Apex collects.
That's an open bomb site suddenly. Nobody up in heaven to stop this. It's a double
inside of me. Can you anticipate this move from Navi at this time as well?
Backsite and Apex dead.
Props doesn't know he's been spotted.
Unfortunate for him.
He thinks he's got the element of surprise.
In reality, it's full attention on this hot exit.
Little Hail Mary jump for all of them.
Yeah, so prepared to stomp him out.
Another post plant situation that goes Navi.
We are on the brink of a flawless half against Vitality.
Almost every round coming down to one or two players.
They've had one very clean round, apart from that.
There have been decent trades,
but overall full control for Navi.
lots of opening, duals one. Very good in the mid rounds.
And no one's failing. Like there's never been a moment like,
ooh, that was a really bad mistake. Here's Vitality, get two kills back where,
you know, maybe Bitts had some pressure on him and he couldn't deliver everything,
but again, rotations are taking care of it.
Insane, how many times did Vitality start at 0-9 down?
Okay, 72 and 1.
Vitality weren't included in the 1.
Oh, that's beautiful.
Apex gonna be tilted on that.
It's Apex still sitting on two frags this time.
And he doubted himself for a second, didn't full clear, because he gets a kill as well.
Two on five now.
Zairu and self doubt don't usually go hand in hand, but that is one of those moments
or he's ever so slightly off his game and gets punished for it on the brink of
double digits or Navi Alexi misses the timing on that hot walkout but still
lucky for him vitality don't feel the emerge beautiful shot out of mezi into
the rafters bit racks and rops to redirect at 35 seconds excellent late
round duo two on four enough time an interesting smoke actually an additional
smoke as well for them to work with we'll see if they have to mask anything
inside of the site for now. Wonderful just plays his line, collects
Mezzi on the challenge over the boxes, goes for the jump spot to just
get first. Robs is also here and now they know damn well he is locked in with
this. Alexi is going to get active in the only
advantage that is of 4v1 and it is 10 consecutive rounds over Vitality.
That's just pure magic from Navi.
Have you ever seen anything like that? No, I mean I can't look. Last time
they started 10-0 down. They've lost every clutch.
Vitality have only lost two out of the 15 testified grand finals.
They don't even lose maps to Na'Vi normally.
Not since 2024.
Give them credit, they've gotten close.
Couple of 13-11s in this head-to-head.
They're real close now.
Oh man, that guy going down raw here to Bacauze.
So close, you can almost call it.
You can now suck the pride as well.
It gets active and moves more forward.
There's that rotation.
Wonderful pulls through that setup, so Apex running into it just gets clothes lined yet again.
He's always there to assist, right on time.
Rob's waiting for that additional layer, but thing is, wonderful is usually that player.
Sitting on the ramp doors, alongside E-Mass, shoulder to shoulder,
in 54 health, 1v4 called 4th by Rob.
He knows Wonderful's still here.
25 HP to work with, the missed off shot could have spelled the faster.
Instead, it's getting hit, damn near spells perfection.
A single round from a clean sweep of a CT side.
Was last time they started 11-0 down?
I couldn't tell you.
Have they ever started 12-0 down?
I would say never on a stage, and most certainly
never in the grand finals.
The chance of revolving did you catch that one hey apex all your
That's crazy and I actually feel bad because apex at this event has shown some of his best
He was doing so well covering a lot of gaps where people were filling the trade. He was
is actually the one to be getting up.
This point in the CT side,
you can just see Navi's confidence starting to boil over
that more aggressive move from Bit last round,
him and a wonderful both pressing into
the dual towards trophy.
12-0 potential start.
what's the call to make sure that this isn't just a clean sweep of the half.
And Saewoo wins his vs. Mikase 4 v 5 now for Navi.
So he's out through squeaky as the player still remains above the left side of the A4.
Oh he gets one.
Almost lined up that cross, but you've also got Flamesee pressing B into hell.
Straight potential to the nine.
And now we start to see some of that multi-kill potential out of my balance.
And they have a blindsided by Navi's rock of a CT half, but nobody 13-0s Vitality.
Not on the big stage.
A single round of a T-side.
Our Vitality actually still in this.
Oh, guys, this is Natis.
This is Foyle.
Hey, I'm Alexi B.
And today I'll be reading some bad comments.
Fui itself hasn't been looking hot since in the major result.
Well, I tell you they are so good that even a single map win for Nobby would be a victory
in itself.
What could I say?
Everyone knows this kid is going to be the next Brokie or Sampol, Sampolio.
Sampoen Paul.
Sampoen Paul, bro!
What are we doing, right?
The hunter was never an invulnerable player and that's a blotchy that can
not be done in these guys for us.
When Pails was like that in 2022, I was flicking, almost to get impact kills, but then it disappeared, XP.
Typical HLTV user, I love it, I love it.
You know, no guy has a bright future ahead of him, he's just starting.
So, you're gonna have to watch a lot of games from all of that, and hopefully it's gonna be winning a lot.
So, I think you were wrong with the Grand Cyber King.
So, a guy named InsertLame here says,
I'm not gonna get the honor of losing to Vita in finals this event.
But yeah, I'm glad that people are thinking that we're going to reach the finals and it's good for us.
My name is Nikol Plus and we got this huge down day.
The previous could be in the odd blast, this iteration will be more likely even less.
I mean, eventually we were on the tournament to be honest after this guy said it.
My mission here is to make it through a super competitive team in the best way I can.
Believe, no.
Yeah, don't do that. It's tempered bro.
You know shit's fucked when Alex is not his top performer?
It's probably better for the team's future prospects if they lose this much anyway.
Express patients, 9809.
Okay, like this nickname as well?
Kasarov was shitin' got the beat, said shit me out in playoffs.
Shit in go one playoffs, and shit in go the best playoffs.
I am counted shit after Mirage, and Alex is playing with the hope of his friend
whilst he stays under one penny.
Jesus, what a shit show once again.
That's some nice and supportive comment it says.
In our latest shichu, he's strong, no?
Ha ha ha, great at my boy.
Nabi have improved a ton.
My prediction is Vitality 3-0.
Not gonna lie, that's a funny one.
The first one, funny one actually, so...
Who does to this guy?
So, let's just bully this team into being good.
I'm here for it now.
It was kind of great to be honest.
At some point, but yeah.
Are they seriously hiring a guy from Ankao?
300 good players to become champions, not these low tier scrups who play tier 3.
What a joke, pathetic you guys.
Haha, who have thought it?
Molodoy coming all the way from Kazakhstan, playing on the cybercrafies, no computer at home.
Who have thought it? The kid is good.
And yeah, you never know who do you know.
Well, that would be wrong, right?
EPL was a fluke for lobby.
I can't wait to throw me now that it's without a thing ever being a thing.
Nice guys.
Well, for worth we've witnessed history yet again. The coldest first half vitality has ever had.
and 11-1 domination out of Navi and you could find the asterisks at CT side of New.
They've been waiting in the wings to get this head-to-head back going.
But this kind of vitality, I don't think anybody saw coming.
And a ton of credit to Ima for really stepping out versus his biggest nemesis.
He of everybody. Struggled the most.
17-8 for him on the half.
If you don't get that 12, but I'm sure the back of their minds, they know this one's a done deal and they pile this one home because they takes a headshot.
It's going to close back distance.
Apex.
And his head and the double up.
Nice spot. Who would ever expect to be Rob's hiding in that corner and he's going to double down because he'll find the recovery at least with his measly eight points of health.
I got one in the back of Mini right now, but I had to secede hell.
This is a situation where the TPs were more scared and that was the one point where they
could actually get some active information safely.
They're going to be roaming around.
Who's getting caught off guard?
Another blind side of this round to be disastrous for Vitality.
Good trade once more.
A little bit more info for the T side.
back at clock leaves him alone here's the approach tries to bounce as they
jump down into it always try to take this duel on his turn times taking for
wonderful who has been playing lights out 14 and 4 he actually thinking about
leaving get out here he actually can will this door get opened surely he's
gonna get nervous for a second but actually wisely as I was already thinking
ahead yep into the vent ready to catch this off guard and he can get up the
ladder in time, but he has one move ahead. Can he fly down into the back of the
site without getting caught by Zairu? Zairu knocked it'll let that happen,
not gonna let this slide. Vitality find their second round by way of critical
pistol. It's a crazy, it looks like an easy choice for Zairu because he's safe,
but if he goes upstairs and wonderful plants to bomb, he can't just open
decon. He has to go for a full retake of the site. It's a way different piece
so it was a small risk for him. Very wise decision obviously. Can we talk
about rob's hiding in the lockers it's in I've never seen anyone double up in
that position but that's the kind of innovation we need to see from vitality
right now to make this game possible
they're right about the heaven wrap on the T pistol
Here comes the fastest game of the season, get set!
Ever start at 10-0 down.
I know what Blake's thinking.
We're going to win this game, but let's also just make sure it's not close.
Let's leave an imprint on the other team.
Let's make sure that Vitality and Nuke
Nuke has frustrated and pissed off and confused as possible.
Looking for a mistake, but I mean, Vitality cannot afford a single issue.
Not with the level that Navi is hitting, so...
...the execution event is going to get the FAMAS active out towards Drog,
A-P-E seem to gather the moves here of Navi,
finding multiple bodies outside and calling for Flamesey to come and call any attempt outer.
You know your best chances are going to be early where you have the least pressure that's what Alexi B said earlier.
You want to play free without pressure. You do want to put yourself as the underdog whenever possible. I wouldn't chew.
early where you have the least pressure that's what alexi b said earlier
want to play free without pressure you do want to put yourself as the underdog whenever possible
i wouldn't you
no matter what it's evidence of it all don't turn around don't keep this feeling of comeback
yeah yep just like you said no free rounds it's cs2 you know you're gonna three or four
or rifle rounds and then suddenly this game is totally tied up.
Don't forget who you're playing against.
The best to ever do it.
Kings of CS2.
Cause he wants this duel.
In fact, close trajectory.
That's gonna tell him somebody is right there on the exit of main.
A little distraction offered from up in heaven.
I will reloads.
Oh, is that what he's built?
All right.
So Lexi down on his attempt to approach outside
Swinging into this confirming yet again multiple numbers outside. It's a dry cross here for Nobby
No coverage
Finding another duel cutting off wonderful is gonna put Ema into what feels like an insurmountable clutch
He's got a score that's a freebie you catch flamesee giving him a back of the head execution
Don't you dare one before this just as it starts to feel like vitality.
I've got a game to play on Nuke.
E-Met puts them on notice.
His 21st kill.
Three frags in this round.
And this one's for map points.
You pressed tab.
You know it's Rops.
Where do you think he's gone?
Spounded
Each pay the difference oh my goodness in a 1v4 that could have been
Apex wants to make the call
We have that lighthearted interview recently, where the APEC's inside where it kind of says,
yeah, we make jokes that we're a bit of a married couple, we thinker and what not.
We get a piece of it here on the server right now.
It's one thing to do it in the Prack Room, it's another thing to do it under pressure.
And pressure is certainly what they're feeling, under pressure that they are the most
with him, right?
He's going to try to jump in and get away with that.
You're going to bust your Navi to go for the activation inside of the Hot Messy.
That additional layer of an A defense.
You can start to feel vitality piecing this together.
Still a long way from matching Navi's round count to 11.
And again, on a moment's notice, we can see what happens when the individual level
of Navi is at this peak.
He met almost a terrorist in that one versus four.
he's still got some explaining to do yeah but like you mentioned I mean it
didn't actually close the round so and before that moment with those three
kills coming through it was a solid round from vitality finally vitality
will win a clutch
tech nine rapesee attacks in the dumps bust trades right there for flanks
Round five, secured by Vitality, still not even halfway to Navi's count.
The time will pass quick, I promise.
It's going to call back to that time off.
Four HP for Robs to deny map point.
Blade in that tack pause saying no free rounds.
The energy's really been the discussion with Vitality coming off of the hangover that was the Grand Slam.
They said it themselves, they haven't been fracking,
you know, we're just trying to kind of reestablish,
but they still hold themselves to such a high standard
that they can't let maps like this just totally collapse
in front of them.
Oh, yeah, I mean, losing to a sense,
but your biggest threat for actually taking the major,
potentially, in a grand final leading right into it,
obviously takes a lot of effort to keep practicing day
in and day out and play all these tournaments
all the way to Sunday.
But if you don't, someone else is going to get confident.
Wow, one clutch this event?
For rocks.
And I think Emma had like 20 health.
Taking into consideration the head-to-head between these teams as well, it almost feels like there's nobody
who wants it more than Novi.
Not one map, through out 26 and 25.
This is meant to be where that changes and you just mentioned it if this is supposed to be one of the contenders versus vitality at the upcoming major
You do not want to start to let them get more and more confident in the head to head
You dangle that lopsided score over top and you remind them that you always got their number
Critical timing on Naughey's ability to prove that they can be the ones to defeat vitality in today's best of five
And T-side Nuke's not as hard as it once was, gotta be expected to be able to get a few rounds there.
All they need is two.
Apex has done his job this entire time, holding them back.
It's Alexion 74 held versus 3, 20 seconds to back walk,
and it's already Side Wound, and on Hedgick taking damage.
Slides into the site, finishes it with the sidearm,
and Vitality, 5 rounds to Navi now.
Unfortunately everything needs to be perfected,
because they missed that top hut Molly,
they allowed that position to be used against them.
Walking out of squeaky, weren't clearing it,
didn't expect someone to be up there.
and that's blik with the first kill as well
can't be wasting these rounds
apex knows the opportunity at hand
half by once again for nafi
confirmed but then right on cue after that second peak we get this wall of
smokes to create a question for apex it's gonna keep him committed to this is
it now that they start to make that walk-up he has to ask me hard to get
this killer's looking for some damage let's see if the peak comes wide here
for macauz a there is really on to down then he gets off that angle not
allowing himself to fall to that silo challenge even when it is main player
You're catching McCauze who thought maybe with Apex's fallback.
There was an opening to split this box site.
Although that feels like the window is closing,
as A is yet again held tall by Vitality.
And looking flawless in this one to secure that seven.
I mean, it's so good for Apex.
Every position he put himself in, the patience,
the last re-clear, he was continuously suspicious
about some kind of outside play.
It came in so late because of course it's Navi,
but he never gave up hope that eventually he
find a target top silo.
at he find that spam on that mini crawl out of it.
And now this is just a close game.
Doesn't matter how it started.
Never does with vitality.
All that matters is how it ends.
Six rounds of the T side on Tommy
that still remain without a bomb plant.
Just to really hammer home how vitality
have been able to keep them at bay.
Double stack on Unbreakable.
The timing's just not there.
There's been quite a bit of fallback here from Naughty's approach outside, right?
Remaining behind expectations from Vitality.
We saw that this chance that cleared twice last round.
Clinkzy's gonna confirm that there is presence here, but it's in too much presence to keep Apex out of the fight.
They're doing such a good job of reading Naughty.
I mean, so many resources dedicated to outside.
got the secret player and shot gets mid.
Reap he got it.
Not for wonderful, he gets it.
Apex's remain tucked into this spot
and Bit feels like he's got this anticipated.
Somewhere over there, Apex must be, he thinks.
And it gets risky for Apex.
He loses his support in the op.
If they are careful about the approach,
they will be able to clear him for free.
Bit seems to be the only one nervous about it.
He has no holding back.
Apex activates.
Bit's going to get the return frag.
Mezzi has to be rock solid because there's no support here just yet.
Yeah, they could have come in from Heaven.
Frantically moving, but still trying to keep it quiet in case somebody like Bitt
is exactly where he is.
Time to shine, Mezzi.
Goes for the main fight.
Drop them, deal it in.
They're cut off now.
Molotov prevents it.
We get this wrap around from this.
It's well-smelted.
Getting on a silver platter.
Flamie's gonna get wild.
Puts the flashbang over top of the site.
Has to give up space as the frag grenade comes through.
15 on this clock with a slight bit of timing pressure, but the Alps has got this peak locked in and a win keeps Flancy
Within the realm of possibility
Seven rounds into the attack they'll collect their 12th round the win
It's an absolutely fantastic around a knobby obviously you can give preference vitality again
They put the right amount of players outside to deal with this but wonderful
Which is dual- Wow, that same shot versus IWU as well, great adjustment.
And then, it's get the entire time who knows, and takes that number to either play the leash or in big garage and hold that position for the trade.
He also wraps around through Heaven, they could have thought, this round's over, let's just go in through Mini altogether and just end it.
And if they had done that, it's possible a retake could have taken place, but they mullied Heaven, had bit wrap around slowly.
It was just that extra little bit, because they're really respecting what their opponents can do.
Luckily, Bob is here and Messi's ready to support it as needed.
It's a lot of bodies trying to move into that ramp room.
Nobby walking into this unexpected surprise.
A double-off variation from Vitality.
Trying to change up the game without notice.
We still have Alexi inside A site with Bob.
There's money to be made here.
Fake plant once.
Second layer as he survives another bit of damage.
Barely.
And sends a frag up to keep them at bay.
Oh, they missed their molly.
That's gonna actually prevent them from jumping on Alexi while his hands were busy. He suddenly repositioned an 8 HP 1v3 build impossible
But he's got the cover and he's got the first kill with it. Double CT dropped down into that site
Working with kids in a fight
Vitality remain alive here on new and he was playing the headshot angle
What raps is also low after dropping out of heaven down to 27 HP.
That's the second clutch, this event.
And it's kind of just denying a big clutch from the other team.
That's been his role so far.
I don't know how Mike Outey is so ready for this.
Off and ramp, second off at turnpike.
The third player ready to swing on ramp as well.
There's been no ramp plays really for Navi
to have alarms on this much.
Literally saved the game here.
That would have been a moment for Alexi.
Limited utility here for Nobby is there, just gonna try to smash their way towards ramp again.
Rock place forward, clean with it.
Two headshots in a second, third one queued up, easy, does it.
Straight posterized, pinned to the wall, man, the crosshair placement is perfect.
Looks like he had no recoil.
Talk about a shutdown.
How can it be so calm? Holding like that.
Best to do it on ramp.
It is Robs after all.
Hail Mary 2v5 to be thrown forward. Starting to feel like OT is entirely possible.
Navi have only won one round so far this half.
This limited money in the next round just makes you wonder if these AKs aren't just worth saving.
saving it's a long save you think vitality you're gonna try to come clear
you out but that's the block here's this kill from rock again oh my goodness
slight spacing between these doggy players the only way you're both you like
he's done a single time in that oh and McCauley gets picked off before the
save worst case situation here unless you still got some time to kill
And they already see the intention that he's not going for this
It's gonna confirm he's up here now Alexi knows he's got a diet
Seconds they all would have formed us otherwise after the fact and so can't run can't hide vitality three rounds to OT
Where we know they work wonders. Oh, they would have loved to have those two guns see that almost get a full buy out of this
Now we see all the clutches and that 10-0 start that went to that first half.
Everything was necessary to win this game.
And it still might not be enough if they're not careful.
There's seven clutches, one so far in this map alone.
And at one point it was 4-0, Navi.
Three clutches since all go by Talonny.
That's an indicator of the times turning against Navi as they weren't able to capitalize.
At the start of the second half, the same way they did at the first.
Tyroos, he closed up Mikaze, we've got E-Met trying to lurk out through, smoke down one,
he's gonna get punished.
And Navi can't see if he can get away with anything in this one.
Already surrounded downstairs and plays his hold towards the single door.
They will continue to try to push the luck that Scout and Tech 9 look to combine
in a 2v5.
Yeah, they said you can have lower.
Look how many TCTs are already here.
We're going to keep this crunch on Gavi. Don't give them any space.
And a real attempt to suffocate what's left of this T-side.
Vitality are within touching distance of that OT, where everything could change.
B-Tremps just bought off of a cause A stat, and that's just because they don't have ancient.
This is the best map by far. They don't have to play. Vitality don't have to play him on it ever.
One health here.
Deja Vu to the last round.
Galeise is just an act of desperation trying to find anything else.
A silver lining somewhere.
Flashback to the blade timeout when he said not one free round.
They have felt that reality ever since.
Another timeout comes out.
It's insane because of any other team you just write them off.
You think there's just no way a comeback could take place, and it was basically done.
Even in this situation.
Not be trying their hardest to go through this last time out.
The positive blade hasn't been enough in this T side.
I'm not even sure what the best response is.
When they played outside, that's obviously where they won.
Wonderful kill, Taiwu heads up.
They did a great job on that upper split,
getting bit into Heaven.
It took every little bit.
But Ramp looks so stacked.
Just the way Rock shut it down on his own, I mean that just felt Rock solid.
That one round of loan could be enough to deter you from attempting it again.
At least in such a simple fashion.
Back to outside, and there'll be some emphasis I think on Zywu and Apex,
obviously they work in tandem together out here.
Just enough cover here for Noggin to join forces behind that red box.
He does Q up the damage on the Nade, perfect, he placed second one.
Holy god.
Yep, Messi's gonna hone in on it.
He gave him a fast ship right there and they get that Nade kill.
Messi with another.
Confirming these kills out here, it's another 3v5 disadvantage for Noggin to try to face
and wow, if Vitality step into the scope then maybe that's the thread that Wonderful
can pull on.
But it's been a rock solid defense from both the teams.
No map control for free.
Ema has shown us X factor. How the hell can he pull this off with 45 seconds? Two teammates behind him.
Everyone slowed down a bit.
It's a bomb on a Lexi B, still sitting outside. Vitality off of this five versus three, yet to move a muscle since they know that they can confidently lean on what they have.
what they have a new with bomb out here like outer is not even a question anymore
they aren't necessarily watching it actively but apex has just taken a peek
every once in a while make sure the craft doesn't happen the bomb has to go
down upstairs and now he commits to the dual keeps wonderful a little bit lower
20 seconds it causes them to scramble Navi have to tuck their tails run for
the hills and save and their nightmare has come together this is vitality
pushing the game to the 24th round of regulation oh it's unreal it's
absolutely unreal. They win outside again.
Pressure is on to not die after time, though. This could actually get hairy.
All this could hurt. We'll see if Vitality go charging through it.
Do both these guns get safe? They're going to eat them.
The Lexi's got it. Okay.
Alt next to him as well. Key component of Navi's 24th round.
Yeah, that's got to be the only way they have a chance of closing now.
The pressure from these nades. One, two, and then that third from Nezzy Lethal.
Yes, and the spam kill for the second player.
I thought Navi's rotations were good,
and that first half and they were,
but Vitality's might be even better.
You let Vitality win the 12th round of their T-side.
One round to make that difference.
There's a handful of people in this room
that thought we might get to overtime,
and yet here we are, around 24, with limitations on Navi.
And yet they'll try their hand outside,
yet again.
They didn't have a timeout to use for this round.
Vitality don't lose in overtime if it gets there.
They're avoiding the damage this time around.
crowd fire. Stammer's still good.
Makase dropped to half health, still afforded a cross over to the garage.
They're going in for a big garage here.
If not, even a squeaky lurker will take so much damage.
Zairu nails it.
Are you kidding me? We're getting into overtime now.
Makase is dead.
Each and every one of them stopped.
No chance to cross. Pressure from start to finish throughout this round.
You allowed my quality to crank that dial.
You let them in this game.
And now you have to best them in overtime, where we know they barely ever lose.
The always elusive map win between Navian Vitality.
It felt like that curse was going to be lifted and bit in a 1v4.
Not gonna be a lie.
The only team that can make anyone feel small, they have done it.
Into overtime.
Blade no longer laughing.
They won a three clutch in that first half until that one round from rocks to deny the one before.
And he denied two clutches after killing Alexi.
Four A.P. of the difference between Navi just winning 15 minutes ago and going into overtime now.
And the energy is totally different.
of the 11 rounds vitality win in that regulation. Only a single one of them is by way of defuse.
That is how far out of it. Navi tumbled. It's just incredible what vitality can do.
And now just as we felt coming into the match until further know this, this is just Vitality's game.
Navi nearly proved they could take a map, but suddenly that's totally reset.
They're the ones who aren't happening to be here in overtime.
We've seen shaky maps from Vitality throughout the Fort Worth group stage.
We've heard them speak of their shortcomings quite bluntly and honestly, and we thought today it just hit that tipping point
We're going to see what they have always wanted.
The tone shifts.
And that 11-1 record in their last 12 overtime tells us now Vitality win this.
They've already understood the rotation. They've got the player downstairs.
I immediately go to ramp the takeover in case they want to split in this direction.
And they will have to do that if they want to meet up now.
Alexi has to figure this out by going back upstairs. That's basically the only way to get one over Vitality.
And that's not happening right now, perfect mate. Good call in the mouth, perfectly.
100 damage across the 2, Mikase lucky to be alive.
And the AUG. With Flamesey on the other side of that door.
But Flamesey backing up puts it back on the rock, so a single frag, bit making the most of that 35 health.
Those were the 2 low players, could have very easily been a double kill out of rock.
The patient pays off here for Zywoo, confirms the second player.
Very nice movement to get away from it, but Wonderful's not going to let him escape.
Flames he gets his.
That's that low HP of Bids dealt with.
Alexian Wonderful meant to recover this, but now it just falls to Wonderful's 1v3 attack.
24 seconds to pull this one off.
And by getting the first kill clean on Flamesy, he's trying to hunt down that next defender.
Where is he?
Looking at you through the double doors, but not able to punish entirely.
Wonderful with a fake plant. 10 seconds to the clock.
How are you gonna get this bomb down now?
Oh my goodness!
He's got a 7-0!
It's covered from the side of the silo!
The Nade comes in!
Dodges it!
He can't get the bomb plant!
No frag, no clutch!
Wonderful cut-down short!
Flushes him off with utility!
And Vitality's winning ways keep going!
It's the next level, second kill there for Flames.
He hit look at the scoreboard. It's all blue, baby.
Vitality continue once.
Somehow, have a lead in this game.
of
two off coming into play again
drops does this part time but I swear he can mean it
because there's no multi-kill this map
Damn.
Awkward timing, the Flamesy gets away with it.
Easy, stoppage on the hot exit.
You've got Flamesy not even called on for more frags there.
He'll return to where he started, chops into the Aubrey.
You can do nothing from this point on.
That overtime record exists for a reason,
and Navi are feeling the wrath of it.
I mean, we're at the point now with this T side.
It's gone on so long they have to come up with some new ideas.
They're trying to cheat some timing by taking this upper hit a little earlier. They have not really tried this
And we can kind of see why
Lames these smokes up
Double-lock their setup their score lines now look frozen in time like no one's really adding up any more kills
It's just the CT side story. It's that double-off that caught off nominee
That's what got them back to winning those CT rounds they had to to force overtime
Just trying to sprinkle it in for a second time at this map
See this exact situation play out in favor of Mikaze last time because Apex came to check this box
Well cause it's floating in a certain way and now he gets spotted and the flashes weren't that good last time
Apex? Yeah
No problem
Offs his second top strike. Still no about it now and wonderful rips off his head with the peak and the second
Is insane and again a third piece here. So I was gonna kill wonderful on that attempt to exit now
Mezzie's locked in with a double
Tries to draw them into messy look at the health
It's a team kill in the frag grenade for messy beyond the grave you'll collect the straight disaster
Alexi now in another one on three. He brought the last one close
It's a flawless overtime run like that. You can't make this up.
Obviously, I've gotten one T rounds since we switched over.
And now Vitality get a second chance. And remember, it was all clutches for
when they played their T side.
Only the first time a team has pushed this roster
to an 11-1 score, and you would have thought it was over,
but they proved again.
Their ramp rotations have been insane.
I mean, they're getting a second off to come into turnpike.
It's not getting overcrowded,
and then Mezzie comes in with a rifle.
That's not even the first time.
You know exactly where to give up space.
miss chance though wonderful would have loved to have collected that five
versus four
get some in the middle of a spam right because they tries to shoot smoke
at least be there to get the other angle on apex apex will take that trade
every day Vardy got Zywu downstairs that's that looming threat of a lower
hit it's called email down through the vents I was just missing the timing
Oh, he's back to back, and Saibu's gonna execute one bullet to the back of the brain, Imez slain.
And it's a man advantage for Vitality on the brink of a flawless OT.
He's readying the bottom event, a rent. They can actually take this back upstairs.
Alexi, he's got some support, but it's not in heaven yet.
They're trying to get closer towards that exit out through Squeaky.
Saibu's ahead of the pass after the draw, wonderful end of the open, but he won't get punished.
Able to go back, diving into the cover, tries for second service.
Robs has got him bested.
It's pressure on Alexi with 18 health.
Math 1 on the line.
And as Robs figures this one out,
it's an active desperation left for bit.
Do you really want to push that with an off?
What do you got to do? You have to get up here.
You switch out for the M4.
The gun hits the ground.
You let them know you're downstairs
and so a huge around-the-world rotation
trying to keep himself shrouded.
He has no time. He has to run this in.
Navi thought once upon a time they had this.
And with fire at the feet of the player on the right,
It doesn't go deep. Messi's able to just walk in his spot and face off.
By Talbot, he rips for a once, parks out, and exposed Nami is nothing but a bunch of yellow bellies.
What's on air have we just witnessed from 11-1 down to
11-0. So standing here now as the winner of the map, how do you do it? How do you do that?
I think the first side we did everything for Naby to win, like we gave them everything but then we picked up map because we knew what they were about to do.
So we had a good plan and it worked well but yeah I don't know how do we come back this again, like that's crazy.
Absolutely crazy and you've got to imagine that that's done some severe damage to their mental going into map 2.
Yeah, I mean, we know it's an UBIS, we have to step up for sure.
We had a lot of struggle, these tournaments on a lot of sides,
but we're still in final, we still won them up once,
so I know it's all about stepping up and playing our good construct,
because if we do that, it's going to be a 3-0.
Well, that was it for today, thank you so much.
Thank you.
it was 11-0 because it makes it all the more impressive.
So much to talk about for the recovery of vitality, but you know
Momentum-wise dust you got to feel so down in the dumps if you're not V
You said it better than Omar little ever could when you come for the king
You bet's not miss and not be had them up in the corner
This is the coldest heart by Tally's ever had in an arena forget call the start on new
I'm talking ever right, but then they're like what we're not done set right
Let's do the best comeback we've ever done
I mean, it was absurd what we just witnessed on this stage.
Even to refer to what scrawny said in his intro to the grand final, I mean, that Texas
Heat, it's a slow killer, it creeps up on you.
That's exactly what happened here when Vitality puts on the best outside yard defense I have
ever seen.
I've never seen anybody use utility that well, find so many kills through the smoke.
They were reading them without even seeing them.
Yes, and maybe let's dive into that immediately because Apex did say it, right?
said we knew what to expect. We knew what was coming when they moved to the T site and we moved on CT
and it's telling because the CT site is what Vitality has been struggling with but not in this case
on their map pick. I think that it was at least 400 utility damage between some of the players here
on Vitality. It was at least 350 last time I looked but this was just knobby getting
pummeled round after round through all of the smokes that they were throwing. They tried every
combination does. They did the old smokes, they did the triple smokes to try to block
those kinds of plays from happening, but the spam damage was just so inflicted. It inflicted
so much damage to Navi every single round.
I want to call about the two things we talked about free game. I think it's fair to do
so. One was that we kind of critique the fact that Vitality's ability was sloppy throughout
the course of this tournament when they've oh so well on it every other time. They
were surgical with how they used their nades and its endearies on that second half
comeback. I've been so much damage, so many frags, and that's what they're so good
at when they're all in their game.
Not only did they have all the fundamentals,
they had that extra player that's going to catch you off guard
like that.
The other thing we talked about pregame was,
what was it going to be like watching
Macaulay and Apex duel in the yard?
Two different philosophies.
Star player for Navi in the yard,
in-game leader in the yard for the botanical side.
Apex outfract him so hard in that second half.
They never even took a fair fight, really, though.
That's the thing, if it was Macaulay versus Apex
and it was open space, you're going
to put your money on Macaulay there.
But that's Apex.
He has all of these tricks.
He's extended his shelf life as a player,
not because he's kept up his mechanical ability,
but because he's improved his mind.
For MacCaza, though, that has to be so frustrating, right?
Because you say it there, like, at least,
when you lose the head to head, yeah, you know it was me.
But this time, you're like, well, hell,
I couldn't even do anything.
And I fear for that feeling, right?
That feeling of hopelessness, especially
when you had it in the palm of your hand.
Because at the beginning of this map,
their T-side was phenomenal.
Sorry, their CT side was phenomenal, right?
It was, yeah.
Clutch after clutch after clutch dust.
It was a combination of clutches for sure.
I mean, Wonderful had a couple of big moments.
We obviously saw really a lot of different players.
Amo was having the hell of a game before on us.
So they really did have a lot of clutch plays.
A lot of things go their way early.
They had obviously the very hot front of 11-0.
And what I liked about this first half from Navi
as we were preparing for what we thought
would be the huge upset on the stage
was that they gave a lot of different looks to vitality.
That's what I want to credit them for.
The way that they were boosting
Mikaze on top of that spot in front of Big Garage
or moving Wonderful's AWP around
or just generally scrambling them.
and then when they were going for the retakes,
when they were going for the clutch moments,
they held their nerve in those pressure situations
and were able to come out on top.
So it was really tough to see that slip
through their fingers at that point.
Especially after they did so much of the heavy lifting.
To get this grade of a CT start off the back
of heroic plays, that's not usually what you get.
That's the X factor that it felt like
would carry Navi over the edge versus Vitality.
Now they just feel like all these clutches
are wasted performances.
Yeah, absolutely.
So right because you start to have that belief
that no matter what happens, we'll be able to turn the rounds around.
But then it starts to creep in, and I think one of these rounds is very important in that regard.
It was 15 where Robs actually gets his first clutch.
It is left to them to finish it, and we're going to look at it after.
But for me, that kind of was the straw that broke the camel's back,
because this is where you can get to 12, right?
But they can't finish it.
Yeah, I mean, I think Robs has had a really cold tournament throughout the group stage in particular,
and really only popped off on that landslide with other gamers on Mirage.
to see him finally get into his old self.
That clutch track really know he's capable of.
That was so pivotal.
Also just look at what he did defensively throughout.
Ah, ah, it didn't matter.
The guy was having so much impact, holding ramp,
helping retake the lower bombs like this is the rough
that we know and love.
It is and I think Emma walked down this catwalk here
backstage thinking about that round exactly
because he could have gotten four,
he could have gotten the clutch and there were on 12.
The thing is, now you can't think about that anymore.
94 damage, over 90 damage.
I hope he doesn't for his own sanity there that's insane it is insane and
what's insane is that vitality saw all that dynamic defense that Navi
threatened they said hey we can do you one better and they really did it was
apex New York it was flames constantly reposition whether he was coming secret
whether he was coming mini he was at times helping do one of the big things
I noticed in that final stretch for them is every time that Navi's made a
commitment there was always one more there than they expected right if
they take ramp okay there's one guy peeking us from ramp one guy turn
to trade. No, but I had another guy turnpike to trade. It was always that layered rotation
that really just puts volatility out in front. So many contingency plans and it's so interesting
because we talked so much about they are weaker, they've lost a couple of streaks. They've
been comments about not being as as precise with their practice or that they are getting
a little bit tired of everything, right? I didn't see any of that on the CT side.
It almost like they added an extra layer still just working in the shadows for a
moment like this. The scary thing about this game is that the vitality from the first half is what
we saw in the group stage leading up to it. One that's sloppy, that couldn't fight in trades,
that was getting outplayed tactically. Second half, they turned it on again. This is the vitality
that is continuing their era. I'll up your ante. I think the scarier thing is the fact that we
just watched Vitality do that. They have not often been put in situations where they have
to claw back huge comeback in the best of five grand final. Again, we talk about how this
is their 15th BO5. They've 3-0ed a bunch of those. They nearly got 13-0ed in this game.
right? So to see them be able to come back and put that on the stage, that's incredible. That's
a level of composure and resilience. We haven't had to see them do yet, but when it's been called upon,
the greatest always rise to the occasion and they did. Yeah, it's almost the by definition,
making your own destiny, right? Maui, because even though they get in tricky situations just
by the sheer force of will, they make sure that they climb themselves out of that hole.
That's what eras are defined by. I think Astralis had that same factor, this just kind of
feeling of of that is impossible to defeat them and that's exactly what they
exemplified the fact that even when some of those rounds got close there was
always one person on that CT side to clutch up I said I didn't want a
vitality that's going to procrastinate I said it directly in the pregame to
this one because Navi's not the kind of team that'll capitulate
unfortunately we just saw that happen a Navi team that I rarely see choke on
big stages it's why I feel like they still have the best punchers chance to
take down vitality but vitality they weren't knocked out with that
initial blow. No, Navi's been brought down a notch for sure. We also have a
polymarket prop that could maybe help in this situation because Navi might need it.
Will there be a reverse sweep in the blast arrivals for worth worth grand final?
Hell no! It's only happened if I don't even really happen. I mean there was a
best of five grand final where G2 looked like they were gonna be out of it and
they come back and they won 3-2. So that is the only time it's even remotely
close and there's just no shot in mind. So it's gonna be 3-1 for Navi instead?
Oh, I do what you do there has a little chikaroo. I love the love the optimism. Yeah, I do. I do
I really love the top of the at the bottom of this doom and gloom time for Navi, but I just don't see it
There's just no way. Oh man. It'd be awesome though. Hey, that's what's gonna make it greater if it does happen
Yeah, I don't pray on vitalities downfall. I fall I don't but I
Why does this keep happening like I really want Navi to get back in this and maybe give us the full five facts
We'll see but for now we're gonna kick it over to the the arena and Darth Mike
How are we doing forward?
Well, Vitality managed to wrangle that map somehow, but we found the final boss of our
chickens here in the Dickies Arena, and I think I need some help wrangling them on
down, so I found the experts.
If Vitality could do it, certainly he should have done it, can't he?
What's your name, sir?
I'm Chase.
Chase?
Aspen?
Hirston.
Hirston, what inspired this fit these days?
Well, by now, I don't even lose.
I'd like to dress like a winner.
Here we go.
Well, I've got a lasso right here.
Have any of you gentlemen ever thrown one of these before?
My life has never touched one.
Yes, I have.
There's a first time for everything, folks.
So we're going to give each of you three tries
to wrangle this bird.
And whoever gets it first is going
to be winning a fabulous prize.
Forward, do we think they could do this?
Mixed audience here. Could you step forward. So now here's going to be the trick. You're
going to take the big loop, you're going to hold this, and you're done with it in hand.
In hand, what do we got? Right hand. Hold that in your right hand, hold it nice and open.
You want a big sexy loop there. You want to keep it open as much as possible. Keep fingers
on the loop so it doesn't close down. You're going to swing that thing right around
your head. You got a little momentum going, oh there we go. See, that's the key. Keep
finger on that loop don't want to let go there forward do we make some noise can
we get a here we go here we go first off coming in here ready not good at all
this is hard this is hard come on forward make some noise let's get some
energy going give me the let's go hold on here let me hold this hat down hat
Pat down, pat down, it's okay, don't worry about the hat,
worry about the loop, there you go.
This hand open, this hand open,
take one half step forward here.
Open those fingers, big sexy loops, big throw,
here we go, two low again, keep this hand open,
these fingers open, you get one more shot here,
you ready?
One more shot here, going quick,
let's go, then we're rotating them in.
Quick, quick, quick, you gotta go, you gotta go.
One more, and growl!
Better!
That's what I need you to hop in here.
We're going quick, we're going fast.
We're going quick, there's no time.
It's over time.
It's counter strike.
We gotta throw.
It's a big hit.
Otherwise, it's gonna hit the stage.
Let's go.
Big move, right hand.
Open that up.
Am I stressing you out a little bit?
A little, yeah.
Well, that's the pressure of the stage right here.
Open that up more.
Bigger, bigger, bigger, bigger, bigger.
There's your finger.
All right.
Left hand open, take two steps forward.
Get some distance on this.
Here we go, forward mix of noise.
That's down.
Oh boy, oh boy, oh boy, one more toss.
Here we go, no time to spare, latching up.
It's all on the line.
Gavi have 11 rounds.
Are you gonna let it go?
Here we go, oh, hit the wing, hit the wing.
Forget this man.
One more throw, one more throw, my friend.
Look this up, come on.
You're getting so damn close, so damn close.
You feeling that one?
I feel it, I feel it.
He's feeling it.
Are you feeling it now, Nikki Zarena?
There we go, that's a good loop.
Oh, he's dropping the whole road.
He's letting go of everything.
All right, sir.
You gotta lock this in for us, Carson.
Do you feel the spirit of forward?
Yeah, yeah.
Yeah, he does.
Do we feel the spirit?
Do a dive, clutch up.
Okay, come on, one more.
One more.
One more.
Come on with the toss.
Come on with the toss.
Get it going, get it going here, come on, imagine this.
It's the prize, it's the trophy, ready for it, let's go.
One more, one more, quick, quick, quick, get it looped.
Keep that other hand loose, you can do this.
One more toss, here we go.
My God, it's a miracle.
How is he doing this?
How has this happened?
How has our chicken been wrangled?
Thank you, sir, for roping up my cock.
You got it locked in.
Are you ready to unlock it on the server?
Oh, yes, sir, yes, sir.
Fort Worth, Kiki's Arena.
Can we make some noise?
Oh!
We are here with Esports himself.
It is indeed the historian, Thorin.
How's the co-streaming in the arena?
It's all right.
You're actually bigger than me, like, for the fall.
All right, I want to see that in the fall.
It's going to be a VM club.
Here's the thing.
If you needed someone to wrangle a cock in front
of everyone in the room, yeah, I could have done that for you.
That's the skill I have.
I appreciate you inviting me to the first ever live edition
of Snake and Banner.
So really, really well done.
That was a great good point.
Listen, it's a lot safer to have you than Cassante.
I'll tell you, I'll tell you, I'll tell you.
You probably wouldn't get through questions.
Would he say something crazy on the way in, you know.
Yeah.
Yeah, that might have been the end of your co-streaming
But does everybody may or may not know,
Thorin is indeed co-streaming here with Pauli Market,
so you can check him out if you're at home.
So turn off the mainstream and come on the mass stream.
I actually care about this game.
I'm a legend.
They'll all be gone in the industry in 10 years,
but I'll be here for them, honest.
Can we just get a five gifted?
I'm going to ignore what he just said,
and I'm going to ask for a five gifted.
Exactly.
Exactly.
Where's the money at?
Well, thank you so much, and I
think we've got to check on some more.
Unfortunately.
It's nice to sort of be on the stream again.
You're so close.
Of course, they're still chatting.
I'm here with the boys from the KRL stream.
Rivan and Louis, you've been here the whole event.
How has it been?
Oh, it has been amazing to have the opportunity
to be here in Falksworth.
I love the US crowds.
It's been an amazing race.
I mean, everyone say little.
Actually, it's really nice to be here.
We enjoy it a lot.
The teams are nice.
Even though Vitality is still the best team in the world,
you the public is actually insane so thanks for coming here you guys are
already losing your voice you've been screaming so much so what do you think
then because yes your french vitality blah blah blah blah but we want to see
five maps how can Lavie do it I think they will have to get MacCasey back to
his level because basically he's not playing so good this final so far so I
believe he needs to step up a bit to be in shape and make it possible for
Thank you. Thank you. Thank you very much. Good luck to you and yeah we're gonna head back and do our final notes before Anubis now Dustin Maui because yeah what a sledgehammer they have been dealt right now V they were up on 11 rounds they just had to finish the job but they didn't do it versus vitality.
Now the question is will they even get another chance. That's gonna be tough. I mean we've watched Vitality win their last eight games at Anubis on a row even though it's one of their lesser played maps they're just so low verse as they are every year.
versus as they are everywhere else really good at the split pressure really good at the pace he plays
I think this is another map where flames the guy we highlighted pregame really thrives as not only a
mid attacker but a defender he kind of moves to that position recently defensively and does very
well there so if they keep up this same pace it's gonna be very hard for Navi to claw the series
back and I feel like it's gonna be even harder to retain your nerve if you're Navi in this
one you have that one right in the palm of your hands but you got to keep up the action
you got to keep up the communication last time they played against each other the active
aggressive plays on CT side were great,
but I don't want to see a knobby that comes back into its own shell.
That doesn't go for all of those aggressive plays that just sits on their hands
because I think that they needed to have a really stern talking to with Ursula,
their sports psychologist.
You make a great point about that previous matchup on the newbis.
When you look at that film,
what you really kind of saw throughout the course of that game is that
while Vitality on the T-side were able to really get mid-control
and kind of set up some plays,
when they actually went for that final execute,
they actually couldn't close down on the sites.
Like we're actually seeing knobby respond very effectively,
stop them from finding progress and it really took vitality pivoting to like
more of a like really fast pace like punch you in the mouth before you can
rotate play style to actually get that one across the line. So I really find
we're gonna have to see something similar out of Navi in this game to have a
shot. It's true, but I think if you're not be right, aren't you
questioning everything because your CT side was very good in this one. But
you did rely on all the clutches. What if that doesn't even happen
this round? How does blade activate them? You just have to make sure
that the game plan is followed to a T. I know that it's gonna be
hard to believe in it, given that it failed you so badly there on the T side, but Blade
has a system, there's a reason that he picked this for the second time in a row and he's
going to try to upset the balance.
Let's see indeed on stages like this you just can't let it meander in your head that
loss from the last game that you had it in the palm of your hands because Vitality
has their eyes on the trophy, but hopefully Navi have something to say about it on
a newbis.
Yeah, damn right Sharks, they've got one eye on the trophy while Navi just
They just need to keep their eyes on a single map because I felt it, you felt it.
Everybody in attendance felt it. That last map looked like it was Navi.
You had Vitality flustered, arguing slightly as they come into this round, as they come into this comeback.
I don't know what you can say to either team in between these maps to reset from a fumble like that one.
No, I've got no idea, man.
This will have to be special from Navi. They can pull this off.
and only imagine what that team talk was like
when they were getting some fresh air in the break.
It probably wasn't a lot of good conversations,
probably a lot about the regrets
and stuff they left on the table.
Vitality now have this game in the palm of their hands.
The risk of the veto comes into play here on Anubis.
And Navi might not have the mood to pull it off.
He now just dives out window as Flames,
he tries to get active on him.
So a bit of a chase on that one,
blocks double back to deal with the lurk, and will execute Imeh.
That's one player confirmed over towards that A site, but Imeh didn't really see anything else.
Flamesy hits the pause button at the perfect moment, mid now distracted with the site,
and then Flamesy emerges, so layered to perfection here,
where Vitality on the attack, perfect engagements with players looking the wrong direction,
until finally somebody gets a fair duel, and Wonderful will collect Zywou's head at the very least.
Just got to be so much hang-up for them coming out of that last map and then Vitality come through the quick round like this
Taking a small risk pushing through a smoke but perfect with the audio cue they lessen the sight
And from above we'll have a chance on this headshot angle to find a duel
But the Mccase takes the headshot before he can even swing
Now we'll just get chased down. This round is done for Vitality
Decisive as they start off with a win. That one just feeling like classic Vitality
Duals to perfection, timing clean, everything you could ask for in terms of the engagements and the distractions.
Blindside.
This is fair dual.
Would have been plain easy to pick that up from behind if not for Apex and then we get another execution of the player out in heaven where he's just not looking the right way.
This just looks so much different with a win for Navi in map 1 because obviously, you know, they're trying to do something.
They got three old last time, even if the Nubis could be a risk.
They, you know, they've been just got to try something,
come in with some special prep and try to catch Apex off guard and Xtaz off guard.
But without the win, it just doesn't feel scary anymore, I think, when you're vitality.
Just feels like more of the same when it comes to this head-to-head,
which is close games, but no victories.
Not in series, not in maps even.
So when you were that close, and I mean, again,
We've had close games, right? 13-11 victories for Vitality.
Sure, but not 11-1 leads that get blown up.
You're going to need two sports psychologists
to draw out Navi out of this hole.
Just hope they agree.
Now, opening kill on Zywoo could end up helping Navi.
He didn't even really need Zywoo last map.
He had some kills, but really, you know,
claimsy-mezzy, props his clutches that he denied.
That game didn't go to overtime, he wasn't even been positive.
Trying to remain active in this one.
Navi with this 5v4, looking to carve a path towards long A.
This is a lot of commitment, though, out of the defense.
He's leaving a perfect window for Vitality to strike inside of the B site.
They're still a little bit delayed to it as they want to prioritize utility.
Apex is going to find his hands full, but still able to collect two headshots at that distance because they bottom of the scoreboard back on new
10 kills throughout the entire match and no multi frags at least
Flamesy collecting bit it's gonna send wonderful running off to the hills
He'll be able to save that scout if he's lucky and it's vitality to still get through despite that 4v5 they had to face
And now on the T side obviously gonna be a very different story here on a new bus
Both teams are going to be looking forward to playing the attack.
Because Navi picked this, obviously they have to start on CT.
I'll make it just like, if map feels like it has six players, you can play to play by itself.
They still support it, and then they still go for pushes, and it's all coordinated and everything like that,
but just the strength of him as an individual on this map, like, just buffed out their map pool to a level we couldn't precipitate.
Now it's obvious. Now it's probably to any other team, we'd say the same thing.
That scout, but you see the aim punch.
I was maintained control between the two pieces.
No wrench in the works so far this round for Navi.
You're really hoping that scout could have got something done,
but first guy first really sucks the life out of Navi here in round three.
I'm just curious after that last map of the Vitality comeback,
come back. Are there still nobby believers in here. Delusions of hell of a drug. It's
all about faith here. Yeah, it is. That's who we have the craziest run Dallas and Boston.
I mean, yes, it is. It's just all about the mental. Can you pull yourself out of
letting vitality walk away with that map win because you have to get back to where
you were in the first half. We have blade with double fist pumps standing behind Navi.
The confidence there. We've never seen. I mean we walked off stage and then you know
went to the cafeteria and everyone's just like, alright 3-0 now. Like it just feels like
that's not how it works to me. The amount of effort you put in, the amount of miracles
that had to line up for all those clutches to go your way for how good the start
was. Like everything went so wrong. We've never seen blade cheering before a game
That alone when it's like five or six. Oh
Only for that to all
The energy to total event
Honestly, it just was it looked horrible when they got to overtime because you already know you're going to lose now
All that effort you put it
All those clutches in a row that won't happen again in another match. Yep versus this team in a grand final
That won't exist in the future all leading up to the major near the end of the season here
all wasted all the what ifs all the could have beans we all know that familiar
feeling of throwing a lead in a game of Counter-Strike but imagine Navi throwing
that lead versus a team that you've been playing against for two years without
finding a single map win that is the closest you've ever come that is the
most confident you've ever felt and it gets torn out of your chest and at
first it's a map that makes the vitality look like they have weaknesses
And in the end, it shows us why they're the greatest right now, like that resilience only adds to their confidence, doesn't take away.
They're not going to remember the fact that they started 11-0 down, oh boo-hoo.
The fact that they pulled that back only makes them stronger.
First gun round now in Navi's fourth round of the CT side.
The
starts off with a more passive setup inside that A site.
In heaven.
Camera.
13 straight grand final map for vitality.
That's disgusting.
In the first six months of last year,
so many of the grand finals were close.
It's actually gotten better.
We've seen some streaks for vitality end here in Texas and yet still some of these other ones live on.
It's a team that every single time you find them in the server you start talking history.
The cause they tried to turn off that flashbang will collect Flameseed.
Wonderful, it's another one and done. It's each of the original B defenders collecting a kill,
but then with those smoke walls off you got vitality taking position inside site and planting the bomb.
First gun round and it's a retake demanded here of Navi.
Feel like we've seen this position so many times a very standard attack. It's really well-timed the
The retake coming in from this position is okay, but Ima will be a little bit slow to this
There's no one actually pushed out of me just yet
And with where they're playing from I feel like this is the perfect counters
Bob's comes back to take a look with the teammate right next to him CT is really down to the wire here
it's gonna have to be Ena for that defuse, but now this game is overcourt long.
And so the defuse was never gonna happen without Ena getting into the action.
Vitality shut down that post plant from a 3v3 to two Vitality players still surviving.
He tried to crawl into that, and if there were people outside,
then taking those fights and going slowly at it would have made sense,
but the perfect close-time position, playing in both choke points that they weren't coming in from.
If they had taken an early duel and losing it,
That would have been maybe a chance for the retake to take place, but he's feeling good, too.
Yima has a one rifle on this round for Navi.
A couple MP9's, fugitive nades, there's certainly tools for the job.
And there's that one unquantifiable element that Vitality brought from the first map, and that is the self-belief.
Built back up by a nasty comeback.
And another inevitable close at an overtime game that just lets them now start to get streaky
But a big push from Alexi for the double-edged nine kill
Offers them to the corner, not gonna get a second
Okay, that is a great move here by Navi to take control of water on their terms
Yeah, no room business
Probably that helps those decals go directly behind them to take Agro
They got caught off guard jumping away at the stairs
It's gonna continuously take moments like that out of Navi where they take moves on their terms
You find Vitality in a setup phase of the fifth round.
Jump them when they don't expect it.
Keep that offer in an awkward spot.
And now hopefully for Navi's sake, close out this 4v2.
1% faith in this round.
The other two.
That's how these players shoulder to shoulder, bomb in the background, flames you on the charge.
You'd have to just be a total disaster at this point.
Alexi be looking to be that third element soon enough, but it's a double up inside of E-box.
Mikaoze's been under question. He's going to fall back a little bit.
They find the footing. They've got their exit outwards.
Okay, hold on. Back ten, covered by the pistol. Nicely done, Mikaoze.
As he confirms that there's a flanking position, knows he's time limited here.
Seven seconds, wants the bomb plant, just wants to go for the save.
You find a Zegi Batumi and Mikaze on the chase.
Navi off of Alexi's double MP9 push outside of the A site.
Give Fort Worth something to believe in five rounds into map two.
They'll collect the round win.
For now, it's kind of a drop in the bucket,
like it's great, you know, round to get on the board.
It's not the way in which the bruise and you've got the team in the collar
and the strats to be able to win because they're not going to do this over and over again.
They've got to win a standard default now.
They've got the upgrades, they made a little money on that round too,
Which is nice to catch a tempo. You never want to let the other team win on a half-buy
So all that plays the foundation for something here for Navi
But it's gonna be these rounds to beat potatoes full buys with the often play
No confirmation behind that smoke here for Navi, that's got them playing in the dark somewhat,
but Vitz gonna go take a close look at it.
And as he commits himself onto fountain, that would have usually left email alone, but we
We also get the Olexi rotate to try to be a second piece of this mid setup for the defense.
They play support. We'll see if that flash catches timing.
No, sir. Not even a confirmation that Vitality are actually still back there.
Wonderful will collect as Apex steps into the scope.
Now, Zywu is counter-parts looking to get active with his own.
And as he inches his way closer to the camera, we've got this player still on a silver platter than reaction.
Olexi gets away with the kill on Zywu. His flames, he doesn't keep it as clean as he needed.
Bits about to get hit from both sides and rocks.
That is nasty as he bends the headshot around the corner,
goes back for the water confirmation,
and runs, wants to be a part of this post-plant
with numerous advantage on the post-plant site.
That's crazy.
And he has such little health, but he can actually
still be effective here.
Flash comes in, won't do anything.
Oh, but cleared.
Mikaze, time to shine.
His utility comes flying forward.
A frag in case.
Fountain is occupied.
It's not the case.
We've got Vitality.
Heads talked to giving the space over,
Letting Navi forward with a messy strike straight in wonderful confirms the second element doesn't have a kit
And it's only tries to fluster this it doesn't actually touch that bomb flames eat trying to
Tries to go in for the push both kits in that round for the CTs or camera and middle. Yeah
Three kills for wonderful and it's nice. They get everyone dead
off will be saved but that's about it I can't believe rocks wins his duel comes
out against him on the retake and still escapes on slow health
just zero panic with him
Stop. I mean, you want to be perfect, too, and you're going up against a team playing
like this. Your nemesis holding you out of trophies.
is saying events don't even feel like they count when you can't beat Vitality in the final.
Two rounds lost in the last 23 rounds of play.
Oh, how Vitality have turned this around.
Guns for Navi. And on top of that, Mikaze goes even wider than this challenge.
We've seen Ema try to play before. You know, when the last pause outside of the A site
happened, and Alexi got away with the MP9 kills, we said great opening,
but not around here. We're really gonna repeat.
We've got to see them win in the defaults
This is full guns and we see a fresh look with a deep angle here for wonderful as well
They're trying to zone them into this peak
It's a nice change up by Navi. There's a perfect lineup for this flash. They can use for him holding this door position
He's got it
For the members of Navi
That's beautiful in terms of the timings like right when they were about to do their attack. No way anyone's playing Angie flash
As he tries to threaten that ace site, but what if somebody steps into rocks?
You know, he's just gonna run this off towards me in that moment
But he gets blindsided because they catching him just as he had gone to clear the window and now mezzys
Ruse has been found out as nothing but a fake honestly. Here's a great round
It's off to tack pause as well the setup in terms of men
They zone them into pushing towards wonderful and before wonderful even has to be useful. They counter flash that approach apex
Thanks after shooting a few bullets. He can bait them into
Overfacing or having wonderful get fully blind and eat the flash, but instead it's all by Navi's design
So that's actually a lovely way to get a second round after their
That they pulled out
Yeah, because his flash just pop
He set it in the timeout blade speaking as if he knew all the answers and right off of said timeout
We got a fresh look for Navi and one that goes off to perfection
That was pretty genius and look at there was word for their efforts you interrupt vitality in a matter of seconds
And you thrust them back down into the pistols. We just had that stat 21 of the last 23 rounds picked up
But now Navi finally looking to get back to consecutive round wins. This is an advantage. They've been fighting for
or make the most of this.
Proper antico, they leave mid open
because they don't need it and they have the right setup.
Nothing more to do.
How to charge.
That double up inside of the site.
Just the distraction bit needs to thrive on this one.
That was just so good.
Unless there was going to be some kind of mid-play this round there,
they really wouldn't have canceled around the A-side.
Nice clean up here, Navi.
So one great rifle round, the half by win and an anti-ego.
We're drinking out of that chew.
Way too easy for a bit there.
Activates the perfect moment off of the back of the force by. We now find vitality on just the blocks.
Number two late for Navi to turn this game around.
He's a clean up here in round nine.
Nobby enjoyed this moment.
Probably feeling like you get back to a small taste of what you had over on Nuke where it felt like you were flawless.
This was pretty great.
And again it was off that play tack that everything just started going right.
But now right on cue, we get X-Tas in with his first timeout of the second map.
You see what sort of readjustments come out again.
The latee doesn't waste either team's timeouts, he'll be talking here as well.
I wonder what's up next on this defense.
I mean, it's a tough map to come up with CT options for pushes.
They all feel a little bit random when you're flash retanking, A main, B main.
So timing dependent. We saw that's how they won.
Flash over the mid-doors, explains he's 1-max 10 in this round, tries to put early pressure on Ima and it's great to flush him out.
Total change in the timing. That's too fast. And speaking of timing, you're right. He's got a wonderful to give an eye on that.
Now the smoke, he might consider it, but the timing of all this, we're going to get this counter-window boosting to mid.
Will the T's predict it? They try to turn in time, but Zywook...
They already have the B site. He's already flanked it entirely.
The bomb's not in just yet, but yeah, Alexi, difficult for him to be able to challenge this through that e-box.
They just get this bomb in the...
Gives himself a little room to work with, puts fire in front of the commitment here.
So this is stalled out vitality for a moment, but it's not like Navier fully in on this idea that it's actually being.
The only place where they can actually move a player is Robs. He's still actually hanging back inside of middle and
and all goes down safely until it's a battle of utility that puts that bomb down but the utility doesn't last forever
Roth is now starting to get active, but actually coming into a more standard position here, flanking main
Not a lot of cover here for Flamesey, he knows he's between both ends of this retake
He's gonna try to strike him down with E-bots while the swing gets his one
On top of that it's a dip on the Mikaze, a nice drop, empty handed, it's all Roth's in this 1v3
Smoked off, they'll be desperate to get the lineup, but Mikaze's the guy with low HP
He's gonna need a reload in the middle of all this skill. Now Mikaze passes to the second time. They're trying to find the kill, they will.
And Mikaze in with just enough for this deep use. We've got a tight game on our hands, Texas!
That was so good. Pull house between them.
I actually love that move. It was wonderful. It goes a little bit deep on the...
I can't really be clear of that so perfectly, but his opponent playing an off angle inside of me.
After this, I thought, oh, man, because this round is over.
At first, I would hunch it down that hill, and they had claims to come through that flank.
Actually, I'm saying that not before the three takeoff, considering the situation they were just in.
Another shortcoming round for Vitality.
It feels like the economy has been haunting them as this game has gone on.
Yeah, he continues to open doors for Navi to establish another lead.
They're winning all the right rounds.
What was once a 5-1 game?
Now Navi's sitting on a four-round streak in the confidence.
As we saw it back on Newport, the borderlocker,
feeling untouchable, McCotten's in for the try.
There's a malty.
Sideway tries to return the favor with his Deagle.
Back-to-back, Deague headshots,
a swift reminder of who really is the best.
They can't just go back and get this bomb pretty easily.
It's not going to be under vision here for Navi.
Both got gun upgrades, have armor to work with.
And a very decent amount of utility.
ready to flank. I mean, wonderful is posted up in the perfect position just
has to wait patiently hit a shot.
One flash for meze. They have to have smokes, but they want, you know, they
won't contact. Yep. Element of surprise at play. Don't want this offer on the
angle, but that's this could be a tough reality. No missed chance from
wonderful. Smoke hits the lip on the ground. And as he saw it, he needs
to be blind timing on site. 20 seconds. Worried about that. Heaven
Over towards the bricks instead.
Pressures on and through that smoke.
And Navi, 6-5 lead.
Excellent comeback for Navi.
This is classy, man.
CT side after the way they started.
Some great calls and setups.
Some ingenuity.
And they're not just hanging back and waiting for rounds.
The only time they've been super passive is their egos,
and they've had the right side to sack.
They had to win a retake.
It's kind of had it all.
Yeah, ironic thing. It's only going to make you more mad about map one right. Yeah, it was right there for the taking
Everybody called 3-0 nobody said it could have been Navi
Yeah, really starting to pop off a lot of conversations around him after taking a closer look at his stassur's vitality
Again, such a superstar on ancient, but the one map that his opponents don't play.
Place made for Robs to have to stomach, get that chip damage in, final round of the half.
While Vitality have had to stomach some of these weaker buys, this one's got everything you need to pull off the six, then tie the game going in to your own CT side.
Challenge for long both players want it both players smoke it and then both players leave
Like this a bit more from vitality
This is getting understaffed and in terms of resources Navi, you know
You have to take some kind of risk on space
These people come through the snap and yeah these were these kinds of pushes. They just feel a little bit scary for the CT side
Mid walkouts happening at the same time because they picked it on his terms
Mezzie slaps the XZB out of the round with that swift headshot and a second kill on the push.
The bomb only getting scooped up now at 30 seconds. Could E-Map pull off the unthinkable here?
Singular B Defender left over after that aggression.
Flames E playing in anticipation of a push like this. He's got a NATO.
But the same time Robs won that fight over towards a long.
They don't have time to go anywhere.
Hit to this, lost connects, Zyrusov finds it, and wonderful, who's just gonna try to sneak out, can't stop that bomb.
They can't stop Vitality from tying on the T side.
Today's his phase written all over it, it's not happening.
You have to be on a team where all of your teammates can die, and yet be good enough to
turn that back around.
How about from Akhazek?
I don't think it's likely, but I don't think any of it's likely.
I'm going for 1%.
Oh, it's not happening.
They can just get an aces tough, a 1v5, a true 1v5.
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Okay, percentage chance of it?
I would probably say 5%.
7.
7.
It happens like one out of every 20 games.
Robs is the most prolific Zeus right now.
I'm thinking about who else can do it.
Snacks is here.
For them, why would Snacks be using Empire Elves when it's all on my mind?
Because they're getting 13 out and he wants to have a good time.
I am going low though.
I'm thinking 22% for me.
Earlier in CS2, we were seeing them.
It's fine.
The range on it was really long.
Will people even try?
try. I'm just not seeing it as much nowadays. I'm probably more so leading to to maybe 10% personally.
This was like 50-50 even for the best teams in the world but over the top it's like sub 60.
This is a win rate. So we're saying not happening. I mean I would give it like a
7.6%. I think those are generous odds. Generous odds 7.6% not happening. We don't think it's
happening. To bake on this one properly you'd have to pick the teams that's getting literally
and the group stage. This is phase. To me this is phase we're all over it. I would say it's still
the chance that it happens is sub 10 percent. If I'm even going to lower I'd go like 3 percent,
4 percent. So you think this is actually more rare than a 1v5 clutch there? Yes, I actually do.
Molotoway hasn't had some struggles in playoffs recently because I was more of a hybrid used
time with the vice-fals. She won all up every round. Actually the more I think about this
I'm just coming here. 70%
Molotov. And then is like, you
still have that hybrid nature
about where model it does.
Just want to hop as much as
possible. Exactly. One thing
that's working also against
I were here is that they might
win somebody games so quickly.
Doesn't even have to bust out
the off. Why couldn't you just
rifle his way through a match
versus foot in the inner if
I were to like put a number on
it, I would be like 60, 40 in
favor of Molotov getting more
uptills. So now to create
our own prediction, we're
We have seen how desperate Apex is to get an EVP award from HLTV.
This might be his best chance yet on top of the fact that he's showing great individual form.
Apex is so good in grand finals. That's the one that always gets me.
I would put the percentage of him getting an EVP from HLTV around 25% of this amount.
Gaze of Legion makes the playoffs. They need to beat Furia or they need to beat Loser of Sey's Novi.
No, it still gets very reasonable. It's like a 52-48 kind of situation.
I'm going to swat it to playoffs. Lock it in. 40% for game religion.
We never doubted you game religion.
A little more action-packed counter strike here on map two.
We end all tied up at the first half.
What was a stark contrast to Nuke, which featured eight clutches between the two teams won.
This second map only one of those because we really did have some dominating rounds and at the start it was vitality
It felt like the continuation of nuke, but Navi have started to turn this around
This has turned into a very high level half
But I think it's very very impressive for Navi
You know that unfortunately I don't get more rounds because they started off a little bit slower
But that's also because vitality played extremely well
So push to their limits still Navi delivered a very strong comeback
Mikaze has a much better map here, and now they really are on to be able to take Anubis.
That's called for not taking Mikaze in this Grand Finals while you got what you asked for.
Now to replicate that on the T side's the challenge.
Zywu, one of the two sets of Beretta's in this pistol, rocks, hangs on to his as well, playing over for his camera.
Zywu lets him know he's ready for this commitment, if Navi do truly follow through off this Util.
Challenge to try to come out through the e-box. It does get that flank to go active and Flamesey has yet to find an opening kill on this map.
Now 0 and 5 in opening duals. What a spot. Robson's got the right position to dodge this.
Oh, the bomb carrier is still able to give himself enough cover to get down into the site with the Black 5v3.
He hurt the 5v2, and Nobby wants that lead right back.
We've got Meze to control the one kill back towards Closet.
Zywou down through camera.
The longer he waits, the closer the rest of the T's get to this.
There's actually only two players here.
And Zywou's trying to work this out with Meze.
They find one player up close.
Meze's low.
Now we get this camera alert coming down from Mikaze.
He's the last piece.
All the 2v5s are out!
Final challenge, the final boss, Mikaze,
to make a war of the difference here with throughout new and new base.
I'm glad he's getting his flowers, man, that was close.
A nice well-me-two for Macaulay with the turnaround.
He definitely could have died.
A labored effort there right at the end.
But they really needed every little bit,
an incredible attempt at the retake to be honest.
All that matters for Malby is it's a win.
Now he's playing to his potential.
They're going to need them all night long.
What could wind up being a grueling Vestify?
Spitality forced by the track to get in all the off-kilter at the start of the attack
is a single M4, double MP9.
At the moment, you've got Alex,
you kind of freed up here, right?
No more grenades to preoccupy him.
Just this Mac 10.
We'll see what kind of info he can gather
as he looks to be this one player
still keeping eyes on midbridge.
You can see Navi's forces looking to come together
for the B split.
But they're willing to give up this A presence
in the B split, I don't know. It feels like vitality are kind of looking forward to it.
It's the right lane, but an MP9 to dual at that distance, no surprise to find Flamesey cut down to 30 health.
Robs is going to catch a pistol kill.
Now, ZywO's rifle gets into the action, and they're going to stop him with just the one.
It's Flamesey low health! Still delivers!
But both him and Robs are also dangerously low.
Wonderful 1v2 is going to dive the back site, and he's got no idea where Robs has gotten off to.
But he's got the bomb and he's got the plant that comes with it.
Wonderful's given himself cover.
Rops never found an upgrade.
Smoke's still over towards wrong.
He's just got through it.
Wonderful trying to figure this out
goes for the back flat position.
And this gets close to the right connect.
Unbelievable set of kills here for Rops.
And the fourth play for Vitality connect.
His crosshair placement had to be millimeter precise,
26 HP, and a 5-7 from that distance.
It is perfection out of Rops.
Had the right read, trusted it, hit the shot.
F**k his ass!
That's insane. He gets double headshot with a 5-7 from there too.
This too. Flamesee surviving more damage in that second kill.
For a moment it was going to feel like Saibu had to find the Malti off the M4.
My goodness. It's unreal.
For a player who only found his first clutch at this event, back on Nuke,
for him to post this one, remember the turning point in map 1.
It was Robs' clutch versus Ena and then every round thereafter.
Yeah, but they played against Gamer Legion, they backstabbed their CT sides on every map they're feeling amazing about.
But overpassed just for some reason they can get uncomfortable sometimes, funnily enough of all maps.
That's why even though this is a new bit, it's not gonna be on T-Sign, it's gonna be easy.
He's going to go MVP mode isn't he? I want to say we haven't seen a round lost by vitality if Rops hasn't off in his hand tonight.
Pulled it out at least twice back on Nuke, 2-0 in that regard and now here as well features it over towards that one site.
And Apex wants to get off B. He pushes forward awkward for a second. Yeah Barry doesn't know about this but it doesn't matter.
towards that one site and Apex wants to get off B. He pushes forward awkward for a second.
Just pistols but still McCauze collects one with the Galil. This is a B site suddenly primed for
the taking but the bomb's still sitting up on that bomb shell. This is not a bomb in sight.
They've got to go back for this. Oh this is going to get incredibly awkward for Alexi.
Oh it's so far away. He doesn't want to have to abandon his post. There's no flank coming
in. He'll get smoked as he has to try to exit again. This cross smoke hasn't come up yet.
That flamethrower prodigness.
They're starting to redirect because of that bomb needing to be picked up.
They just leave Mikaze for death.
As I was already making a move, he's trying to get here quick.
He will be able to cut this off if he goes quickly enough.
There's no contest in middle, but Wonderful's had knife out,
sprinting the entire time.
Clearly, leaps and bounds ahead of the bomb carrier,
but caught in the back of sight.
Okay.
Deliverance.
A much needed headshot here for Wonderful.
That's going to give that bomb plant a guarantee.
Vitality scrambled back for this retake.
I mean, Rob's coming in super slowly. He's got an opt to work with.
They can wait the smoke out. Wonderful position.
Starts to get a little bit more insecure.
He's worried about it.
And there is a flash for Flamesey to try to get him through.
But they're going to try to throw a flash to the camera on their own.
Flamesey's wonderful stop point.
He got in front of it.
Flamesey's able to best both of them.
And we've got Vitality in the lead.
The timing was almost perfect.
Flash just needed to release us second sooner.
Half a second sooner, if that really liked the play there for Navi.
But equally impressive here for Vitality.
They didn't have the most to work with though, Navi coming into that stack, but still to lead now for the defense.
Man, I would have loved to see what Navi could have pulled off had bomb knocked out and stuck on that shell.
That waited for the entire smoke to come up, but that also inflates he was waiting for and they're hoping he was just not inside of it.
That's counter strike though.
The game isn't won on a single round.
Now Vitality winning all the right rounds.
It's an anti-eco here.
They're farming up the economy.
And the fact that they can always threaten that double off no matter how expensive it is.
Shoot on the first. Misses on the second.
in the second. They're already out through evo. This is very dangerous with how close
they've gotten. Sairu just leans back further, missing more and more chances. A flying M4
move here from Apex actually offers a rifle over to the players in the site. Oh and then
Robin connects with the Desert Eagle. Great shot. That's his second kill of the round
and E-Map pushing this M4 off of the box as he goes for the play. He's not ready.
Sairu had a pistol out. He sensed that was free for the taking and now Navi on
Robbery have gotten beyond this B bomb site and they will be running it to the other side of the map now
Robson's not wasted any time in clearing this out, so he won't necessarily be slow
In the coming to watch for this and crazy that Robson still walking here
The plants goes down. Yeah, so surely he's just a dead man. He must got
Drown now for Navi
First real issue we've seen in a defensive round like that and a couple of miscalculations
Apex jumping out through main to give that M4 over.
Yeah.
And then on top of it, Zywoo never anticipating that push off of E-Math.
And you're bound to bomb site up close.
Yeah, it's crazy to see this move.
There's definitely a weird amount of stuff, weird comms that came through.
And Wonderful's Deagle shot is just fantastic.
Like, there's nothing you can do about that.
But the sites are always most easily guarded at their choke points.
Once they let them break down those gates, of course, it was going to get very difficult.
That is a turning point in this game.
Look at the buy that it has left vitality on fighting for small chances. Don't you dare let this one
Seven could have gotten even more lethal, but Bill survived on a third of his health
Look how much damage they take perfectly placed. They're gonna wait for this program
They're gonna really go through this. No, they hit that pause button as everybody else for vitality scrambles over not want to cancel this idea
There's still not great guns here. There's no hit and play here for the CT side
Look at the activity this move from vitality back in the mid constantly trying to freshen
this up.
Zairu to cross the bridge.
He's not alone, but there's a nice bit of timing between him and Mezzi.
This is Zairu bait on the end of the hook.
It's just that you cross this minute mark.
There are going to be some pushes you just don't watch for.
There's a lot of...
Oh!
Two sitting dots!
Oh!
They're both dead instantly.
Perfect accuracy.
surrounded. Looking like back-to-back forced by victory's first. Each of the
teams find the gap. Of course they find the gap. Alexi had just checked it, turns
away. It's still possible like they haven't got those guns back. So Saewoo's
still here on a 5-7. Flames he is too. This could be big. This is a good duel
for the M4 Apex. Yeah, yeah, perfect distraction. Just a little bit.
Oof, World Room, Mikaze spins, but that one gets denied. Now still no bomb
spotted in the middle of all of this.
Emma can put up a clutch.
She absolutely can do it.
Blade's already thinking about the next round.
Apex is going to give him the space, the respect
to take this bomb site.
Remains tucked over towards the water.
He's going to force him his hands to the bomb site
on one side.
Oh, they're not going to work.
They can run at this now.
He's going to be able to get it down.
I think Temple pushed.
He knows.
Yeah.
He knows.
A matter of milliseconds, Mezzi quanks it in vitality.
He will find themselves back in the lead off of three 5-7
frags.
I thought it was a key round that they just won,
but it actually, it wasn't.
Vitality answered back with nothing.
First 5'7 kiss, props is 5'7, I mean.
And then this.
How many 5'7 goes to the other match?
All for Vitality.
The fact that the player further from Zywu
is the one with low health,
so he dies to the first and only 5'7 shot on him.
Yeah.
Makes that all the harder.
We've got played with a timeout.
Ready to talk.
Always credit it for how much information
he can fit into his attack pause.
I think there's a pressure on coaches.
They're on the clock.
But this is about to get real ugly.
I mean, Navier buying wonderful has enough to work with it.
This has got to be the most fantastic strat.
It's gonna be utility they're getting out of this.
Not a lot.
That is just...
And some of it destined to be thrown out of spawn means...
To be honest with, wonderful happened in off
and the tech nines we saw,
like their ability to explode,
I'm sure there's a chance they can pull this out,
but if they don't win, it's crushing.
Wonderful, not wanting to get fooled by that boost again.
That's some PTSD.
Tents round here with the triple rifle setup of Navi.
It's super calm.
I mean, it's off the attack pause.
Vitality don't know what they're going to try to do.
I'll see if you decide to do it in general.
You don't want to push if you don't have to.
They know that Navi, if they're forcing, they don't have everything.
And so if they don't have a lot and you see the smoke and incendiary drop in
this b side you know it's an opportunity actually feels like a pretty heavy
investment from Navi if you're vitality flying blind in this round but there's no
follow-through within that and without any follow-through that internal timer
starts to tick the middle play and zai wu wants to go back but again
they have to walk they have to walk they don't have smoke he doesn't want to get
blasted away by one of these sudden pops the rushes that these pistols have
offered before and so a head and player and fling Z pressed against
long smoke. Frag grenade and a flash still for Navi. 25 seconds. Here comes the
commitment. Zayu hits his. Flames he's bested with nothing and it's long
six for a 10 and he'll deal with another one of these pistols. Zayu on the scene.
Eme has got the gun for this. Off of course. And he misses his chance. Eme's gonna clear.
Navi makes this happen. Three consecutive rounds where the team with
West pulls off the round wins. We're getting back into the nitty gritty.
That's a nice round out of your mouth.
Back to you on it. Saewoo looked like it was going to escape him.
Very, very close shave there. But the call is great. I mean,
Saewoo has eyes on middle just in time and they don't have a smoke for him on
the left side of mid, but they still can just take one depth and
still get camera control. Still have a split coming towards
and get the opening frag on their A attack.
Only one frag on the defense.
That was a Hail Mary.
This guy's on the line to really well done like it.
He comes through with that follow-up on Robb's as well,
and then Ena unleashes for his double.
She reads Flamesey like a book.
Flamesey's the only player in this server right now
without a successful opening duel across both teams.
What's crazy was such a crazy investment
to come through it, but it doesn't even grant them
an ego from the other team.
Now is where they can get that.
They've just tied the game and made up for the fact
they lost to those five-sevens.
You go four rounds back and forth, non-consecutive victories, both teams economies, on the finest margins.
I'm taking an early look at that A site, but it's also a pretty quick disengage.
And people make sure they aren't trying any pushes.
See, these aren't interested in participating.
And no one's pushing.
That's very weak.
Yeah.
It's a dud molly.
And they want to go quick.
Scary spot here for Apex playing in front of the Nades.
All they're all over, they also pop open a little bit of cover.
And so exiting out into the site in a second.
Mezi still keeping them blocked off from long inside.
We got to re-smoke.
That helps out Mezi a ton.
He keeps the ball out of this, but Tsai was forced to reposition, riddled down to half health.
Mezzi's pistol collects one, and he's able to try to find a piece behind the obelisk to hang on to.
35 seconds.
This swing is everything.
Rotate's coming over.
Robs still trying to get active, but plate still some distance so far, and Mezzi collects a second.
Finally put the rest, the wonderful thought to make the difference.
Here's that. Robs play first to three, collected, and then they pass in, and we've got Navi with consecutive round wins.
They are really showing their teeth. So much grit from Na'Vi to take a lead back in this game.
Fantastic series of rounds.
It's insane they found a way back in after the way they blocked or the way that they started this game.
And it looks like the attack pause they've taken were played as Stalker actually had a massive impact on the outcomes of these situations.
Which we shouldn't be surprised
We've seen them try plenty of times before and always come up short
Tality forced to take a knee in round 20
That point at this point the only thing that could make that last map loss worse
losing this one to
Oh, don't say how many 5-7 kills are vitality gonna get this half. Don't say it
Not another. Zaiwu tracks the pounce on the stair player. He's burning on a both.
Because they catching flames you who look the trade there. It was a little bit
wild from Zaiwu not able to capitalize would have loved to stop this top
performing the cause they hit its tracks. You're not even banking on a
singular gun here for vitality. A deep shot there would have made me change
things but instead Messi just added to the pile of bodies here in the
20th round and it's smooth sailing for Mikaze as he collects his 22nd frag of map to a total turn around between his underperforming
Stats back on nukes of this one
How is it that Roth could just hold the A site with only a five-seater this rocks, yeah
But that's all they get out of this round
He might have a lot of a chance to a lot of damage actually it totally ignored this possibility
it looks like.
I mean what is happening here.
Wiggin out.
They have no idea what's going on.
There we go activate AK grabbed and he's safe.
He is out!
Yeah, he actually did his own little extraction mission.
That's kind of insane by rocks.
He actually knew how many people were out there,
but he made it so that he could get a gun and escape.
Of course he does.
Is this around the kills that were put up, turned it?
Yeah.
But McCauze hanging on for the double kill here is massive.
Kind of stops like Valady in the tracks of aggression,
and then he goes from there into the B bomb site on a tear.
There's no way that Navi had forgotten the burn that was the failure on Nuke to close.
A two-round lead over Vitality, but a Vitality that bounced back in this round with guns.
Fort Worth never stopped believing in this Navi hope of a grand finals victory,
and seemingly Navi also tried to tap back into that self-belief.
Well, 11-9 again on the second map, but this time it feels a little bit better for Navi.
Nine of Vitality's 29 frags, this half!
Oh, we're at the 5-7.
Damn.
They're a third of their kills basically.
That's just ludicrous.
I wonder what percentage we'll be with an AUG.
New meta.
The interesting side would have just played mid with his head tucked.
Never over till it's over when it comes to vitality.
We've seen rounds with Navi have no utility and have to kind of make the most of their
one and only chances, but right now there was no tack between this one, right?
Well, let's be flying solo.
They want to make it go back to mid.
You'll like my talent, you're going to be worried about this.
Molly comes down.
A lot more utility for both sides in this situation.
Sideways rotate is interesting, it's the wrong direction.
It's a battle for map control, but yeah, you're right.
Numbers on the wrong side.
Huge ask of Flanzie in a moment.
He's got four players walking out middle.
They're going to blow this open.
Flames is going to be spotted.
He's stepping in it.
He'll find one player back.
Turn to the barrage!
No way!
They ate it.
Flames in with a robbery of a double kill.
5v3 for Vitality suddenly.
The long play, they get to a murder.
They have to go now.
Wanting to try to challenge Temple instead.
Robs is got the AWP.
Tucked down in the site.
7 on the clock.
Zybel emerges.
Wonderful things, but the site is cleared.
He's wrong.
Robs hangs on.
And Vitality stopped them in their tracks.
And he drops that AWP.
He gets onto the AWP.
and it's because Flamesy's inside that camera smoke.
We've seen him in there before.
This time it's not a retake, it's a side defense.
The Nade and the Flash were designed to catch him.
I don't even know how he dodged that Flash.
It must have landed right behind him.
He's in the perfect spot, essentially.
He capitalized up both of those.
What a margin that vitality has just utilized to get that 10th round win.
Fucking one round game. Play back to it.
Final timeout for Blade. Vitality of what remaining.
Don't even know if that's going to get burned.
And again, just so much economic pressure.
It's great when you have lots of ideas, lots of money to go with it, but they've
We've really had to just Jimmy rate a lot of these rounds and even though we saw as I
will leave and rotate the wrong to the wrong site, they just had such a great defense right
there with flamesy.
You know how to play it.
And I'll be lose this round even overtime could be now in under question.
Yeah, totally.
Totally bottomed out.
Bank accounts.
We've seen so far.
And he won't give win any rounds.
That much has been proved.
No round loss bonus in the next two, so they will be scrappin' for change as a frag grenade.
Not even needed.
Saewoo peeks out in perfect time.
I love that he goes for that peek as the Nade is clearly coming to Mikaze, because the
Nade just serves up a distraction from Mikaze to make a move, and the peek is on top of
it.
Apex!
So queen.
Yo, we got raps on both sides.
That's what we're looking for.
A clinical execution out of the in-game leader of Vitality for the 5v3 advantage.
That is not what Naughty needed right now.
So Lexi gets a better gun out of this.
And most of the utility is still here.
But as clean as it gets from the captain of Vitality,
full attack coming in.
Double Molly in front of him.
They're not wasting this utility.
No chance he can exit.
And it's put down at the same time
if Nabi's last Molly of Nates themselves.
Got a frag grenade for Zip, a flash that never gets used.
He's traded out by one.
And it attacks the other side of the triple.
Shut them down inside of that bombsite type game once more and we alluded to that low money
Only one player for Navi with more than
$2,000 for this next one. Apex shows us what you do when you have too many players on the site where it's a site like a site overpass gets
You crowded too quickly get active. Yeah, like use the flash throw the player in the back
He can go through when that smoke's done to and try to help fight but
sending someone out to be aggro is actually the perfect way
Maximize your presence. Can I any plant chance for a plant?
There's nothing at the chance here.
Tide score line.
Vitality have made the CT side happen off of,
as we alluded to, those 5-7s.
The pistols have been so valuable.
Well, now they find themselves in the hands of Navi instead.
Mikaze grabs the upgrade and looks to go join forces
with this Navi pack in a 5-4.
There we go. Give it over.
But nobody's got the Kevlar.
Who will be your champion?
They hand it off to Bitt, and they stay numbers strong
on the approach to this A-bomb site.
Great hater, everything here.
You've got Robson Flamesee inside of it with the R.
You have the play.
Lineups.
All too easy.
Robson Flamesee, total shutdown.
Vitality hit 12-first.
They've guaranteed overtime in this game as well.
Different ways of getting there between last map
and this, but the same in terms of resilience.
getting better each round and these two players have been doing an amazing job as a pending
A.
No!
No!
We have to wait for this by to try to force overtime, features everything they need to
try to make this happen.
Vitality on the brink of a second soul crushing mappling in this best of five grand finals.
Time will first towards bridge.
Plenty of players to come his way and he's gonna take the duel on his terms and he doesn't expect Ucazei to be ahead of that smoke.
Man advantage for Navi trying to get beyond the regulation and he'll catch a pulse.
Ucazei has been an animal in the second match of play.
Messi fights him. Ucazei on the emergence.
Ucazei's done everything so far.
But as he sits on 13 health you think this is a massive ask.
the break of an ace to chase down rocks his last challenge.
They pause, the Nate flies, and McCartney soars.
And he falls for it, and for a foul of his head, he's dead.
We've got a couple of fans up here just to talk through their thoughts going into what could be the final map.
What's your name and where are you from?
Sam, I'm out here from California.
Welcome Sam, it's good to have you here.
Siloane from France.
Siloane from France as well.
Hey, they're booing you! Don't let them boo you, bro!
Can you give us anything going into map three?
And what are your thoughts on the fact that you've had two opportunities here to potentially take a map?
It doesn't matter. It doesn't matter at all.
Alright, this is the United States of America.
We've seen the miracle on ice.
Today, we're going to see the miracle on land.
What do you think?
Dude, the only way Navi is going to win an event,
that's if Vitality is not attending.
Any response to that?
Strong words, but look at Blade vs. Xtaz, okay?
blade, hair, say it with me, Xtas, bold!
Are you gonna finish this on map three?
Dude, even on all C-game we win this every day.
I love this with little rivalry, I could go on all day, guys.
Can I get a handshake?
Alright, thank you very much.
But we're giving up for these two wonderful fans
as we move into what could be the final map.
I love American crowds, ma'am.
I mean, what's French, I guess, well, whatever.
Wow, crazy.
No bald fraud, though.
No matter the timeouts that Blade took,
it's still vitality that went in the map.
Yeah, I mean, it started off really hot for vitality.
Getting that 5-1 start on the T-style here.
It's starting to wonder if maybe
Navi were already out of gas
after that crazy comeback that came against them on Nuke.
However, they were able to settle into the game
and got in control.
They did.
I'm going to cut you off
because I want to take a look at the game.
control. They did. I'm gonna cut you off because I want to take a look at that last round as fast as
possible, right? Mikaze is on for the ace. When you think about the context of the game he's had
in the first map, the way he recovered in this one, man, the heartbreak is insane. If there really
were just a single round to tell the story of the match, this would definitely be it. The fact
that he gets the 4k, I mean, look at his score line throughout this game. He ends with 27 kills,
but there's just no help. And obviously on the side of Robs, he was extremely clutched. A
A lot of the Vitality players had moments where they stood up and Mikaze just quite couldn't
get it over the line.
Drops probably knew as well that Mikaze was super low, so every option felt available
to him.
It's kind of eerily similar to how Anubis played out in Rotterdam.
Navi had real chances to win that one too.
It was a very close game, 13-10, and a lot of it came down to the way that Vitality
closed out defensively was kind of pulling some face bullshit type stuff, like being
able to win hero rifle rounds or do like some crazy triple boosts with Zeboos
just off through a window or just doing these crazy antics.
Even Robs had a multi-kill round with the AUG on A.
Both times they've had to get them on a new bus.
It's really wild to see the similarities of just,
you know, vitality being able to dig deep
and tight situations still coming on top,
even with limited economy.
Yeah, and I'm starting to think that Navi, for them,
it might be a series of what ifs
and that's unfortunate as kind of,
it's not even a precedent because it's happened
in the past as well of them versus Vitality,
but specifically in this one, right?
The overtime on map one,
now this one where you can kick it into overtime
and you just don't get it.
But then I always think if it has to come down
the ace clutches to avoid losing the map,
you have not played a complete game.
No, this is kind of a different story completely
from what we saw from map one,
where Mikaze was kind of being uplifted
by the rest of his team.
It was more or less him and Wonderful
who were doing a lot of the heavy lifting,
but credit to Vitality because they had a lot
of great reactions to what the plays were being made
from the side of Navi.
Like they were making good reads,
flat utility was super on point for this one.
in a map that's supposed to be a punish pick,
you can kind of see how shallow the pool is for Navi
when you're against a Vitality team
that just looked like they knew
what was coming next every, many times, not every time.
We got ancient Mikaze on a Nubis.
Like we actually got the guy that we know is capable
and it's kind of funny,
because I saw him engaging mid a little bit more
than I'm used to.
He's usually kind of a canal player.
So to see him kind of more involved in the mid control
was actually quite nice.
Even that fun around, again,
he gets you a quick pick at middle,
drops down a immediate quick pick on E-Box.
It's like he's getting you everything
you could ever want to win around.
But you have to be able to organize the rest of it
to get the clothes.
They just couldn't get it done.
But yeah, Macaulay, a wonderful step into this event.
The top two ranked players to determine a chance
of the MVP race, as well as the trophy,
and silencing the greatest of all time.
Instead, what we got was great performances from them,
but not enough support to be able to close the job.
Yeah, and a vitality to have been struggling
with their CT sides just a little bit.
That's not the case anymore here.
I don't know if we have a couple of rounds to show that.
But no matter which bomb side they hit, right?
Specifically there with both Flames and Robs,
or even messy if you have to clean it up.
Vitality just closed the door.
Yeah, I think we do have at least one round
from the first half there.
I think it was round six where just kind of can see
how great the reactions are from Vitality
where even though in this round they lose the opening pick,
they just search for that contact play
and they're not afraid of just kind of taking
some space back.
This felt a little bit before Navi got really rolling
like there was no flash to set up this double swing mid
and I feel like they ate that up.
And then on the other side,
Rob's just doing what he does best,
you know, lurking, taking out the opposing anchor
bit right there closing onto the bomb site and yeah this peek from Ross is just essential he's on
low HP gets all of the information that they need they could set up the defense even though he's
the first to fall it's a warning sign so that the remaining players in flamesy and mesi could just
set up this nice two-man defense here where mesi's playing the low angle flames he's able
to peek on top of him and they go for the double swing onto him like look at all the little
in microcosms of teamwork that just make vitality so impossible they're suffocating to play
play against really. And it's
pulled over in the CT side as
well. Those exact same things
look like their backs up against
the wall. You know, on some of
those BXQs they were defending
when they're getting split from
E-Boxing man. They're able to
still get the appropriate pop
flashes, get people in the
close quarters and be able to
disrupt an obvious system. And
so it was just again, crazy to
see such a similar game to
what I saw in Rotterdam.
It's true. And every time when
it came down to the wire,
right, for the side of
vitality when they have to
approach the site and then time
is running low. They need to
get the defuse, but the
flash comes out and it's
perfect. It's frustrating to play against. Because Counter Strike is a game of inches
and just milliseconds. It really did feel like Vitality just had those margins in their favor
today. The consistency with Flamesy especially around the camera position where he's just
barely dodging flashes. Barely avoiding a knobby player swinging him as he's worsening
through his smoke. All these little timings. Sure you got to give him credit but I also
I think a lot of that comes down to the preparation that they're setting him up for so many of those fights.
And also he's so aware of what's going to be coming.
It's also just new for him. This guy used to be the e-box player for this team.
They actually pivoted. Apex kind of moved into that role and allowed Flay to come out into the middle.
And so yeah, it was really awesome to see.
But again, this is the same thing that Vatshawdy did to Navi and Rotterdan.
It was finding ways to win with limited economy by putting Xeru in hero situations first of all.
As we see in this round, he was the one that headed him forward.
The rest were on MP9s.
They somehow just had that tenacity about them to find a way to take a round that should not really be a challenge.
and put it in them and it comes down to Robs.
You guessed it.
He got his first clutch on nuclear tournament.
He's continuing to bring that same level of play
into this one.
And then look at this one.
Robs just gets a 5-7 kill at long A.
This allows Zewoo to creep up middle,
eventually get behind them as they're setting up
for the A execute.
Enough utility stalls them and keeps them in place
to allow Zewoo to slither in behind here.
And he gets two free kills as you're gonna see
with the 5-7.
So again, this crazy heroic plays out of nowhere
that get Vitality back to the game
and ultimately close it.
You say Zewoo?
I don't know, man.
I don't know. Regardless of what how you want to say his name, the proactivity from him was something that Navi are not going to forget how to say. It's true. And I also think we were talking about this backstage, but like when you look at all the maps and how they've been laid out, Mirage is the one where you see that sign of hope, right? That this is a map that Navi is extremely comfortable on next to ancient, which isn't in the pool, of course now. And in that regard, this Anupas was so pivotal because you might get pummeled on us too, right?
Look, listen here, you had your chance on Nuke and you missed.
Yeah.
You had your chance to get on Nubis and you missed.
You don't get too many chances against Spottality.
There's a reason why they're the greatest of all time.
They're the reason they have all these titles in the cabinet.
They're the reason why they keep destroying people
and mess the five grand finals is because they just don't
waver.
I mean, that's the biggest thing we've seen.
I mean, often they dominate.
Here on this tournament, they've had some moments
where they've wavered.
They've looked a little bit shakily.
We've critiqued them about a couple of things.
But they just don't all the way break.
They somehow find a way to dig deep and get you.
And I mean, it's one of those things where it's
just like the fear across the stage seems to get to Navi.
There was a couple rounds in that second half,
they looked a little tipped to me like they just weren't
pushing the go button when they needed to.
There's the, I mean, digging deep is one way to put it.
I think the preparation and just having a win condition
in every single round, that to me always is what
is the MO of Vitality.
The fact that they have the hero guns,
they always have the active plays,
they have these counters in the mid-round as well.
There's so many opportunities for them to just find a way
to get around that even though the odds are stacked
against them and Navi have all the weapons,
the utility they know this one timing that they can break like the
anti-stradding on this team is something that we probably don't talk
about enough but it was apparent here on this map to yeah vitality one map away
from lifting yet another trophy maybe Navi should hop on refrag coach right
get their demos analyzed exactly exactly I mean we've got refrag here and
the coaching tool that you can look at your own premiere basic matches it'll
pinpoint your weaknesses I mean we got a couple people we gotta get a
a couple people on the novice side probably rethinking some of the actions on that last
map and what better way to do it than with refrag of course.
I know there's a lot of controversy about AI but they're going to need some AI now just
to be able to get their way back into this.
Give all the supercomputers all the data possible and see if you can find a way to cut this thing
up.
You're saying AI is better than play?
No.
No.
I think you need help from it.
They need the extra help.
Any edge they can find it.
Anything.
Of course they can do it on refrag.
Yeah.
Refrag coach indeed.
You can create any kind of scenario that you want to practice it.
So hopefully they are fired up, does too.
But we're gonna take a quick break.
And when we come back, it might be the final map of this championship.
We're about to get into the server on the main stage.
But before we do, we've got to show down all our own.
I got two competitors standing on the side of me.
We got Austin, CS, Austin.
Say what's up.
What's up everybody?
What do we think about Austin?
I think they like you.
We got three day over here, three day, how you doing?
What's up, America?
All right, we got a little bit of it.
Gentlemen, it's time to take your seats.
It's time to hop on in because it's time to see your skills.
It's time for a 1v1 here.
We're going to see who's actually the fiercer
Counter-Strike player.
It's NA versus EU.
Are we ready?
Get on in there.
Get your hands on.
All right.
Three, two, one.
Let's go.
Make some noise for Wade!
Oh, when we go and get tough, the tough get going, and Austin takes that round.
Trust me, your crosshair is way better than his, so you got that going for you at the
very least.
Alright, 2-0.
How many do you think you can get here?
Oh, you're still your 4-0, bro.
Oh, he got one!
He got one!
Here we go.
Oh, you're still your 4-0, bro.
Oh, you got one!
You got one!
Here we go. We swap sides. This time you got it, right?
Yep.
100% confirmed.
Go down your mine. I'm seeing a little doubt in my mind.
I need to get out of here, but I just can't.
This is the best of 10, so if he locks in one more round,
this is done and dusted.
John and Dustin.
This is your champion for a word.
Any words for your opponent in Gracious Victory?
Yeah, you know, this is an easy game for me, honestly.
NACS, best CS?
Of course, bro.
Three-day, humiliating, stinging defeat.
You've left down your whole region here on this stage.
Any words?
You are still better.
I'm sorry.
I'm not representative.
One more time, can we hear it for our competitors, Austin
and Tweety!
I'm here with one of our other co-streamers.
It's Chopper.
Oh, man, you got some fans here.
Yeah, thank you, everyone.
Hello, boys.
So, Chopper, how have the co-streams been so far?
I see you're really popular.
It's amazing, no more stress, just so good games.
I like it.
OK, I have to ask, are we going to see you in a jersey
competing again soon?
Not sure about soon, but I have some idea, maybe.
OK, OK.
You hear the fans want it.
Thank you very much.
Thank you a lot.
Thank you so much.
Enjoy the rest of the coast, Rubin.
Thank you.
Yeah, a legend and chopper hope to see him on the server again soon, of course,
because they played against Vitality a couple of times.
Maybe he has some new ideas.
So Dust, Nafi, new ideas, Dust 2, what can they do?
This is the foundation on which Vitality built their era.
It is Dust 2. It is the home of the goat.
They have played this map 46 times and won it 41.
They came to sit there with a 16 game winning streak
and got silenced by foot in the groups.
But they rarely ever drop this map.
They are the kings of Dust2.
My eyes are rolling into the back of my head right now
at the prospect of Navi's journey ending here on this map.
But that's what I foresee as well, Dust.
You've already painted the picture well.
But there are some good strategies that I've liked from Navi.
I like that they use all of the map.
I like that they throw quite a bit of fakes,
especially in the middle.
And I would say that their reads yesterday versus FaZe were excellent.
They knew what was coming almost every single time.
So hopefully they're able to read Vitality today.
Yeah, to tie into that they've won their last 10 out of 13 on Dust2 as well.
So outside of the Vitality matchup they have been able to find a lot of success on Dust2.
You've already mentioned some of their key strengths.
I'll throw in a couple of more.
We saw Mikaze come alive on a Nubis despite the loss.
And he is obviously a key entryman, a key rotator on the CT side.
Being able to be that mid-B defender with Ema,
I think that combination is going to be very key here.
I think the problem for Navi though is that
Vitality showed us, you know, in the two wins they have on them already,
that they can kind of counter the aggression that they throw at them.
You know, on the T sides they're very careful about watching for pushes
and being able to shut it down.
And also Vitality in their own right could play the full gamb of Dust 2.
They're very good at the back and forth.
They're very good at the pace he plays.
They're good at all aspects of the game.
They have mastered how to play Dust 2.
But what I like about Navi is that they set traps.
It doesn't have to just be full unbridled aggression
that gets them into the round.
Sometimes they'll have wonderful setting up on the B bomb side away from the action
Then they move mccasey around to be a Joker player at the long end. They have a lot of different ideas
So hopefully they don't just send it all the way every single time because you're right vitality
They can punish the aggro maybe vitality may have dropped their streak on dust too
But as Rob said we'll just start a new one and maybe they do it here and win the championship right off the bat
Navi, you have to play the best Dust2 you have ever played in your life.
Let's see if they can do it.
It's a hell of a time to have to do it after fumbling the first map,
after not being able to close out on the second because of pistols.
Navi have got to dig deeper than ever,
and I mean, I believe the belief is still in the room.
This would have to be the greatest comeback of the year in a bet of the five series.
So, Vitality do as they do, but they did lose their Dust2 streak at this very same event.
And they rebound hearing Grand Finals.
It's about time we find out if it's just another vitality
stop in Texas.
They've already done it once here to Navi.
Navi also super solid on the map,
but I feel like it's kind of the perfect place
in a best of five for Dust2.
It's not the opener.
Second map, who knows what happens.
Third map, you're fully warmed up.
You've got a lot past you.
And so it's never going to be a problem of aim
at this point.
We might get a very high level map to end it.
It might go on because of the comfort on both sides, but you never know what you're gonna get with us, too
It's never no never know when you're gonna get popped through a smoke by doing nothing wrong
As you'll let his teammates try to pull off this 4v5 retake attempt
We've got Navi already up through the CT spawn offered little block burst
That's fine. Kill starts to come back and then all of a sudden we get this burst out of Navi.
Apex misses a few shots. Very clean from Navi. Very confident in fact.
The way they just ruled that forward the moment the deep CT smoke faded.
Yeah, when the one trade came back it looked like it was actually a great spot for Vitality in the post-plant.
Now the best thing about it is the bomb plant.
Navi off to a good start again.
I'm gonna miss the last moment.
Couple of nice taps, that's pretty good for this one.
No matter how much Dust 2 evolves, it's always just going to come down to moments like that on long crosses.
It's going to come down to how you mid-B.
Do you meet your quota on your CT side?
Damn, okay, well I mean...
It's also just based on what's happened already in the past.
No, no kids here for Navi.
First thing, careful.
This is a very lethal buy for Vitality. You've got a couple of kills. You've got a Scout. You've already got long control in fact.
Also, it's Vitality on Dust2. They planted.
LXB rolls down to 15 health. Good double cap push here for Navi.
Ooh! And McCaufe with the FOMA SLAMS! Apex out of this one. That Scout never given a chance.
He tagged 1 for 70. That's wonderful.
Wounded by Apex.
I hope somebody else over steps out middle giving Xayva a chance at that scout to work.
Maktan's not really the tool for this job, but 3v5 you got to get desperate.
It would like to take that swing on long and just clear out pit and then just could, you
know, fend back out across the map, but here they already sense that vitality or
taking it slow thinking about other things.
Might be one more chance at a peek as Emma starts to peer out in the pit.
3v2 in favor of vitality and here's where maybe that kid could be a problem maybe it won't even be necessary
Wonderful as 30 HP cowering behind single as I would could literally spam this if you wanted to he is hoping he catches
hoping he catches the bottom arc. Fire's going to flush him out.
Oh, headshot!
From downtown, Zaiwu sends that scout shot sailing.
And now big, full HP and a 1B3. His hands will be busy for the plant.
Flamesee now free-dot to go hunting for his fourth frag.
Damage, and it's messy to close out.
A huge triple kill sequence here from Flamesee.
The force buy in a 3V5 by Tal-A.
All they did was walk back middle.
These two kills have, that's insane, out of a cause.
Oh man.
Nasty.
All Flamesy.
And a good same shot from Zywu as well.
Lies and tears.
Flamesy currently trails Zywu by .08 rating in this event.
He's finding impact as this Grand Finals goes on.
We've seen Robs pick up MVPs over Zywoo.
Flamesee put his name into the bright lights and what could be the last map of the series.
He's so well earned, I mean, into this year.
In terms of he's got most improved, you know, he's got absolutely most improved player.
Two players ahead of that smoke though.
They're off the seed me.
You don't want to get locked in with him, but the fall back into the bomb site goes well.
We've got a scout here too, of course, on the field for Navi.
They're so ready just to make this a cap play now though after that info.
So I was still low and wonderful. We'll still have to long cross.
about this utility. Great first flash. Second one's got to come out.
A lot of space on that one flash. The second one just guarantees that three
players can get out onto the bomb site. An uninterrupted point here in round three.
Although some damage for Apex to have to stomach. We'll see how much of a risk
they'll want to throw at it. All they have to do is wait like 10 seconds and
then there won't really be a retake here. They haven't dealt with drops in
The tunnels, Evan, thought themselves in really good spots to pull this off, but they might
want to hunt him down.
In this case, it's a nobby just looking to keep this for the next round.
His timing is so unreal, like even passing that second pillar right when that pushes about
to take place.
Sometimes it can feel like Ross is just playing a single player game, the way he is separated
from the pack, doing his own thing, totally different flavor, and yet still extracting
value out of these late round moments.
So just hoping to have kept anything for the next round.
There's a one with Robb's eyes, but he'll be adamant about clearing corners, keeps that AK in hand.
Oh, Scout shot whizzes over his head, and Wonderful just wants to keep his pause on that one.
So Scout to be featured here in round four, but it's vitality with an early lead.
Great flashes, pacifist run, don't need any kills to get that ball planted, and then that's it.
A couple of eco deaths, we move on.
Recycle the AWP.
Cause they have one smoke, we got a 5-7 on Alexi and...
I'll have to see what the idea is.
It's lower control now for Vitality already, two players past that scout's mark.
See, wonderful, just run back to the bomb site.
We saw last time when he was kind of positioned back there, the flashbangs totally neutralized him.
So far, there's been a certain inability out of Navi to interrupt the vitality approach
up Catwalk into that A-play.
Bombs still sits down middle, so at some point we're going to need a recovery here for vitality
when the commitment comes through, but they really just want to get an advantage before
any commitments happen.
back at it with a deeper angle. Go find damage. Flamesy not afraid to follow through with the
dual. Keeps that scout true and now towards doors three CTs to stack up as Robs and Mezzie
bring up the rear but there's actually a redirection. Remember Flamesy's low HP because
of the wonderful damage but he's also holding onto the bomb. Now we get this confirmation
the flooring of CTs out middle. Mezzie's going to mow them down and it all boils
down to an LXCB1B5 at the end. So, majority play with all options. Offer over one AK.
More damage to be done, but that gets denied by Apex. So, a singular kill is all that Novi fine.
They're up against it all. It's just at this point. 2-0 down, on Dust 2.
They're going to try to fight hard, but now because they won, they lost that insane comeback
on map 1. Then they lose map 2 where it's closed. The X would play extremely well. I mean,
I mean, there's never going to be a point where you feel so hopeless.
You think it would be some kind of negative for Vitality that Navi were able to have an 11-0 half.
It's actually the opposite.
It's going to add to their story one day when we look back and tabulate all the incredible results they've had.
Remember that comeback in the Grand Finals, how they get another 3-0.
Yes, sir.
Their record in the math wins, regardless of how close it's got, like all those things.
are what make them king.
I feel like we've never even discussed a map streak in grand finals.
We're just finding new things to praise Vitality for,
and that streak is truly living on even within this best of five.
You can go back to 2025 and I always think of Australia,
when Falcons really push them to the limit.
But building up throughout that year,
the best year we've seen from Vitality,
yet there were close calls
The team that can dig deep and even at an event here where they started to reference the exhaustion, the lack of practice, them letting off the gas pedal, here we are again, B05 Sunday and Vitality just looking like Navi can't get that edge.
I mean, even managing their stamina and like their workload is a skill because they do have to like ramp at the right times and for them I'll just stay peek the entire way through so it seems like they managed to do it.
If we're going this matchup, it's not even truly a rivalry so far.
We're going out there.
We're going out there.
We've given a chance to shine again, but we saw that the flashes have countered wonderful on these kinds of holds.
Yeah, that's, you know, standard 2-1-2. He's got one flash to fall back.
He's just going to stick around, but another scaling flash is going to come through.
He doesn't even need it really.
They've already got him off this line.
Look how brave that challenge is.
No way Robs has talked into this corner.
Oh my God, he's ahead of it.
And BIT, maybe he takes his timing.
Yeah, BIT doesn't see it.
BIT's more concerned about the actual B bomb site, but once more, wonderful.
Was he unable to stop anybody on the follow-through cat?
He just closes the door, blinds him, then waits.
Yep.
And now he can actually activate when they have to watch everything else.
Zywoo finds a headshot on Alexi.
Ema the only player to get engaged and Robs is gonna just actively play through.
It is perfection as we start to tap into Vitality's potential.
We know that Dust2, as the analyst death said, is the foundation of this Vitality roster.
Their streak and their success.
And yeah, okay, the streak of map wins on Dust2 came to a close here earlier in Fort Worth.
But now, it's all about rebuilding.
And just because you take that one step back at the start of this tournament,
That foundation has fallen apart vitality. There are no cracks here on this map
That kind of makes sense
I mean probably the hardest map to like really get a good amount of counter-strike going like the tell everything like
You can only go so deep and if you've got the five best players all the same team
Where would you want to play if you're not gonna put in a ton of crap?
Let's say or you're gonna try to just have a lot of longevity to your math
We're gonna want to go one that highlights your individual
Nasty ones in this. We've got that bomb still resting top, little bit's gonna try to push forward to grab the gun.
Meanwhile, Alexi puts that 5-7 to work and bitch, sure enough, keeps this one pinched. That actually cuts the bomb off.
This is suddenly out of nowhere. From a 2v4, a potential winnable round. If only Mezzi didn't have the time to go long,
but that long wrap around is still gonna get him onto the bomb site.
That's kind of fun. Let's see if he can figure out where Apex is, or he forces Apex to move.
No, it won't happen. He said 5-1 for vitality.
The whirlwind of very fast T-Rounds.
Double-op variation coming through from Navi in the next round.
point you're down five line you got to change it up. A different attempt here
between wonderful and Bits. Zayu ready for the op challenge confirms two players
crossing through those doors. Looks for the cat challenge instead but that's not
being set up. Bits off on long looking to go pry its eyes through the doors and
this could damn well catch a player off but that also banks on somebody
stepping up to the challenge perfect line to catch one off you're gonna see
wonderful here too often see if messy drops his guard
now just put in a little bit of work clear out that side nice shot from
Wonderful. I think those unnoticed.
I'm not one of their extremity right now.
HPEC's trying to weave his way in between two mollies.
That's a solid fine. That H.E. can't kill him, but it can do a lot.
Just forced to keep repositioning here at 45 seconds mid control yet again has vitalities man.
A two-and-a-three. I almost wish you didn't have the second off now that the split can come through.
They're not gonna rotate over. It's really on him up to make his way down.
I was waiting for this window challenge goodness, so glimpse of that
They don't even realize they gave one away and apex just goes wandering up cat that at least helps out one player shaved off
The cat play he man's looking to challenge the smoke
He's gonna find them exposed but they catch him with the kill because they collects one on the doorway 20 on the clock
Because they tried to hold off window and that's great damage on rocks
They flush him out and vitality find footing inside the bomb sites. Molly's just perfect
We got a flank in from tunnels, but nothing won't be suspicious here to vitality. They
Got two players who they can watch mo choke points. They have a molly down
spoke in the door
Having to wait that this utility is just
Agonizing for Navi in this one and this is possible. We're also gonna give you one chance to get the shot in
It's 32 health. He keeps his head tucked for now and Alexi starts to stomp it forward
That's the kit as well. Keep note of that. He pops up
grabs the frag in an instant, and now a tough one for Big.
Try to close the distance.
We'll find Mezzi.
Robs is going to play it patiently,
and there is, again, no kick here.
Nothing Big can do about it.
You'll find your frag.
Try to save that off.
But it was all about Alexi getting closer.
Vitality off a man disadvantage, still in the round.
All these grand finals, it just
seems like it's getting easier.
Crazy.
And the fact that because it's so easy in some
of these maps, you don't have to exert yourself
as well. We see lots of teams that get to the top of me and we talk about how
they're you know they're better at the gestalt, they're better as a unit and what
they're calling like Navi than they are as a group of individuals but it's
that vitality obviously have both.
I don't want a team speak. I want like a. I want to know what they're thinking. That's
That's a dangerous game.
Oh.
I spotted him.
I'll have to give that up.
Again right now, Navi just mis-positioned.
It's going to be Mikaze with a deagle versus all of Vitality in a second.
And there's already a T-smoke down towards CT to keep the numbers at bay.
This would have to be Godlike from Mikaze.
Hits the first one.
Player goes over, gets the crosshair off, tries to spam through, and they're just gonna overwhelm him.
The Swarm comes out through the tunnels, and Bitnose's got one locked in behind that car.
Not the ability though.
Go ahead, keep your head down, A-Tec deals with the flurry that comes through the window sill.
It's a 7-1 lead vitality.
The worst place, Snobby, have found themselves in all series long.
That's a good point too. It's not like they've had to drive back too many, you know, super good score lines.
The first, I think, was 5-1 in the last map, so there's that.
But again, there's just a difference in the energy.
Cap on top of two feet.
Playing the widest one so far.
Nice!
You must feel insane. You're playing dust, too.
And you're good at it, too.
How can you not figure out how to win rounds?
Blade will give it a shot.
One time remaining for Navi. They get back into this round.
They've been going deep off-cat. They've tried a two-off setup, one on long doors, which is a little different.
The rotations have been okay.
The trades are just not nearly as good.
I was just had an eye on this mid-door the entire time.
time opening duals don't even matter takes more than that to stop them here
Trying to go under strong.
Hoping this is the solution and looking to set this up with the Alexi B Flashbang.
It boils down to a matter of timing.
Don't mind this at all. I mean, they haven't turned the corner as a problem.
If this flash goes off, they're going to hear this.
Now they're stuck out there with great cover out of bit through middle.
Flamesy wants to get back, he'll back, and he will die in his efforts.
He's picked up two somehow.
Just slays both of the cap players that try to overstep.
It's only bit through the doorway that ends up going well for Novi.
Wonderful awaiting some kind of a play from Tunnels,
play from tunnels but in transition the things yet awkward he had the line oh he
needed it for himself and missing that shot could spell disaster now for the
b-side hold rocks is gonna best him man advantage established and in another
moment the man advantage for Navi means nothing it's freebie after freebie as
vitality slay the final two Alexi go for it dealing with the Zywu flank you've
got a little to lose. Give it the Hail Mary.
Surely he's not even going to really try it here.
That's kind of crazy, but they just don't even have a kid on
cat, I guess.
He's gonna go back and get that off.
So thinking about the win, but not winning the round.
You guys like saving?
I feel like go for it why not
I guess play watch over your shoulder
So be a nobby that's hoping their T side can take over the game
but they have not had to play catch up this hard
Just another moment to stew in it
It's not allowed to give up, but wonderful might want to eat one, we thought to ourselves
that with vitality losing dust to maybe you can touch them on this map.
It's a quick reminder to everybody else in the world.
Vitality don't seem to be going anywhere anytime soon.
Sometimes when there's streak ends,
it's like they play legacy in the first stage of the event.
Best of one.
Yeah, best of one.
They lose on Inferno.
Here, they lose to Foot with a coach.
But obviously, four out of five on foot
are insane.
Julio still played pretty well.
But it's day one.
It's the big thing.
Day one of an event.
They're really saying they're not playing a lot,
leading into the events.
And it kind of adds up.
But it just doesn't matter.
Those are just streaks for their own vanity,
for the stories afterwards, the impressive numbers,
but it's not affecting the trophy list at all.
It's really just us who are trying to put them
under a microscope so that we can pick at all
the tiny faults, because we're so sick of speaking
of the victories, the success.
And when they do all of that,
every small fault line has to be studied,
and we thought maybe there's wiggle room now on Dust2,
but like I said, a reminder of the reality.
Back into the play, 8-1 lead by Tality's T-side now versus just three rifles in this round.
You can feel Novi trying to squirm out of this stomp, but Tality will give you no room
to do so.
They don't look lazy, they don't look like they're just boning it in, it doesn't look
like they're not coming through with different ideas each round.
that there's none of those things are good enough really
right on try to push but you see the flash to a man there in front of it
Oh, and again, Zywu, good for the first one.
Yeah, brutal.
They needed to fall back.
Least you've got wonderful in the mix, still to be swarmed.
Drops instant on Mikaze, and Drops is going to follow through.
His wonderful is just looking to survive,
looking to run for the hills, asking for mercy.
I'm losing my mind.
What's happening?
Making it look like paper Mario.
They just fall into the ground.
Vitality doing nothing but cementing themselves
is the absolute best.
It's not just Zaiwu, it's this entire team, 9-1 over Novi.
Drop to the 4k.
Didn't use that many balls to do it.
the official prediction market of black tag on the cross because they only start
a ripple round he's already down to 25 at least wonderful has been able to go for
this earlier angle there we go get it active so much vitality up middle and
wonderful system stuck playing over towards law but again here's the
The answer, Vitality have responses.
They're gonna try to flush you out from behind that smoke bit.
He's just looking for safety.
I mean, it's gonna cost them everything.
No sanctuary to be found.
At least hot to the trot are the remaining knobby players.
They sit just outside of this bomb site.
And we've got Zywoo still towards T spawn.
They can't pause if they want to.
They actually have so much utility still.
And see another player, I'm gonna drop another door.
Oh, but then Zywoo strikes from top middle.
Okay, one-on-one. It's the two whoppers going head-to-head.
Wonderful is going to stick to this M4, and Zywu on the AK, up in the window, ready for the duel.
But it's the bottom of the shot, and he's trying to figure that out.
What was the point of that rotation? All just for that one chance that he might be outside the window.
To not give him the duel from bottom mid, but instead to hit it at a CT spot.
That is just crazy.
It's not crazy, brother. It's Zywu.
And the perfect Molly throw they line that up so it doesn't get extinguished from the smoke on the back of the site
Don't say they aren't right
Looking to give Navi a taste of their own medicine with an 11-1 half themselves
We saw Vitality claw their way back out of that score line on nuke. We'll see if Navi have what?
Vitality are made of
Safe to say things feel bleak.
Flash connects on close.
And you've got Apex collecting a pure sports middle on pit.
Wonderful fighting on with that 6-HP.
A second round on a CT side looking likely.
But it's all just so that we can bask in his glory.
How about Zaiwu 1v3 clutch?
It's 20-26. Zaiwu, he's been putting these rounds together very often.
And off lots of utility to work with.
Alexi in the open, and here it comes!
Mark Flinch for you, Zai Wu, and he can even go to another gun, but he's going to stay on the deagle.
All the Nades in the world, scoops up the AK, has the bomb, and starts to walk away just as they're getting into position.
Now, I mean, he's got the Nades to block off his cat flank.
Is he trying to go them into following on this flank?
He's giving over the audio. They keep making moves. They're going to send a wonderful in first on that 6 HP.
No way.
But he's made audio and he's blindsided, but still they don't kill him.
If you don't kill him, you give him a chance, but Wonderful just runs it forward.
Navi will double their rounds at the end of this half.
It just seems I will can die.
I don't even think he's up for a second there.
The monster is back.
There are some pairs that are just born differently.
Some try to intimidate you.
He doesn't like it.
Everything he does is deliberate.
You never really feel out of place.
You just feel late.
Where is now patern?
He doesn't move faster.
He's moved faster.
He makes him lose, and that's the scary part, he wasn't mine for just...
It's not about losing to him, it's about arriving at him.
Oh my god.
Oh, it's time to attack.
Simon knows he's going to fight right here, right now.
Most efficient player in Counter-Strike history,
that wasted ammo, that wasted movements.
There's a chance.
There's Simon.
If you try to, I will catch you.
left themselves in an absolutely tragic situation.
Massive deficit, huge comeback to take place.
And even if they win, they'd have to win the next two maps.
A reverse week in a best of five series
has only happened twice before in history.
And it's not been in a circumstance like this.
Certainly not to vitality.
There's no reason to fear if you're vitality in this too.
So watch for them to just play with total confidence
to try to put this one on ice.
And Robsi's just in grand finals mode.
He knows exactly where he can push.
Himmeth coming to watch him, but he
has a better crosshair placement.
Himmeth thought he was hitting him, but that was the opposite.
Yep, yep, yep.
Thought he had that edge.
Messi tagged down low.
Does open up the possibility of taking over middle.
Mikaze wants to be that jackknife
to open this portion of the map.
And we've got Robs pulling the goalie.
Just a C-start in the lead, this position, playing outside the site.
Somebody be going for this flank. Apex will hear everything.
First shot's perfect.
Trade is also.
Apex keeps it clean, delays that follow-through,
waiting for the long player to come and join forces.
And that's where Apex decides to try to take his next duel.
But we'll put Robs in the clutch.
That wonderful bomb on site already.
Robs just wants to run it down.
Oh, he got away with the first!
You gave him a chance at this!
Not let Vitality down!
Oh, Apex is on his feet up until this moment.
It was him getting and denying bigger clutches.
1v3s, 1v2 attempts out of Navi.
Well, now he gets his own 1v2.
He talks about how 4v5s don't matter,
how opening chances get stolen back.
And in this one, Rob's sectioning off the duals.
Wonderful thinking he could go to the top box
for the high angle.
Rob's so ready.
And it is now Apex to add salt to the wounds.
No kidding.
Wants to kick him all the way down.
Guarantee this thing.
Knows that the job isn't finished.
Apex with another good angle.
Fifth gets away on that trade.
No damage to him.
They're all taking aggressive off-hand towards this pit.
Oh, pieces up.
Apex nicely done.
that newfound M4.
He's looking real lonely.
They don't have a Molly, though.
So it's kind of a good spot to be in, to be honest.
See how he pops up and just how wide he swings.
Good damn well passed him off.
Yeah, oh, it's perfect the way he repositioned.
Good damage on these two other players.
And also to just stall out that bomb for a second.
Mezzi looking to get frisky exits through that gap.
Not a pretty smoke.
And Mezzi's looking to punish for it.
It's the headshot on Alexi.
And Robs still yet to get into the action,
looking to double up towards Spawn.
As bit, you can see the nervousness,
just looking to keep his head down.
Doesn't know where they could be coming from,
and they can jump off.
And Emma is not right here.
This is a no-kit retake, coming through for vitality.
Off!
Come on.
Jumping Fommis after that clinical headshot.
Now, Ena versus Robs, and Robs
is going to get the better of him.
No-kit, no problem.
Still jumps on top of that one with I believe enough time.
Yeah, he's excited about it.
He gets that diffuse in, and it's another clutch for Robs.
No clutches before this grand final starter.
I think he's already up to six.
The first four clutches of this game were all novies.
And we were thinking that's the kind of X factor
that they're going to weaponize to win tonight
at the very least out first match.
Everything since has been a total denial.
And so whether you like it or not, Fort Worth,
You are stuck here basking in the greatness that is team vitality.
It is endless hard work and dedication to become legends of this status.
Now he's at second place in clutches for the event.
It's just a grand finals merchant, this Rops fella.
17 and 7 here on Dust2.
His vitality are on championship point.
Galeel's to defend against this to support BITS 1AK.
And Apex in an ungodly position to be at at 120.
They'll never find him here.
He knows it won't be a cap play.
He doesn't hear anything towards the top of mid.
Everybody is ready for this defense.
They're lining the walls to have rolled out of bed and thought that you had hope to be what's technically the second best team in the world and to still feel the wrath of vitality.
What?
Back turn for the Ajax.
Well, wait a second.
No, they might cancel this now because they see him in such a crazy spot.
The bomb started to run back.
Now walk is the right call. They find the gap to try to keep this game alive
Siley looks to cut off the mid player does so successfully bit playing with eight points of health
But everybody does emerge from this cat push
Curiously, this is another no-kit retake coming through for vitality
The worst thing you could do is give Navi hope
Yeah, that's not comfortable. That was just a little weird obviously apex had a they had no idea that he was here
They were coming in the clear long. They're walking out of tunnels.
That timing just works out perfectly. A little gift here for Navi.
They're about to get crushed on a B-Play.
Still at risk of losing a lot actually and, you know, winning would do one thing,
but they already have to live. So you don't want this to get more expensive.
We have some guns and you hang on to the hope.
The slimmest bit of hope you could possibly think of
to keep you in a best of five down this badly.
That's nuts.
That's that moment where Apex could have just put all of this to its end.
Just started to get bored up there at that point in the round.
No clutches in the rest of the event.
seven clutches in the grand final. Nobody other than Robs could pull off something like that.
This takes a lot to get this guy going. It has to be the grand final.
Oh, you could have just killed them last round, Apex. Now you're going to hit them with a shotgun.
Just don't end it on this one. When in Texas,
shoulder peak for Mikaze keeps them alive versus the Mag7, but that will activate Robs on the
other side of tunnels. Not the Robs 5-7. Enough 5-7 kills, please.
That's an upgrade, looking juicy.
Eman tries to clear the corner, will do so.
So damage on two, but Navi in a comfortable five versus three,
and nonetheless, any chance they make the wrong move here?
I don't see how they could.
Three players over on the A side, dead silence.
I mean, this actually might be a bit of a bait.
I mean, Apex and Robs were going for the push.
B players are over here.
ready on this car position.
Saewoo playing flex.
Are they going to let him in?
The exec comes forward.
Yeah, they are going to run towards it.
And they get clipped off.
No way.
No, it's possible.
The bomb, it's starting to get hunted.
It has to go back through tunnels.
Look how fast they scramble for the mid-play, right?
They don't have to cut this off.
Tunnels will be the safer bet, but they're going to blast this open bomb.
Almost exposed.
And as he still knows what you were getting up to, Flamesy strikes from the middle with
a go on to the bomb and Vitality chase you down.
Alexi, he just wants the plan.
He wants out of this nightmare because it's what it's been throughout this grand finals.
Crushing defeat over Novi, still the all-elusive map win.
You cannot touch this Vitality and ball ended on this round of all rounds.
You try to make your move out, Catwalk, and instead it's Vitality again.
3C5 and they pulled this out in this grand finals.
Another one in the cabinet.
And when you're in the middle of the era, it feels hopeless.
It feels like you can see the future.
I even lost the match.
But one day when you look back at this vitality,
the records they set, the peaks they showed us,
you will be in awe.
You'll be thankful.
And all the roster moves that take place because of it
are going to be because this vitality was this good,
They found the key piece with roms.
They put in these rounds to take out the number two team in the world and make it feel like
there isn't even a true number two team.
Quick work of Davi.
One of the best comeback we've seen from them regardless in that first map.
Record after record broken.
Only the fourth time we see them at such a score line and they still bring that
one back.
From Crack-Out to Cluj, from Rotterdam to Rio,
Fort Worth becomes the newest notch on these legends,
never ending.
For vitality, this has become the world domination,
and their conquest towards the Cathedral continues.
Your Blast Rivals champion,
Change! Change! Change!
Being invincible, team vitality, does it again, effects, surrounded by confetti, trophy in front of you, this is just everyday life being now, isn't it?
Not everyday life, but every month for now I guess.
Now that's fantastic, we came here without practice, we had really tough games, like that final was really close for Psunavi, they played really good now.
And one side of Nuke and Anubis, but Dust2 is our playground.
We tried to surprise them a bit on Nuke, but it didn't work out in a way.
But, yeah, no practice. It was tough. It was a tough tournament for us.
We had so many other times, so many close games, but once again, the game went in and I'm a pitcher.
What do you think it says about the quality of this team?
When you talk about the fact that you came in with no practice,
you had some time off, some well-deserved time off,
and you're still able to get such a convincing tournament victory like this?
like this. I mean yeah this team is amazing and you know we are at the
beginning we are players that needs to have our words in the game like for
example Robs, Robs started the tournament slow but once again what the
final did how many clots you want, Zairu is Zairu, he plays all the games that still
dominate the game and the two others are the best soldier ever in my teams
and yeah we are the greatest so that's it.
You absolutely are and do you think how much do you need the next Major to prove that you're the greatest team to ever play the game or do you think you're already there?
I'd say it's I think we already there not because of the Major but we won also like two Grand Slam.
A Grand Slam is harder to win than a Major, that's 100% and we did it in one year almost in 12 months we won two.
So it's fantastic and I think we are, I don't know why this thing is going to stop but I will make sure it's going to be as long as possible just to work as hard as possible because people will look even more at us and try to control us and that's what they did really well today Naby.
Every tournament that you play the target on your back gets bigger and bigger. I know that you love to play the villain. What's your message to all the teams out there that want to knock you off that number one spot?
number one spot.
I'm not playing with the karma you know. I'm the villain because people are acting bad
to me. They say fuck you, it's so bad to me. But it's okay, I mean other teams improve,
they make cross the chain to beat us and we will lose again at some point. Last year
we won seven trophies in a row, right now it's the fifth. I don't know when we're
going to stop but hopefully the major is the main goal and yeah, no doubt we
are the greatest of all time. I mean I have no doubt myself.
Congratulations, man. I really appreciate the time.
I've got just a few more minutes here.
Can I speak to Mezzi just briefly for a second?
Mezzi, come over here.
I just want to have a quick chat with you
before we wrap this up.
I know that you guys just continue to win.
You continue to play.
The schedule is so intense.
You don't want to get burnt out here, being the best.
And I know you've got some time off coming up.
What's next? You're going to New York City?
Yes, New York with my good friend Apex.
a bit of rest and recovery ready for a month or in a week's time.
But I think that's what we do so well, the vitality is prioritising some rest
at key moments so we can make sure we play at a good level.
And yeah, I mean, even though the preparation of this event wasn't the best,
this team is so special, these players are so special,
we still managed to pull off crazy comebacks
and play at such a crazy level that we can still lift these trophies.
Speaking of which, you and the rest of your phenomenal team,
can we raise this trophy one more time, guys, as here in Fort Worth?
I want you to make some noise for your last premier rivals, Fort Worth champions, Tiz and Tamati!
for you today there were some tight games there was an overtime it had everything
but it seemed like you were just way too good for Navi. And that nuke was crazy
I was there we're losing 11-0 we're just telling each other guys like this is
the focus is not on this map the focus is on the next map let's just play
competitively let's just try to get round by round and at some point you
get to 11-5 and you don't want to play round by round because you know
you're gonna probably have an opportunity and I felt like you know
we're losing this game but once we got to sit in we won the pistol I
We're probably going to win this one and I think at the beginning the clutches went their way
Like we had some crazy situations, but some of the in the ones we wanted it went their way
But I don't know like we we're just really united and we don't give up so it's tough for them
Let me ask you because apex said right after that
He was interviewed after nuke and he said well we knew we had them figured out
Basically in the second half so can you say anything to that or is that spoiling to be you?
Well to be honest we would prep against them and we always feel very comfortable to play against them
I think also with our record against them, but it's just that in this side if we had a few more rounds
We would have gotten into city and we knew we're gonna win the game
But when we came to see the side it was just like as long as we win the pistol and we don't have the
Opportunity to lose it on the on the second round
Then we were probably gonna be in a good situation to just close it out against them because we we have really good prep
And we know what we want to do and what we're gonna do and I think they also
To some extent I think they were playing a bit scared. They were playing not to lose
It's felt like they were really passive and really back and they didn't do the things correctly
Yeah, I have a question because I've talked to you a lot on Grand Final desks at this point
But how does this one feel? I mean does it feel as as exciting as some of the other ones?
I feel like this is the calmest I've ever seen you after a Grand Final
It's yeah, it's like we're fucking tired like the Grand Slam took a little energy out of us
and we then we have four days off the jet like to Europe then jet like again to America and we
We just came here and we didn't have expectations to win obviously the teams in this event
We're not they're not as big names as the other tournaments, but we said to each other to each other guys
Let's just give our best. Let's see where it gets to the group stage was so hard. So we were like at this point
We just want to play
The best we can and which is not gonna be that good and we might get sloppy, but it just I think it creates so much confidence
Okay, in your own words then do you think that this is you kind of at your floor?
But you still got it over the line?
I think so. I think it was, I think we're at our floor.
I think some of the other teams were not also in their peak performance because Rio was just around the corner.
And I do think that in Atlanta the floor might get two centimeters below.
We're all going to vacation now.
We're going to vacation now. So I think for Atlanta.
Well, I said in one of the interviews that if Navi don't beat us now,
it will be very tough for them to beat us in the rest of the season.
Actually, in Atlanta they have a good opportunity.
So nothing against them, they play well, but it's just,
you know, we're really tired, people are not informed.
We had five days off.
In those five days, the spray changed, the movement changed.
We came and we were like full newbies,
and somehow, well, God bless.
First things first, you are Maui and I's MVP
for this tournament.
HLTV, get it right, okay?
So first of all, so we were talking about this
a little bit yesterday backstage, you know,
about how you've improved your individual play
So much this year. In fact, I don't know if you're aware of this, but this is one of the best tournaments of your entire career rated positive in the top five of your entire careers.
This event absolutely.
You should be the MVP. So again, what allows you to have such strong play throughout these playoffs?
Well, I think to be honest, I was obviously because we had a lot of time off. We had a lot of energy to grind in this event.
And I think that I could feel the thing was a bit tired in some situations, like all of us including me.
But I was trying to prep every game really well.
I will not say I did it as apex because it preps really in depth of the game.
But I tried to prep to be able to assist Dan in the calling and the solution stuff like that.
So I think in many of the games I had a lot of say into what my area is going to go to.
And then it gave me a lot of options to kill people, to kill enemies.
enemies and that's what people value in the sense of like the statistics. On the other
end we just, I think I just, yeah, I came with an open mind such fresh mind because
it just, you know, I didn't come here and like we're gonna win this tournament, we have
to win this tournament, this is the most important one. I just came with an open
mind and I think I just, you know, was happy even if we play bad to try to get
back into these games and everything is just an opportunity, you know. I think
Last major, sorry, in Austin Major we came to the game against Legacy at the beginning
and we were all tired for some reason, we didn't have energy and we were scared to play
and I feel like this tournament gave us the same taste, but it's good that we have the
same taste and we can manage to go through that and break through that and keep playing
Counter-Strike even though we might have played down to the other team level sometimes
but it's still positive when you can play really good across five players who haven't
put the hour in the game in the last five days so.
Absolutely.
Apex also gave a quote.
He said that he talks to you guys like,
I know you're tired, I know you're fried,
we have to tell me a little bit about how
he rains with an iron fist.
He's talking a lot, this guy.
He was talking a lot.
I mean, the special thing about Dan is that he's,
I don't know, he's like, he's very old, he's a...
Nothing, he's old, sorry, he's not in this case.
He's old because he's been in the game for so long.
He won all the trophies there is in Counter-Strike, he won them few times as well.
And he still has so much motivation to keep winning and it's crazy, you know, he just is
so hungry.
And I, from him, at the beginning when I won trophies, I didn't feel the same as him
about those trophies.
Like, he really, like, it's his baby, it's his little baby, and he always wants us to
do as best as we can.
And obviously, this is once in a lifetime roster, hopefully not, but this is once in a
lifetime roster.
So, we just want to kind of like squeeze the lemon until we, you know, like, do
as best as we can because it's look at this like we didn't put an hour in the game and we're still
fucking winning everything so it's it's cool but obviously now we have Atlanta and then the most
important one the major that we need to come and everybody's gonna come for us and come for everybody
so it's gonna be a cool experience. Yeah about that right everybody's looking at the major and I
know of course you never want to lose any tournament but the way I'm hearing you talk
about Atlanta and about how tired you are like for me from the outside looking in I'm like
Wouldn't it be kind of be more comfortable if they don't win them all in the run-up to the Major?
Because if it's really all there and you're already tired, you know what I mean?
You know what I'm cooking?
I get what you mean.
The thing is, for some reason, we experienced that already last year, the first season.
We won five tournaments and then we came to Dallas, I believe, before the Major in Austin.
And we were like, man, at this point, you know, it's a bit dangerous.
You know, if you don't do this one, it's going to be tough.
So then we won this one.
We came to the Major and then we were like, okay, it could be tough here, and then we lost the first game.
But I have a good feeling about this team that every time we have the opportunity to prep over a week, over like in a bootcamp,
these kind of things, for some reason we're coming to tournaments and we're so sharp on our communication, our energy.
Everything is so, like, it's crazy sharpness. And I think that right now, like, Atlanta is going to be tough, it's going to be weird.
We're going to, me, Robson, are going to have a vacation in Yosemite, you have a Michelin team over at Messi and Apex, and then we have the Staffordings on Nielsen, and it's going to be tough to come to Atlanta and give our best, so maybe there we lose and then it gets to your point.
But on the other end, we might win this one and then we have time to prefer the Major. We don't care like if we lose or we lose in Atlanta in my opinion, we just want to come to the Major with a lot of fun.
I just have a question for on the gameplay side.
Yeah.
OK.
AnimGraph 2, you guys didn't play before leading into it.
You kind of had to play yourself into shape with the update.
So what's your take on it?
Well, I think that the movement, I don't feel like a huge change.
Like, I feel like some people pick differently,
but I don't feel like, yeah, the game is so different.
I think the spray, for some reason, I like it.
But it's not like it's, I don't feel like it's a good,
I don't know, like it's not good for the game,
but I feel like it's more consistent.
But it's easier to spray now, it's easier to shoot and do it consistently.
So I think it's overall good, I feel like you kind of got the CS go spray, the CS go bullets again.
But the movement, I don't feel like a huge difference for me, I feel like you pick an operator,
you pick an air rifle, you know, it's the same shit.
But I do feel like along more time, like if you give them two or three months,
I think in the end it will be better and I think this update right now it's actually,
It's like a small win for the game.
A final question, not about the Canucks to the Games,
I hope she had nothing about that.
We had Rumi on the desk yesterday,
and he talked about how obviously you started winning so much right,
and he said that the difference was in the evolution of the team
that you're all willing to make a lot more sacrifices for each other
than of course in the beginning.
I guess you have proof of concept now,
but do you recognize that in yourself that you have times
or you're like, I really don't want to do it like that.
I really don't want to play it like that, but I will because I know what's in store for us.
Yeah, I think the second season last year didn't go that well for us at the beginning
and that might have been really bad for other teams because it
it teaches us so much about ourselves and so much about how we want to approach those top games,
those hard battles that we...
For me, it's really simple. I always trust my teammates.
I have no... like my role, that's my job to do that.
So, but I feel like with the other players as well, you know,
The second season kind of built that trust that, you know, maybe Robtons are going to have a shit game
and that's going to happen sometimes.
And then they entrust us to play like that and they give us a lot of opportunities.
And it's once in a lifetime opportunity when you have two stars in your roster,
like one superstar and one star, and in another team it will probably be a superstar.
They're so humble, they're so chill, they're so happy to just play, to go first.
And I think it makes it really tough when you're playing against a team that's versatile,
that even the Lerker can just go out and entry,
that the superstar wants to entry,
doesn't want to stay last.
So I feel like there is more trust in the team
and there is more kind of, yeah, like all good,
you take that and the people sometimes are saying to each other,
go get those kills, you know, I enjoy that.
Like, I'll trust for you and it's in the prep,
a lot of times, yeah, you get those kills,
you get this play, I get this play, it's a negotiation.
Yeah, and about being happy for other people,
I will want another MVP.
Oh, come on.
I got it wrong in Cluj.
Cluj, what was Cluj ever?
You should have had that one too.
Cluj, I played cheap in the final, so...
Well, it's not big inclusion though, man.
I don't remember this so much.
It doesn't matter.
It's farming.
Let's just say this.
You played fantastically.
EVP.
EVP.
At least get him that, you know?
Can I get the cowboy hats?
Oh, it's your appropriate.
That's my problem.
You want to put it on for a sec?
Yeah, I'd like to see how it looks.
Let's see how it looks.
It's a little bitch back here.
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Very cute.
You can definitely pull it off on her.
Oh yeah.
It's a little small, yeah.
You have a big head.
It's better than those hair clips.
Yeah.
What is the matter of the hair clip?
So my girlfriend, she wants me with long hair.
And where I'm from, my family.
If the woman is happy, everybody is happy.
You don't need to do that much.
That is how it works.
everywhere, not to literally walk by. So happy wife happy life. So my thing is I'm
gonna grow longer and it's tough it's not an easy like you have longer and you
have longer as well but it's tough to grow longer you go through an ugly
face and you gotta go through that shit. So the hair clips they make sure my hair
doesn't go on my face which is my most hated. I think if I take my
hair clip off I can pull it on the behind my ears now but I'm still you
know just you know proof like I'm making sure. You're trying to get
through the ugly face. Yeah. You know, as long as the one is up. Yeah. Thank you. Thank
you. Thank you so much. Great interview. Yeah. Congratulations again. Bye bye. He was
robbed. No, we'll see. Um, look at that. I love the little shout out of course. Like,
I mean, it takes a lot, right? For the partners also of these players to stand behind them
for them to not see them a lot. They're traveling all the time. They have a one track mind. I always
have so much respect for those people. I mean, they're the backbone of a lot of these players,
too. So yeah, shout out to Rebecca. That's my one of my backbones. Yeah, that's all of our all of
our stuff. Yeah, shout out if you're watching shout out to you as well. But I want to talk.
Yes, we can talk about the MVP. Do you like listen, you know what surprised me? That's
Zee was 32nd MVP award I'm pretty sure.
Oh wow.
That's insane.
Oh my.
Just get Flames back.
I'm going to raise a fuss about it, Dusk.
I mean, come on, that finals, he was good.
That was a big Robs performance.
I saw a huge Flames-y performance from that.
I think I've got the numbers probably say that Zai would do similarly to somebody yet
of those names, but I felt a lot more from those non-sat-at-listeners.
Here's my logic to argue Flames and the MVP of the tournament.
One, it is true that Zee was their highest-rated player going into this grand final, right?
He was number three behind Mikaze and wonderful correct.
However, if you look at the playoffs, Flames is better, right?
And Robs had a weaker group stage in my opinion, right?
He kind of took a little bit to wake up.
I think Flames, he was good throughout the entire tournament,
including in this final.
So that's why I have him there personally.
Oh, it's not finals.
MVP is the whole thing.
Yeah, it is.
Tournament MVP from...
The finals of MVP actually might be Robs
because he had a nice ready to play.
Oh, grand finals, sure, for sure.
Yeah, clutch that was insane.
So he didn't get a single clutch this tournament
and then he had like seven in the grand finals,
six or seven.
Oh, the guy came on in the grand finals, under it.
Yeah. Yeah. Okay. I didn't do that on purpose actually. But whatever. But it's crazy, right? They have like, they can fall back on so many things and I do like the introspection there from Flames as well.
Like, you kind of realize that you're on this peak and if Atlanta doesn't work out, then it doesn't. But like, it doesn't matter. Their floor is high enough even if it even goes a little lower.
I think, actually, because you said peek into that kind of peek my interest because people always talk about peeking too soon.
Yeah, and obviously you want to peak whenever you're going for that third major because I feel like that's the only
Part of the debate that's still there anybody who's still holding on to the idea that I shall just the goat
It's because of that third major the moment that they walk across that stage on cologne
They would pick up the same or one trophy to the one they just got they won't be undeniable at that point
But the fact that they're able to not have to worry about picking up our things
They can still win with their B game. It's pretty incredible
That's kind of my final points for this whole tournament with vitality is that this is really scary because that group stage wasn't good
The matches leading up to this weren't that nice.
The fact that they had to go to overtime against Gamerallation.
The fact that they lost their Nuke Street, or their Dust2 streak, their Overpass streak.
Those to me said that there were signs that Navi was going to make this happen.
That Navi themselves come in, haven't dropped a map. They decimated FaZe yesterday.
I mean they didn't even look competitive against them.
So if that's the best Navi, and this is the worst Vitality,
and they clash on this stage in this way and vitality still 3-0 them. What hope
does anybody have? Yeah I mean I would have said Nafi is probably your best
chance for someone to beat them. Of course there's some others who've taken
maps off them like who knows but the teams have a lot of work to do before
Cologne and I think we do have Alexi B for a word after the tournament. Alexi
it's a heartbreaking day here in Fort Worth for you and I feel like you'll
reflects on this is a missed opportunity. Yeah, especially on the first two maps I
think that for sure the first map it's the biggest lead you can have against this
team I feel like and you know we didn't capitalize on it and that's it was hard
to go outside after because I knew that it was a huge fumble we still put up a
very good fight on Anubis we didn't give up on Dust2 it's kind of their
home ground so you know you can't win all maps against them but we for
had a chance today to win one even two. Where do you think that the main failure
is there in the system? Is it a lack of clutch ability mentally or do you think
the vitality is just so good when their backs are against the wall? I think both
I think that you know we managed to dominate one half pretty well you know
we could even win 12 rounds who knows. At the end of the day
they're a very good team. We somehow let it slip it's hard to put into
words what I'm feeling right now but yeah I definitely think that we had what it
took today to you know give them a match because I don't think that we can
even say we gave them a match when we can't win a map you know like would be
nice to have the score 2-3 or you know go to the final stretch and that didn't
happen today again so I'm very disappointed in that. I think Apex just
said to me out there after raising the trophy that it was a tough final you
you know despite the fact that it was a washout I mean you did push them yeah
you're gonna say whatever but at the end of the day you know it's 0-3 again so
thank you Peter thank you yeah warranted right that really doesn't matter it's
0-3 again that that record from August 2024 I am Cologne still stands they
cannot even win a map now I do believe in seeing the journey of a team right
and of course, despite what Alexi feels like,
um, yeah, that momentum swing after that, it's true.
You don't get this many rounds against Vitality.
It's so hard to recover.
He said it there himself, to go outside,
to realize that you let it slip through your hands, right?
But do you see, do you see a hopeful sign
that they can use this as building blocks for maybe a cologne?
There's an irreosimilar comparison to make here.
It's the fact that obviously, when Vitality built their era,
it was off of seven titles in a row,
with mouse sports constantly playing second fiddle becoming the number two team in the world
during that time period. Navi is starting to find themselves in kind of the same role
in the sense that we've now had Vitali won five in a row so very close and Navi has become the
second best team in the world and they've now played second fiddle to them in two different grand
finals where they were unable to get a map in either one. What I will say is I do think the
Navi I'm watching on average is a better team. I think that they have better systems. I think
they are better tactically. I think you know their peak firepower is very good. I think
their individuals. Yeah, over that mouse. Yeah, that's what I'm saying. So I think that they're
put themselves in a similar position to some of the other teams in the past that have been able to
try to get up there near a lot to Ali, at least. So that gives me some hope. And the fact that they
should have won the first map for sure, right? If that happens, who knows what plays out next.
I mean, the Nubis was still a close contest. The after they got that crazy comeback against
them on the first map. So I'm seeing better things there, I guess is what I'm trying to
to get out. What's deflating about it is the fact that they were extremely clutched today
that they on nuke they won three four clutches themselves and to me that would have been
the difference maker and that start that they had now this loss is just etched into
their brains completely I don't see them being able to I don't know what amount of
therapy is going to fix what damage has just been dealt to their mental. Yeah it's
really really bad but on the other side there's a victor again of a vitality
we're watching history and I know some people might find it boring but I personally feel honored
that we get to be witness to this, to rocks. No, to the Vitality Era and to seeing perfection
in motion and not even always perfection, right? But fights every single time and it's beautiful
to watch and so is this. It's one of those things where Vitality got to show us a rare quality
that we don't get to see very often from them because they really have to do it and that's
It's digging deep and having resilience in the composure
to make a comeback happen to win when you're down,
to win when you're not on your A again,
to win when you haven't necessarily prepared
or practiced as much as maybe you wanted
to coming into it.
The fact still remains that Texas is their first major
and Fort Worth is their 14th title.
That's insane.
Like the level of trophies that they're putting
in the cabinet, the consistency of the performance,
the fact that they're,
they only lost two series this year.
That's insane.
It's crazy.
It's unbelievable what they do.
And it's like every time they top themselves,
they just keep doing it.
stop blazing them. I mean we're all we all know we're bearing witness to history.
Yeah. Every single time it just ups the ante and I think whatever happens next
and whenever the era ends at least they'll have all of these trophies to
make sure that the buffer zone between them and the next era is ever so deep.
And as Rob said, would you start a new one? Whatever. We'll see. Awesome. So
Vitality are your blast rivals for worth. Champions once again it's been
an honor hosting the desk here with my two unbelievable analysts,
Dustin Maui, it's been an absolute pleasure.
Shout out to Production, Burning the Midnight Oil,
always behind the scenes, and thank you to everybody
who watched and who was here in person.
We'll see you next time. Bye-bye!
I'ma take one for the take
You know I'm livin' in trade
You know I'm livin' in trade
They put me up in the rain
I'ma take one for the take
You know I'm livin' in trade
Yeah, after I'm gone
Even after I'm gone
Grinding on that vacation
A matter of pride, a matter of patience
Seeing outside when they're chasing
I'm ready to ride the road now to take it
You know that when I ride
I'm gonna get wind up deeply plastic
No room for a break in my canvas, not you
Mama, you'll see I'm the greatest
Mama, you'll see I'm the greatest
You can deceive and demand that you race as a man of connection