Vitality are through to the quarter-finals of Esports World Cup thanks to a 2-0 victory over FaZe, riding out a strong fight from FaZe on Dust2 (13-11) before sealing the deal with a comfortable win on Cache (13-6).
FaZe will be left ruing the multiple losses to bad buys that cost them Dust2, a map they might have otherwise won relatively easily. The same mistake started Vitality's dominance on Cache, this time FaZe falling to armour-less pistols, and as such what might have been a competitive series slipped away from FaZe.
Meanwhile Vitality will be thrilled that they picked and won Dust2, a map that has failed them multiple times in recent months, and utterly stomped Cache, the new map in the pool. With their era hanging in the balance, Vitality seemingly bolstering their map pool is a significant boon moving forward.
Vitality's campaign really heats up now, however, with Spirit awaiting in the quarter-finals. Vitality haven't lost against Spirit since 2024, when they sported Audric "JACKZ" Jug as a stand-in, and so will feel confident heading into that game.
Dust2 kicked off with Vitality racing out to a lead on their T side, a force-buy negating FaZe's win in the first gun round to keep them rolling. FaZe did eventually find their feet and take control of the half, but another fumble to a force ensured Vitality could tie the scoreline.
FaZe started the second half in the ascendency, picking up four of the first five rounds to go 10-7 up, but another misstep against a force-buy heralded disaster. This allowed Vitality to get their foot into the door and they never looked back, triumphing in multiple close late-round scenarios to seal a 13-11 victory.
FaZe seemed set to continue their stiff resistance with a second round force-buy win to open their offense on Cache, but yet another loss against pistols cost them dearly. This allowed Vitality's defense to get rolling and Mathieu "ZywOo" Herbaut took the half by the scruff of the neck, staying mobile and shutting FaZe down all over the map.
A win on the CT pistol ensured smooth sailing for Vitality, FaZe never really getting going as Vitality blew them out and bagged a comfortable 2-0 series win to continue their journey at EWC.
Mathieu 'ZywOo' HerbautPast 3 months
Vitality
Dan 'apEX' Madesclaire
Robin 'ropz' Kool
Mathieu 'ZywOo' Herbaut
Shahar 'flameZ' Shushan
William 'mezii' Merriman
Rémy 'XTQZZZ' Quoniam
Spirit
Dmitry 'sh1ro' Sokolov
Boris 'magixx' Vorobiev
Andrey 'tN1R' Tatarinovich
Myroslav 'zont1x' Plakhotia
Danil 'donk' Kryshkovets
Sergey 'hally' Shavaev
Audric 'JACKZ' JugPast 3 months
FaZe
David 'frozen' Čerňanský
Russel 'Twistzz' Van Dulken
Ryan 'Neityu' Aubry
Jakub 'jcobbb' Pietruszewski
Jason 'JBOEN' Boe Nielsen
Niclas 'enkay J' Krumhorn