Shahar “flameZ” Shushan was a key reason Vitality moved past PARIVISION in the quarter-final at Spodek. He left the first map with a 2.30 rating, and his Inferno had already decided the series before PARIVISION started to fight back on Dust2.
Why does this matter? Vitality now face Aurora, a team they have both lost to and beaten recently. After the match, flameZ gave HLTV an interview that shows what makes this lineup so hard to stop. For him, the recipe is simple: “when we are talking like that, no one can beat us.”
A Strong Run of Form for flameZ
flameZ came to Spodek ready. He posted a 1.32 rating in the group stage, and he kept that level going in the quarter-final.
This form is not new for him. It put him in the MVP conversation at BLAST Open Rotterdam. He also earned four EVPs in the first half of 2026.
How Vitality Took Control Against PARIVISION
The quarter-final turned on the first map. flameZ delivered a 2.30 rating on Inferno, and his performance set the tone for the series.
PARIVISION did launch a fightback on Dust2. However, the die had been cast by then, thanks to flameZ’s ferocious Inferno. As a result, Vitality can now focus on Aurora.
Inferno Through the Eyes of flameZ
For flameZ, the map was “a pleasure”. The reason was constant movement on TeamSpeak, with players calling plays and pushes every second. Individually, he and mezii hit nearly every bullet to the head, with some jump shots and knife kills along the way.
The in-game leader Dan also played a big part. During the half, flameZ had a friendly warning for him: “I’m killing all your leftovers.” Dan finished the half with 14 assists and seven kills, while flameZ had 16 kills and less damage. The numbers impressed flameZ. “It’s crazy how much utility damage he does,” he said of his teammate, and the damage made the follow-up kills much easier.
Courage Over Preparation
Preparation matters at Vitality, and every player has an individual routine. Dan, MaT and Rémy “XTQZZZ” all do big prep, while the rest of the team adds ideas that build confidence. Even so, flameZ sees one factor above the rest. “The one thing that brings the A game is just courage.”
In his view, courage keeps the team dangerous even on a quiet day. Some games are not good for individual form. However, if everyone keeps moving and going for plays, the opponent struggles to reach the team.
The Talkative Entry Fragger
The interviewer pointed out that flameZ joined as a classic entry fragger and now speaks much more. flameZ agrees that communication is a strength. “I’m a chatty person,” he laughs, and the team wants that energy on every round.
His calls can be small. A quick “Yo, Dan, we can do that” in the middle of a round gives the leader a new idea. At other times, the message goes to a teammate, with a simple push to make a play and “don’t be scared”. These short words, in his view, “make us win a lot of times”.
Aurora Await in the Next Round
According to HLTV, flameZ is excited about the match with Aurora. Vitality lost to them recently, but they also beat them on the same day. For this reason, he considers Aurora a competitive team with good ideas and strong individuals. Nevertheless, he believes that if Vitality bring their A game, it will be very tough for Aurora to win.
For Vitality, the picture is clear. Strong form from flameZ, constant communication and the courage to make plays have taken the team into the next round. Whether that mix can beat Aurora will be decided on the server tomorrow.
