The organizers of the Esports Awards have announced the finalists for the Esports Team of the Year 2025 category. Among the strongest teams in the world is Team Vitality, emerging as the leading contender for the title of the best esports team of the year.
Esports Awards — the main stage of esports
The Esports Awards is one of the most prestigious ceremonies in the industry. It annually recognizes players, teams, coaches, and organizations that have made the greatest contribution to the development of esports. Being named a finalist signifies recognition not only for tournament success but also for consistency, media influence, and professionalism throughout the year.
The finalists for Esports Team of the Year are:@TeamVitalityCS@FalconsEsport@GenG@AGGlobalEsports@NRGgg@FURIA@KarmineCorp@TeamVitality@LAThieves@OpTicTexas@FalconsEsport pic.twitter.com/LO7P1VQ2zA
— Esports Awards (@esportsawards) October 16, 2025
This year’s list of nominees includes Team Vitality CS2, Falcons Esport, FURIA, Gen.G, NRG, Karmine Corp, and others. For the French organization, this is not their first international acknowledgment, but 2025 has become a special year — a year of systematic dominance.
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How Vitality reached the top
After updating their roster at the start of 2025, Team Vitality experienced one of the strongest periods in their history. With the arrival of Estonian player ropz and the consistent form of ZywOo, the team achieved incredible results: over 75% win rate in the past three months, a streak of six consecutive victories, and first place in the Valve world rankings.
Their calendar of results is impressive: titles at ESL Pro League Season 22, IEM Katowice 2025, BLAST Open Lisbon, IEM Dallas, and a grand final appearance at BLAST Open London. Vitality ended the season with more than ten LAN trophies, making them the most decorated CS2 team of the year.
Under the guidance of XTQZZZ, who has coached the team for more than two years, Vitality managed to find the perfect balance between individual talent and a structured, disciplined system.
ZywOo — the symbol of French esports
Mathieu “ZywOo” Herbaut remains the heart and mind of this lineup. At just 24 years old, he continues to display a level of consistency unmatched by most top players. His 1.33 rating, ADR 87.4, and K/D 1.39 prove not only his skill but also his ability to influence every round, regardless of role or map.
ZywOo has once again shown that he is the type of player around whom championship-winning rosters can be built. His versatility and composure have been the key to Vitality’s victories at major tournaments throughout the year. He is not just a fragger — he thinks two steps ahead, shaping the team’s rhythm and controlling the flow of the game. For Vitality, that strategic depth sets them apart from their rivals.
ropz — the key to the new lineup’s stability
The arrival of Robin “ropz” Kool in January 2025 became one of the most successful transfers of the year. His analytical approach and precision brought more structure to Vitality’s game. With a 1.15 rating, 52% headshot percentage, and strong survival rate in rounds, ropz has become the team’s anchor during mid-round play.
He fits perfectly into XTQZZZ’s philosophy, combining composure with mechanical precision. His role in decisive matches — especially in the ESL Pro League Season 22 final — proved crucial. Ropz may not chase highlight plays, but his consistency and ability to read opponents give Vitality control over nearly every game they play.
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Vitality’s culmination
Team Vitality’s nomination as a finalist for Esports Team of the Year is the culmination of a season where the French organization demonstrated unparalleled discipline, consistency, and tactical maturity. In a year when many teams struggled to adapt after the transition to CS2, Vitality remained the benchmark of excellence.
Ahead lies the Esports Awards 2025 ceremony, where Vitality have every chance to cement their status — not just as the best CS team, but as a symbol of a new era in global esports history.
