In the Group A upper bracket final at BLAST Open London 2025, one of the biggest clashes of the group stage took place: Vitality vs FaZe. Both teams were fighting for a direct ticket to the LAN Finals semi-finals, while the loser would drop to the quarter-finals. The series turned into a true thriller, packed with overtimes and world-class individual performances. In the end, Vitality came out on top, winning 2:1 and once again proving they remain one of the most consistent teams on the global stage.
Teams’ Path in the Tournament
Vitality began their campaign with a tough 2:1 win over M80, followed by another hard-fought 2:1 against GamerLegion. The victory over FaZe became their biggest statement yet, securing a direct spot in the LAN Finals semi-finals and giving them a few days to prepare.
FaZe, on the other hand, started with a 2:1 win over ECSTATIC and then surprised many by beating Natus Vincere 2:0. The loss to Vitality now sends them to the quarter-finals, where they remain strong contenders for the title.
Match Timeline
- Mirage (19:17, FaZe’s pick)
FaZe started on their own pick and quickly took the initiative. Broky consistently found opening picks, while frozen applied pressure across the map. Vitality, however, never let go, with ZywOo and flameZ keeping their team alive. The map went the full distance, ending 15:15 in regulation. In overtime, FaZe held their nerve and closed it 19:17, taking the lead in the series.
- Nuke (19:16, Vitality’s pick)
On their map choice, Vitality looked sharper at the start, but FaZe once again found ways to respond. Frozen and broky continued their stellar form, pressuring the defense. What turned the tide were clutch plays from flameZ and the consistency of ZywOo, which denied FaZe the chance to close out the game. In a second consecutive overtime, Vitality showed discipline and resilience, securing a 19:16 victory and leveling the series.
- Inferno (13:5, decider)
On the deciding map, Vitality left no room for doubt. Their defense was rock solid, operating like a machine. FaZe’s attacks repeatedly collapsed under apEX’s aggressive calls and ZywOo’s precise shots. Mentally drained after two long maps, FaZe looked exhausted, and Vitality capitalized fully. A dominant 13:5 closed out the series, sending Vitality straight to the semi-finals.
Player Stats for the Match
Team Performance
Vitality
The French-European squad demonstrated an ideal balance between individual skill and discipline. FlameZ (70–65, 1.25 rating) was the engine of the team, his aggression and stability in defense giving Vitality the edge in key moments. Mezii (66–55, 1.20 rating) once again proved his signing was the right move, showing composure in clutches and winning vital duels. ZywOo (63–58, 1.09 rating) wasn’t always the statistical leader, but his smart decision-making and consistent AWPing laid the foundation. Ropz (60–52, 1.15 rating) added tactical depth, while apEX (52–70, 0.85 rating), despite poor numbers, kept the team together through leadership and bold mid-round calls.
FaZe
FaZe proved they could challenge even the strongest teams, though their play lacked consistency. Frozen (79–60, 1.43 rating) was the standout star — his aggressive entries and clutch wins kept FaZe competitive until the end. Broky (86–57, 1.24 rating) was another pillar, with his AWP providing space and keeping FaZe alive in tight moments. Jcobbb (53–63, 1.01 rating) was steady but not flashy, while rain (61–63, 1.01 rating) contributed in trades but struggled to have big impact. The weakest link was karrigan (26–69, 0.53 rating), whose individual stats dragged the team down, though he still tried to keep structure and direction as IGL.
Player of the Match
The MVP went to David “frozen” Čerňanský from FaZe, who, despite his team’s defeat, delivered a world-class performance:
- K-D: 79–60 (+19)
- ADR: 98.0
- Rating 3.0: 1.43
Frozen won critical duels, drove FaZe’s offense, and bailed his team out in tough rounds. His stability and aggression allowed FaZe to push Vitality to the limit, though the French-European squad’s cohesion ultimately proved stronger. On Vitality’s side, flameZ (1.25 rating) and mezii (1.20 rating) stood out as the main engines alongside ZywOo.
Previous Encounters
The Vitality–FaZe rivalry has become a true classic of the modern CS scene. Out of their last ten meetings, Vitality have won seven. At IEM Katowice 2025, Vitality defeated FaZe twice (19:16 on Dust2 and 13:3 on Nuke), showing their dominance. FaZe’s last victory came at Perfect World Major Shanghai 2024, where they claimed Nuke 13:6. The history of this matchup shows its intensity and high stakes, though the momentum clearly lies with Vitality.
Vitality once again proved they can prevail even in the tensest of series. Their balance, structure, and leader consistency earned them a direct ticket to the semi-finals.
FaZe, despite the loss, remain a dangerous contender. Frozen and broky are in peak form, but for FaZe to beat teams like Vitality, they’ll need more stability and cohesion. Their quarter-final run will give them another chance to bounce back.
