The second day of the BLAST Rivals 2025 Season 2 playoffs in Hong Kong delivered an intense showdown between two top-tier teams. Vitality managed to impose their style of play after a rough start and overcame Spirit 2–1, advancing to the Semi-finals stage, where tomorrow, November 15, they will face Falcons. Spirit, meanwhile, exit the tournament, finishing in 5–6th place.
Tournament context
BLAST Rivals 2025 Season 2 is a BLAST-series LAN event held in Chek Lap Kok, Hong Kong, from November 12 to 16, 2025. Eight teams compete for a $350,000 prize pool. The event carries Valve Regional Standings (VRS) ranking status, meaning that earned points directly impact the global ranking and future Major qualification chances.
The group stage was played in a Double Elimination (Bo3) format, while the playoffs follow a Single Elimination (Bo3) system with a Bo5 grand final.
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How the match unfolded — Vitality vs Spirit
This match became a true test for both teams. Spirit looked powerful on Dust2, but Vitality showed experience and stability as they fought back and closed the series with a 2–1 victory.
- Dust2 (Spirit pick) — 13:11
Spirit opened the match aggressively, with donk and sh1ro taking control in the entry duels. Vitality lacked defensive synergy, allowing their opponents to secure a narrow lead. - Nuke (Vitality pick) — 16:19
This was a balanced map from both sides. ZywOo and ropz pushed Vitality ahead in key moments, stopping several clutch attempts from donk. - Mirage (decider) — 16:14
On the deciding map, Vitality displayed their trademark confidence — flameZ and mezii delivered crucial multikills, while apEX successfully controlled the pace. Spirit were unable to hold their early advantage after a 7:5 first half, falling short in the closing rounds.
Player of the Match — Mathieu “ZywOo” Herbaut
- K–D: 70–53
- ADR: 87.7
- Rating 3.0: 1.28
ZywOo once again proved his status as the best player in the world. His consistency across all maps, including decisive frags on Mirage, became the foundation for Vitality’s advancement.
VRS results
- Vitality: +12 pt (1912 → 1924) — remain at #3 in the world
- Spirit: –11 pt (1782 → 1771) — hold their #7 position
What’s next for the teams
Tomorrow, November 15, Vitality will play in the semifinals against Falcons. Their goal is to secure the BLAST Rivals trophy after finishing second at IEM Chengdu 2025.
Spirit conclude their run in 5–6th place, earning $10,000 and VRS points that allow them to stay within the top 10. After a string of underwhelming results (IEM Chengdu — 7–8th place, ESL Pro League — 5–8th place), the team needs to stabilize its form ahead of the winter season.
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Match summary
Vitality demonstrated that their loss in the IEM Chengdu 2025 final did not shake their status as one of the favorites. Rémy “XTQZZZ” Quoniam’s squad showcased roster depth, individual mastery, and discipline, while Spirit once again stopped at the quarterfinal stage. Ahead lies the semifinal clash between Vitality and Falcons, which will determine one of the finalists of BLAST Rivals 2025 Season 2.
