flameZ Acknowledges Vitality's Slip in Form: “It’s Obviously Tough to Keep It Up”

flameZ Acknowledges Vitality's Slip in Form: “It’s Obviously Tough to Keep It Up”

August 23, 2025 — Vitality’s golden run has hit a rough patch. Shahar “flameZ” Shushan candidly admitted, “We dropped our level. It’s obviously tough to keep it up,” following the team’s semifinal exit at the Esports World Cup 2025 (EWC) at the hands of The MongolZ. The defeat marked their second loss to the Mongolian squad in as many meetings, signaling a sobering fall from earlier dominance. 

A Summer of Glory, Now Running on Fumes

Earlier this season, Vitality captured seven back-to-back titles—including major wins at IEM Cologne, BLAST Rivals, and their crowning achievement at the BLAST.tv Austin Major—establishing themselves as CS2's most formidable force. Yet flameZ admitted that maintaining such peak performance is unsustainable.

“We had really good plans, but we couldn’t hit our shots… On Nuke… they just played so good on CT side that it was quite tough to play our CS.” 

Against The MongolZ, Vitality possessed strong reads and strategies, especially on Mirage and Dust2. However, small execution errors—missed shots or failing to punish enemy aggression—turned momentum. The MongolZ punched through smokes and found decisive entry frags, cracking open the Vitality defense. 

No Shame in Losing to a Rapier-Sharp Adversary

flameZ was quick to commend The MongolZ’s performance:

“It’s tough when the team against you push Ramp… or we try to execute on A and Senzu kills two people through a smoke… you have to give it to them… they played really well.” 

That humility underscores the shift in Vitality’s narrative: once the hunted, they may now be under pressure from faster, sharper opposition.

Acknowledging the Toll of Sustained Excellence

flameZ’s self-assessment hints at broader issues—fatigue, the weight of expectations, and strategic complexity:

“We’re still competitive and getting to the semis, but we’re not yet playing how we want to play… many small details, many small communications.” 

Maintaining the cohesion and performance that powered their winning streak was likely draining. While Vitality still floats among the top teams, what once looked effortless may now demand recalibration.

Looking Ahead: Seeking Consistency Over Flash

With the EWC elimination behind them, Vitality must refocus. The upcoming fall circuit—with StarSeries Fall, BLAST Finals, and other marquee events on the horizon—offers a chance to rebuild their timing and synergy.

flameZ and teammates are still contenders, but their path forward must be more consistent, controlled, and front-loaded to withstand the rigors of tournament CS2. No longer can Vitality rely on being the hot hand—they must re-adapt to challenges from agile competitors who’ve studied and disrupted their formula.

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Summary Takeaways:

• flameZ concedes that Vitality has slipped from their dominant early-season form.

• Despite strong strategies, costly errors in execution let The MongolZ seize control on key maps.

• The loss highlights the challenge of sustaining elite performance amid fatigue and meta shifts.

• To regain their footing, Vitality must emphasize consistency, sharper execution, and communication.