flameZ on Vitality’s Budapest Major Run: “Now It’s About Putting the Cherry on Top”

flameZ on Vitality’s Budapest Major Run: “Now It’s About Putting the Cherry on Top”

---

Team Vitality rifler Shahar “flameZ” Shushan believes his team is one final step away from completing an extraordinary season after securing a place in the Grand Final of the StarLadder Budapest Major 2025.

Vitality booked their spot in a second consecutive Major final with a 2–0 victory over Team Spirit in the semi-finals. The series was hard-fought, with Vitality edging out Mirage 19–17 before closing the match confidently on Dust2 with a 13–8 win. The result continued Vitality’s strong form throughout the playoffs and underlined their consistency on the biggest stage.

Speaking to HLTV after the match, flameZ emphasized the importance of preparation and execution, particularly on the Terrorist side. According to the Israeli rifler, Vitality entered the series well-prepared for Spirit’s tendencies and were able to adapt effectively during key moments of the maps.

flameZ also reflected on the broader context of Vitality’s 2025 campaign. The team has been one of the most dominant forces of the year, and reaching another Major final further reinforces their status at the top of CS2. With the Budapest final ahead, Vitality now have a rare opportunity to win back-to-back Majors, something no team has achieved since Astralis’ era of dominance in 2019.

While acknowledging the scale of the achievement so far, flameZ made it clear that the job is not finished yet. He described the potential Major victory as the final piece missing from an already remarkable season, stating that lifting the trophy would be the “cherry on top” of all the work the team has put in over the year.

Vitality’s run in Budapest has included convincing performances earlier in the playoffs, including a dominant quarter-final win over The MongolZ, before overcoming Spirit in the semi-finals. Now, standing between them and history is one final best-of-three in the Grand Final, where they will face either Natus Vincere or FaZe Clan.

For flameZ and Vitality, the upcoming final represents not just another title opportunity, but a chance to cement their legacy and conclude one of the strongest seasons seen in Counter-Strike’s new CS2 era.