flameZ Explains Vitality’s Communication Edge at ESL Pro League Season 24
Shahar “flameZ” Shushan highlighted communication, courage and constant mid-round activity as key ingredients behind Vitality’s best Counter-Strike after the team swept PARIVISION in the ESL Pro League Season 24 quarter-finals.
Speaking to HLTV after the October 9 series, flameZ described an Inferno performance where Vitality’s TeamSpeak remained constantly active and players were willing to propose moves rather than wait passively for instructions. His comments offered a useful look inside the team’s approach during a dominant 13-2 map victory.
Since the interview was published, the tournament has concluded: Vitality went on to defeat Aurora in the semi-final and MOUZ in the grand final to win ESL Pro League Season 24.
Quick Summary
Player: Shahar “flameZ” Shushan
Team: Vitality
Event: ESL Pro League Season 24
Interview date: October 9, 2026
Context: After Vitality 2-0 PARIVISION
Key theme: Active communication and confidence
Quarter-final: Vitality 2-0 PARIVISION
Inferno: 13-2
Dust2: 13-10
Tournament result: Vitality — 1st place
Location: Katowice, Poland
Confirmation status: Confirmed interview and official match results
What flameZ Said About Vitality’s TeamSpeak
flameZ’s central point was that Vitality become especially difficult to play against when all five players are actively communicating and contributing ideas.
After the PARIVISION quarter-final, he described Inferno as a “pleasure” to play because the communication never stopped. Players were continually announcing movements, suggesting plays and coordinating aggression.
“Every second on TeamSpeak was very alive,” flameZ told HLTV, adding that Vitality believe that when they communicate at that level, “no one can beat us.” 
The statement was not simply about players calling out enemy positions.
flameZ described a more proactive communication model: players telling teammates where they wanted to play, proposing pushes and offering mid-round ideas.
That distinction helps explain what he meant by an “alive” TeamSpeak. In his description, communication becomes a mechanism for generating plays rather than only transmitting information.
flameZ and Vitality: Key Details
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Player | Shahar “flameZ” Shushan |
| Team | Vitality |
| Event | ESL Pro League Season 24 |
| Interview date | October 9, 2026 |
| Interview source | HLTV |
| Interview context | After Vitality vs. PARIVISION |
| Match result | Vitality 2-0 PARIVISION |
| Inferno | Vitality 13-2 |
| Dust2 | Vitality 13-10 |
| flameZ group-stage rating | 1.32 |
| flameZ Inferno rating vs. PARIVISION | 2.30 |
| Next opponent at interview time | Aurora |
| Event result | Vitality won ESL Pro League Season 24 |
| Prize pool | $1,000,000 |
| Event location | Katowice, Poland |
HLTV reported that flameZ entered the playoffs after posting a 1.32 rating during the group stage and then produced a 2.30 rating on Inferno against PARIVISION.
Courage, Not Just Preparation, Is Central to Vitality’s Best Form
One of the more revealing parts of the interview came when flameZ was asked about Vitality’s preparation.
He acknowledged its importance, but argued that preparation alone does not create the team’s highest level.
For flameZ, the additional ingredient is courage.
He explained that Vitality reach their “A game” when players are willing to make plays and take initiative. Even when individual form is not perfect, constant movement can make the team difficult for opponents to read and confront.
That provides important context to his TeamSpeak comments.
The communication flameZ described is not necessarily about increasing the total volume of information. It appears to be about converting information into decisions quickly enough that Vitality can keep changing the round.
Tactical interpretation
This section is analysis rather than a direct claim from Vitality.
Based on flameZ’s description, active communication can potentially support three areas of Vitality’s game:
Faster mid-round adaptation. Players feeding apEX additional ideas can increase the number of options available when the original round plan changes.
More coordinated aggression. A player announcing an intended push or positional change gives teammates an opportunity to react around it rather than discovering the move after it happens.
Greater individual confidence. flameZ specifically connected player input with confidence, suggesting preparation is not entirely top-down.
That does not mean communication alone explains Vitality’s results. Mechanical form, preparation, utility, positioning and opponent-specific factors remain important. But flameZ’s comments identify communication as one of the conditions Vitality themselves associate with their strongest performances.
flameZ’s Role Has Developed Beyond Pure Entry Fragging
The interview also provided insight into flameZ’s development as a communicator.
HLTV noted that flameZ arrived in Vitality with the reputation of a more traditional entry fragger but has become considerably more vocal.
flameZ said talking has always been natural for him, while acknowledging that maintaining communication consistently requires effort.
He explained that Vitality have repeatedly told him they need that vocal contribution from him.
His input can include proposing an idea directly to Dan “apEX” Madesclaire in the middle of a round, encouraging another teammate to make a play or simply keeping information flowing.
That represents a useful distinction when evaluating his importance to Vitality.
His value cannot be measured entirely through kills, ADR or rating if part of his responsibility is helping keep the team’s decision-making environment active.
Who Contributes to Vitality’s Preparation?
flameZ specifically referenced multiple figures when discussing Vitality’s preparation.
| Person | Known position/context | Contribution referenced by flameZ |
|---|---|---|
| Dan “apEX” Madesclaire | IGL | Preparation and in-game decision-making |
| Rémy “XTQZZZ” Quoniam | Coach | Preparation |
| MaT | Team staff | Preparation |
| flameZ | Player | Individual ideas and communication |
| Vitality players | Players | Individual preparation and ideas |
flameZ stressed that players themselves also contribute information and ideas designed to give them confidence inside the server.
This suggests a preparation structure that combines centralized planning with individual input rather than relying entirely on the IGL and coaching staff.
Why the PARIVISION Match Matters to flameZ’s Comments
The timing of the interview is important.
flameZ had just produced an exceptional Inferno as Vitality demolished PARIVISION 13-2 on PARIVISION’s own map selection.
The map initially contained several force-buy exchanges, but after Vitality established a 3-2 advantage and damaged PARIVISION’s economy, the quarter-final rapidly became one-sided.
Vitality won the remaining 10 rounds of the map to finish 13-2. The match page also records notable four-kill rounds from mezii and flameZ during the rout.
PARIVISION responded on Dust2 but could not force Anubis. Vitality won 13-10 to complete the 2-0 series and advance.
That context makes flameZ’s comments more meaningful than a generic statement about teamwork: he was describing the communication environment immediately after Vitality had demonstrated its effect during one of their most dominant maps of the tournament.
Timeline: From EPL Groups to the Title
| Date | Development | Significance |
|---|---|---|
| Oct. 3 | Vitality beat 1win 2-0 | Winning start at EPL S24 |
| Oct. 4 | Vitality beat NAVI 2-1 | Vitality continue through groups |
| Oct. 5 | Vitality beat Falcons 2-1 | Vitality secure playoff progression |
| Oct. 9 | Vitality beat PARIVISION 2-0 | Quarter-final victory |
| Oct. 9 | flameZ discusses Vitality’s communication | TeamSpeak interview published |
| Oct. 10 | Vitality beat Aurora 2-1 | Vitality reach grand final |
| Oct. 11 | Vitality beat MOUZ 3-0 | Vitality win ESL Pro League Season 24 |
Vitality’s tournament record and final placement are confirmed by the completed event and team pages.
Background: flameZ Entered the Playoffs in Strong Form
The PARIVISION performance was not an isolated good map.
HLTV reported that flameZ had averaged a 1.32 rating through the ESL Pro League Season 24 group stage. His form had also put him into the MVP conversation at BLAST Open Rotterdam earlier in the year, while he had collected four EVP recognitions during the first half of 2026.
Against Falcons in the EPL group stage, flameZ produced 47 kills and a 1.23 rating as Vitality recovered from losing Anubis to win Dust2 and Mirage.
His 2.30-rated Inferno against PARIVISION therefore represented the high point of an already strong individual tournament up to that stage.
Why flameZ’s Comments Matter for Vitality
The interview offers a window into an aspect of elite Counter-Strike that conventional statistics struggle to measure.
Ratings can quantify individual performance. Opening statistics can help describe aggression. Utility numbers can measure certain forms of support.
Communication quality is much harder to capture.
flameZ’s comments suggest Vitality internally view constant, confident dialogue as one indicator that the team is operating near its preferred level.
There is also a leadership dimension.
apEX remains the in-game leader, but flameZ’s explanation shows that mid-round information and ideas do not necessarily travel in only one direction. A teammate can offer apEX another option, encourage a play or introduce information that changes how the round develops.
For opponents, that potentially makes Vitality harder to predict because decision-making can remain dynamic after the initial plan has been disrupted.
Tournament Impact
At the moment flameZ gave the interview, Vitality had only secured a semi-final against Aurora.
The significance increased over the following two days.
Vitality defeated Aurora 2-1 in the semi-final and then swept MOUZ 3-0 in the grand final to claim ESL Pro League Season 24. HLTV’s event page lists Vitality first and MOUZ second, with the tournament running October 3-11 in Katowice and featuring a $1 million prize pool.
That subsequent result gives flameZ’s comments additional retrospective value.
His claim about Vitality’s communication was made after the quarter-final, before the team had completed the championship run. It should therefore be understood as an explanation of Vitality’s internal performance conditions rather than a post-title narrative constructed after the result.
Impact Analysis
For flameZ
The interview highlights the continuing expansion of flameZ’s responsibilities.
His aggressive rifling remains central to his identity as a player, but Vitality also expect vocal input from him.
That makes communication consistency an interesting factor to monitor alongside his individual statistics.
For apEX
flameZ’s explanation provides additional context around apEX’s leadership.
Rather than describing an IGL who must generate every mid-round idea himself, flameZ presented a system in which teammates can feed options into the decision-making process.
That potentially gives apEX more information and possible solutions during fast-changing rounds.
For Vitality
The key takeaway is not simply “more communication equals better Counter-Strike.”
The more specific relationship described by flameZ is between communication, movement, confidence and initiative.
When those elements appear together, Vitality believe they are operating close to their best.
The fact that the team subsequently won the tournament does not prove that communication was the decisive cause, but it does make flameZ’s explanation an important piece of context for understanding the championship run.
What Changes Now?
The original interview was published before Vitality’s semi-final against Aurora.
That match is no longer upcoming.
Vitality defeated Aurora 2-1 and then MOUZ 3-0, completing an eight-match winning streak and finishing first at ESL Pro League Season 24. HLTV currently lists no immediate upcoming Vitality match, with PGL Masters Bucharest 2026 appearing as the team’s next listed event, scheduled for October 24-31.
That means the interview can now be viewed as part of the record of Vitality’s EPL championship run rather than merely a preview of their semifinal chances.
What to Watch Next
The next useful test will be whether the communication standard flameZ described carries into Vitality’s following events.
Three areas deserve particular attention.
First is flameZ’s individual form. He entered the EPL playoffs after a 1.32-rated group stage and produced a spectacular Inferno against PARIVISION.
Second is his vocal contribution. Because flameZ himself identified occasional communication inconsistency as something he must avoid, future interviews and team footage may offer more evidence about how his responsibilities continue to develop.
Third is Vitality’s ability to maintain the same proactive style when matches become less comfortable. Their tournament run showed they could recover from difficult positions as well as dominate from ahead.
Related Teams, Players and Events
Vitality: The central team in the interview and the eventual ESL Pro League Season 24 champion.
flameZ: Aggressive rifler whose comments provide the main insight into Vitality’s communication.
apEX: Vitality’s in-game leader and a key recipient of the mid-round ideas flameZ described.
ZywOo: Vitality’s star AWPer and one of the core players in the championship lineup.
ropz and mezii: The remaining members of Vitality’s five-player lineup during EPL Season 24.
XTQZZZ: Vitality coach referenced by flameZ when discussing preparation.
PARIVISION: Vitality’s quarter-final opponent and the match that provided the context for the interview.
Aurora: Vitality’s semifinal opponent immediately after flameZ gave the interview.
MOUZ: Vitality’s grand-final opponent.
ESL Pro League Season 24: The October 3-11 tournament in Katowice that Vitality ultimately won.
Suggested Internal Links
Where corresponding CS2News pages exist, internally link:
- Vitality team page
- flameZ player profile
- apEX player profile
- ZywOo player profile
- ropz player profile
- mezii player profile
- PARIVISION team page
- Aurora team page
- MOUZ team page
- ESL Pro League Season 24 event hub
- Vitality vs. PARIVISION quarter-final report
- Vitality vs. Aurora semi-final report
- Vitality vs. MOUZ grand-final report
FAQ
What did flameZ say about Vitality’s TeamSpeak?
flameZ said Vitality are at their most difficult to beat when communication remains constantly active, with players sharing movements, ideas and potential plays throughout rounds. He described the TeamSpeak during their dominant Inferno against PARIVISION as “very alive.”
Why does flameZ believe communication is so important for Vitality?
According to flameZ, active communication helps players stay mobile, propose ideas and play courageously. He said teammates can also give apEX additional mid-round options and encourage one another to make plays.
How did flameZ perform against PARIVISION?
flameZ recorded a 2.30 rating on Inferno as Vitality won the map 13-2. Vitality subsequently won Dust2 13-10 to complete a 2-0 quarter-final victory.
Did Vitality win ESL Pro League Season 24?
Yes. After beating PARIVISION, Vitality defeated Aurora 2-1 in the semi-final and MOUZ 3-0 in the grand final to finish first at ESL Pro League Season 24.
What is Vitality’s next event?
As of October 12, HLTV lists PGL Masters Bucharest 2026, scheduled for October 24-31, as Vitality’s next event. No upcoming match is currently listed.
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