HLTV Confirmed with NBK-: Spirit’s Momentum, Vitality’s Red Flags, Major Qualification Race, and EWC Preview

HLTV Confirmed with NBK-: Spirit’s Momentum, Vitality’s Red Flags, Major Qualification Race, and EWC Preview

On the latest episode of HLTV Confirmed, airing today (August 18, 2025), hosts Milan "Striker" Švejda and Zvonimir "Professeur" Burazin are joined by two-time Major champion Nathan “NBK‑” Schmitt. With Chad “SPUNJ” Burchill absent due to travel to the upcoming Esports World Cup, the trio dives into key storylines shaking up the CS:2 scene.

Spirit’s Hot Streak Continues

Spirit have powered through with an impressive run—claiming back-to-back tournament victories. They began with triumphs at IEM Cologne and sealed the BLAST Bounty Season 2 Finals by sweeping The MongolZ 3–0 in Malta.

The team is showing depth beyond veteran Myroslav “zont1x” Plakhotia, who was honoured by lifting the trophy first before his anticipated replacement by Andrey “tN1R” Tatarinovich post-Esports World Cup. Meanwhile, rising star Ivan “zweih” Gogin delivers an outstanding performance in Malta, especially on Mirage; Danil “donk” Kryshkovets adds another MVP to his resume, making the race for world’s best even more exciting.

“We didn’t face Vitality, and we need to beat them to become the best team in the world,” said donk—highlighting Spirit’s growing ambition.

Vitality Facing Trouble

Robin “ropz” Kool didn’t hold back, calling Vitality’s recent performances a “red flag.” While they still sit at rank #1 in the world, cracks are showing.

Even so, Vitality remains a powerhouse: the lineup of apEX, ropz, ZywOo, flameZ, and mezii continues to claim top-tier LAN results, including multiple victories throughout the summer.

Major Spots: The Clock is Ticking

With the Major qualification deadline just a month and a half away, the discussion turns to the teams vying for spots. Which squads—such as Aurora, Virtus.pro, Astralis, and Liquid—are in contention to secure tickets to the big event?

Preview of the Esports World Cup (EWC)

The episode wraps with a closer look at the $1.25 million Esports World Cup in Saudi Arabia. They break down the overall standings, upcoming single-elimination pressure, and the potential burden on the Falcons—who may face triple the pressure heading into the international event.