Lucky backs Vitality’s top billing at CAC — “We’re the favorite, and we’ll try to show it”

Lucky backs Vitality’s top billing at CAC — “We’re the favorite, and we’ll try to show it”

Vitality’s star AWPer, Lucas “Lucky” Chastang, recently shared his confidence heading into the CS Asia Championships 2025: “I think we’re the favorite here, so hopefully we can live up to it.” With multiple trophies under their belt this year, Vitality enters the tournament as one of the most decorated teams — and Lucky believes the pressure of expectation can be a motivating force if managed well. 

Recent form that justifies the hype

Vitality’s tournament CV is stacked in 2025. Prior to CAC, they claimed victories in IEM Chengdu, BLAST Rivals, and several high-stakes regional events. Their trophy haul makes them one of the front-runners, not just in Asia but globally. Lucky’s statement reflects that organizational strength.

Even in domestic qualifiers and online series, Vitality maintained consistency: ZywOo, m0NESY, flameZ, and apEX all contributed to stable results. The roster has balanced firepower, experience, and adaptability, and Lucky sees CAC as another opportunity to reinforce that image.

“Favorite” — a double-edged label

Calling Vitality the favorite acknowledges their pedigree and expectations but also raises stakes. Lucky noted the weight of that title:

“You feel more pressure, yes — but for us, it’s part of being elite. We don’t mind it. We just want to prove it again.”

“Now watching teams try to beat us, it’s a void we have to defend.”

That sentiment resonates with standout teams in CS history: the greater the target, the more imperative maintaining excellence becomes.

Tactical identity & role clarity

Lucky also touched on Vitality’s evolving playstyle in 2025. He sees their strength not in one star overlaying the system, but in role clarity and flexible reads:

• On CT, his goal is to create pressure zones, open angles, and force opponent misreads.

• On T-side, he enjoys having agency over forced duels, leveraging his AWP as both a first-shot anchor and a tempo initiator.

• Communication and mid-round chemistry are key; Vitality’s coaching staff have emphasized clean rotations and information clarity, especially under duress.

Lucky also praised his teammates for their in-match adjustments. He pointed out that Vitality is less reliant on static executes and more comfortable adapting mid-way depending on opponent responses.

Road to the title: responsibilities & challenges

The title path won’t be linear. Vitality are expected to face high-caliber opponents early. The pressure of being the favorite means they’ll seldom get the benefit of the doubt in close rounds. Lucky knows that parity is growing:

“Now every team has deep strategies, and they’ve watched us a lot. We can’t repeat mistakes.”

“Teams will try traps, early aggression — we need to be ready for all styles.”

He also drew attention to mental stability: fatigue, travel, and stage environments can erode small gains. Maintaining composure in sudden death rounds or comeback pushes will test them.

Vitality’s chokepoints — historically — have been weak pistol rounds or over-rotation under pressure. Lucky said:

“Those are the rounds we’ve spent extra hours on — defending, interchanging, capitalizing when they overextend.”

It’s not just firepower that defines champions — it’s how they survive the hand-wringing rounds.

Comparisons, expectations, context

• Lucky’s declaration signals Vitality’s intent: this is not a baseline show; they want to dominate.

• Compared to past events with off-days, Vitality have been smoother in 2025. The consistency is now expected, not praised.

• The statement also plays psychological games: letting other teams see you believe may push opponents to overextend.

CAC’s format (group stage with GSL + playoffs) rewards depth. Vitality’s roster depth means they can absorb hiccups like dropped maps or odd rounds. Lucky’s belief is that they have “permission” to drop a map occasionally — but never the narrative control of a series.

What to watch in Shanghai

1. Early rounds – How Vitality handles pressure in BO1 or opening maps, especially when underdogs fight with nothing to lose.

2. Close rounds – Liked clutch 1v2s, retakes, and late round aggression where Lucky’s AWP tends to shine.

3. Bracket navigation – If Vitality slip to lower bracket, their path lengthens. Maintaining composure through losses is crucial.

4. Opponent adaptation – Teams may try anti-Vitality shifts: avoiding conventional lanes, forcing extra utility. Vitality’s mid-round decision-making will be tested.