Mezii reflects on IEM Chengdu 2025 final: Vitality “had chances on every map” but FURIA were better

Mezii reflects on IEM Chengdu 2025 final: Vitality “had chances on every map” but FURIA were better

British rifler William “mezii” Merriman has shared his thoughts after Team Vitality’s 0–3 defeat to FURIA Esports in the grand final of IEM Chengdu 2025 in CS2.

In a brief post on X (formerly Twitter), mezii noted that Vitality had opportunities on every single map but ultimately “lost to the better team” on the day, writing: “0–3 vs FURIA, ggwp” and congratulating the Brazilian side.

The best-of-five final never reached maps four and five, with all three encounters being closely contested:

Ancient – FURIA 13:11 Vitality

Inferno – FURIA 13:10 Vitality

Overpass – FURIA 13:11 Vitality

Vitality finished in second place, earning $50,000, while FURIA took $125,000 for first place from a $300,000 prize pool. The event ran from 3 to 9 November 2025 in Chengdu, China, featuring 16 teams battling through a group stage and playoffs.

Mezii’s season narrative: from Vitality’s issues to a painful final

Mezii’s post-final comments fit into a larger story he has been telling throughout 2025 about Vitality’s form and internal challenges.

In an HLTV interview from September, he admitted that Vitality’s biggest struggle wasn’t just about results but about their approach: the team had become “less connected,” often relying on individual plays instead of trusting in their trading and teamwork. He emphasized that T-side rounds had become disorganized and that the roster needed to return to solid, fundamentals-driven Counter-Strike.

Speaking shortly before Chengdu, he also discussed the impact of the new CS2 economy, which he believes has made T-sides more punishing, while noting that other teams had used the off-season to deeply anti-strat Vitality’s playbook.

Earlier in the year, during Vitality’s successful run at IEM Cologne 2025, mezii expressed confidence and excitement about the team’s trajectory, saying he wanted to “put UK CS on the map” as part of a dominant international roster.

The Chengdu final, however, brought that arc full circle — Vitality finally reached another major title match but were swept by a FURIA squad in peak form.

Vitality’s reaction: apEX apologizes and looks toward Hong Kong

Dan “apEX” Madesclaire, Vitality’s in-game leader, also addressed the loss on social media. He apologized to fans, called the defeat “very painful,” and promised that the team would keep working hard to bring trophies back home.

The official Team Vitality CS account echoed that sentiment, congratulating FURIA with a simple “gg wp, well deserved” and adding that the team would see everyone next week in Hong Kong for the upcoming BLAST Rivals event.

While mezii focused on missed chances and respect for their opponents, apEX framed the final as a setback in a longer journey — one Vitality intend to correct at their next LAN appearance.

FURIA’s side: molodoy and YEKINDAR on a breakthrough win

On the other side of the stage, FURIA’s players celebrated a landmark victory that many described as their breakthrough on the international scene.

Danil “molodoy” Golubenko, the young Kazakh AWPer, called the win “incredible”, saying it was his first major-event trophy and that he hoped it would be “far from the last.”

Molodoy added that facing a team like Vitality did not intimidate him — he said he feels confident “against any team” when he has the trust of his teammates. He also revealed insights into FURIA’s preparation process, explaining that FalleN and YEKINDAR handle most of the pre-match planning, while the riflers focus on opponent tendencies to ensure the team always knows “how we want to play.”

Molodoy’s performance earned him the MVP medal of IEM Chengdu 2025, his second MVP award of the year, cementing his place as a frontrunner for Rookie of the Year 2025.

Mareks “YEKINDAR” Gaļinskis, FURIA’s new rifler, summarized the win by highlighting the team’s resilience: all three maps were extremely close, and they often “dragged rounds back from completely hopeless positions” to close out the series 3–0.

Analysts described the victory as FURIA’s first true tier-one trophy, showing that the Brazilian organization has evolved from a talented lineup into a legitimate global contender.

How Chengdu fits into Vitality’s 2025 storyline

For Vitality, IEM Chengdu 2025 is another high but painful chapter in a volatile year. The team has oscillated between dominant stretches — such as their multi-trophy run through mid-2024 and a strong showing at IEM Cologne 2025 — and frustrating underperformances this season, particularly on T-sides.

Throughout it all, mezii has been one of the roster’s most candid voices, consistently emphasizing the need for better structure, synergy, and communication over raw firepower.

Chengdu gave Vitality another shot at glory, but despite close scorelines, FURIA’s form — powered by molodoy’s precision and YEKINDAR’s leadership — proved too much to overcome.

Mezii’s brief, humble statement after the match — acknowledging their chances, praising FURIA, and simply saying “ggwp” — sums up both his personality and the team’s current reality: Vitality know they were close, but right now, FURIA have set the new standard.