PARIVISION Coach dastan on Loss to Vitality: “Late-Round Play Is the Key” at BLAST Open Rotterdam 2026

PARIVISION head coach Dastan “dastan” Akbaev shared his thoughts after the team’s 0-2 loss to Team Vitality in the upper bracket final of BLAST Open Rotterdam 2026.

Vitality secured the series with wins on Mirage (13-9) and Inferno (16-12), advancing directly to the semi-finals. PARIVISION, meanwhile, dropped to the quarter-finals but remained in contention for the title.

Despite the scoreline, the series was far more competitive than it looked, especially on Inferno, which went into overtime.

dastan: “Late-rounds decide everything”

According to dastan, the key difference between the teams came down to performance in high-pressure situations.

“Clutches, small details... We also won some rounds like that. But late-round play is extremely important. That’s the area where you need constant improvement.”

He emphasized that closing rounds, converting advantages, and handling chaotic situations remain critical weaknesses for PARIVISION.

“You have to convert 5v3 situations and win clutches. Vitality are very strong in this — especially because ZywOo and ropz play the ends of rounds extremely well.”

ZywOo’s brilliance and Vitality’s clutch factor

One of the defining moments of the match came on Inferno, where Mathieu “ZywOo” Herbaut delivered a stunning 1v5 clutch in overtime, effectively sealing the map for Vitality.

The French superstar finished as the top performer of the series, once again proving why he is considered one of the best CS2 players in the world.

Vitality’s ability to win seemingly unwinnable rounds perfectly illustrates dastan’s point — elite teams consistently deliver in late-round scenarios.

Clear progress compared to previous events

Despite the loss, dastan noted clear improvement compared to earlier performances, particularly referencing PARIVISION’s struggles at PGL Cluj-Napoca 2026, where they lost more decisively.

“It’s still a bit sad that we lost. There was a chance. But overall, we played better than in Cluj.”

This progression highlights the team’s growing competitiveness against top-tier opponents like Vitality.

PARIVISION’s rising form in CS2 scene

PARIVISION entered the match in strong form after defeating Team Spirit 2-0 to secure a playoff spot.

Their rapid development has already drawn attention within the CS2 scene. Earlier, team leader Jame described the roster’s rise as:

“Some sort of miracle… players who started from nothing are now competing against the best teams in the world.”

Additionally, player BELCHONOKK previously revealed the intensity of the team’s practice environment:

“dastan puts more pressure on us than the Major.”

These insights underline a disciplined system that continues to push the team forward.

What’s next at BLAST Open Rotterdam 2026

With this victory, Team Vitality secured a direct semi-final berth, strengthening their position as one of the tournament favorites.

PARIVISION move to the quarter-finals, where they will face Falcons in a crucial elimination match.

The BLAST Open Rotterdam 2026 event runs from March 18–29, featuring 16 teams and a prize pool of $1.1 million, making it one of the biggest CS2 tournaments of the year.