Ropz: flameZ Was as Good as donk — Maybe Better — in Early 2026

Robin “ropz” Kool has doubled down on his praise for flameZ, arguing that the Team Vitality rifler’s level during the opening months of 2026 was comparable to — and potentially even higher than — that of Team Spirit superstar donk.

The comment revisits a comparison ropz made earlier in the season and puts Shahar “flameZ” Shushan’s explosive start to 2026 back into focus. According to ropz, the argument was supported not only by individual performance, but also by Vitality’s results during that period.

 

Quick Summary

Key point	Details
Main player	flameZ
Speaker	Robin “ropz” Kool
Team	Team Vitality
Comparison	Danil “donk” Kryshkovets
Period discussed	First months of 2026
ropz’s position	flameZ was at least comparable to donk and possibly better during that period
flameZ’s best cited 2026 event	BLAST Open Spring 2026 — 1.44 rating
Current three-month ratings cited by Cybersport.ru	flameZ 1.08; donk 1.41
Next shared Tier-1 event	ESL Pro League Season 24
Event dates	October 3–11, 2026
Location	Katowice, Poland
Prize pool	$1 million

 

What Did ropz Say About flameZ?

flameZ and ropz have become key pieces of Team Vitality’s firepower, with ropz highlighting his teammate’s exceptional form during the opening months of 2026.

 

The discussion originates from comments made by ropz on Team Vitality’s YouTube channel.

The Estonian star explained why he had previously placed flameZ above donk during the early part of 2026.

“I think flameZ had a really good start to the year.”

Ropz went on to say that, in his view, flameZ’s form over the first few months was “not worse than donk’s, maybe even better.” He pointed to statistics, Vitality’s team results and flameZ’s individual level as the reasons behind that assessment.

The key detail is the timeframe.

Ropz is not claiming that flameZ is currently outperforming donk in September 2026. His comments specifically refer to the opening months of the season.

That distinction matters because the players’ more recent numbers tell a different story.

At the time of publication, flameZ held a 1.08 rating across the previous three months, while donk was at 1.41 over the corresponding period.

 

flameZ discusses Vitality’s form, his role in the lineup and the importance of communication during the Cologne Major 2026.

 

Why flameZ’s Early-2026 Form Stood Out

Ropz’s latest comments are consistent with what he was saying publicly during flameZ’s strongest stretch.

Earlier in 2026, after Vitality defeated Aurora to reach a grand final, ropz described flameZ as an aggressive rifler whose successful opening moves created substantial space for the rest of the lineup.

At that point, ropz went even further, saying:

“I think flameZ is probably above donk at this point.”

He emphasized how much easier his own lurker role became when flameZ and ZywOo were consistently producing high-impact rounds.

That earlier interview is important context: the September statement is not an isolated comparison created months after the fact. Ropz was already making essentially the same argument while flameZ was producing those performances.

 

flameZ vs donk: The Historical Context

donk remains the benchmark in ropz’s comparison, with the Team Spirit star providing the reference point for just how strong flameZ’s early-2026 level appeared.

 

Comparisons between flameZ and donk require some nuance because the two players can generate impact in different team environments.

Donk has established himself as one of Counter-Strike’s defining aggressive riflers, while flameZ has long performed an aggressive, space-creating function within Vitality.

The comparison became especially relevant after ropz joined Vitality.

During the 2025 season, flameZ described himself as a player willing to entry, sacrifice and rely on teammates to convert the space he created. He also explained that ropz’s communication made positional adjustments easier following the Estonian’s arrival.

By 2026, the combination of flameZ’s aggression with the firepower elsewhere in Vitality had become a major part of the team’s attacking potential.

 

Key Details

Detail	Status
Player discussed	Shahar “flameZ” Shushan
Team	Team Vitality
Player making comparison	Robin “ropz” Kool
Comparison player	Danil “donk” Kryshkovets
donk’s team	Team Spirit
Original strong ropz comparison	March 2026
Latest comments reported	September 28, 2026
Period ropz evaluates	Opening months of 2026
flameZ’s best event cited by source	BLAST Open Spring 2026
Rating at that event	1.44
Current three-month flameZ rating cited	1.08
Current three-month donk rating cited	1.41
Next Tier-1 event featuring both teams	ESL Pro League Season 24

The 1.44 BLAST Open Spring figure and three-month ratings above are those reported by Cybersport.ru. They should not be interpreted as a complete statistical comparison of flameZ and donk across all of 2026.

 

Timeline: How the flameZ–donk Comparison Developed

Date / period	Development
Early 2025	flameZ adjusts following ropz’s arrival at Vitality and discusses how the new teammate affects his positions.
2025 season	flameZ finishes No. 7 in HLTV’s Top 20 players of 2025 after Vitality’s highly successful year.
Early 2026	flameZ enters the form period that later becomes the basis of ropz’s comparison with donk.
March 2026	ropz publicly says flameZ may be above donk at that point.
BLAST Open Spring 2026	Cybersport.ru identifies this as flameZ’s best tournament of 2026, reporting a 1.44 rating.
September 17, 2026	flameZ says Vitality believe they can return to their best level and still believe in their roster.
September 28, 2026	ropz reiterates that flameZ’s early-year form was comparable to, or possibly better than, donk’s.
October 3–11, 2026	Vitality and Spirit are scheduled to attend ESL Pro League Season 24 in Katowice.

 

Tactical Impact: Why an In-Form flameZ Changes Vitality

The importance of flameZ goes beyond his raw rating.

His aggressive tendencies can create opening opportunities and space for Vitality’s other stars. Ropz specifically highlighted that effect earlier in 2026, saying flameZ was generating openings and successful aggressive moves that made the game easier for teammates.

That creates a particularly difficult structure for opponents.

When flameZ is consistently winning early fights, defenses have to spend additional resources controlling his aggression. Meanwhile, Vitality still have ZywOo and ropz available to punish rotations, late-round gaps and disadvantaged defensive setups.

This is tactical analysis rather than a statistical claim: flameZ does not need to outperform every teammate in every category for his aggression to have structural value.

 

Why Ropz’s Comparison Matters

There are three reasons the statement is notable.

First, it comes from a player who works directly alongside flameZ. Ropz sees the communication, spacing and decision-making that are difficult to capture through a scoreboard alone.

Second, ropz made a similar claim during the actual period being discussed. His September comments therefore reinforce a view he expressed in March rather than rewriting the narrative after the fact.

Third, donk provides an exceptionally demanding benchmark. Putting another aggressive rifler into the same conversation naturally raises the standard by which that player’s form will be evaluated.

The comparison should still be treated as ropz’s assessment, not as an objective conclusion that flameZ was definitively the superior player.

 

The Current Picture Is Different

The latest numbers cited in the original report show why separating peak form from current form is essential.

Cybersport.ru listed flameZ at 1.08 over the previous three months and donk at 1.41.

Those figures do not invalidate ropz’s statement because they cover a later period than the one he was describing.

Instead, they turn the story into a more interesting question heading into the final months of 2026: can flameZ return to the level that prompted the comparison in the first place?

FlameZ himself recently expressed confidence that Vitality can rediscover their best form, saying the team still believes in its lineup despite its more difficult period.

 

Tournament Impact: ESL Pro League Season 24 Is the Next Test

The next major reference point arrives quickly.

Both Vitality and Spirit are confirmed for ESL Pro League Season 24, scheduled for October 3–11 in Katowice, Poland.

HLTV lists 16 teams and a $1 million prize pool, with a Swiss group stage followed by an eight-team playoff bracket. The Spodek Arena will host the playoffs from October 9–11.

The confirmed field includes Vitality, Spirit, Falcons, MOUZ, G2, FURIA, NAVI and other international contenders.

A direct Vitality–Spirit match is not guaranteed, so a flameZ-versus-donk head-to-head should not be presented as confirmed.

However, the presence of both teams at the same Tier-1 LAN gives the comparison an immediate competitive backdrop.

 

What Changes Now?

Nothing about ropz’s statement represents a roster move or official competitive change.

Instead, the comments provide context for how Vitality internally viewed flameZ’s peak early in the year.

For flameZ, the challenge is now consistency. His early-2026 ceiling has already been recognized publicly by one of his teammates; the next step is demonstrating that level again against elite opposition.

For Vitality, improved individual form from flameZ could have wider consequences because of the aggressive space he creates for the lineup.

 

What to Watch Next

flameZ’s individual form: ESL Pro League Season 24 offers another opportunity to measure whether his late-season trajectory is moving back toward his early-2026 level.

Vitality’s overall recovery: flameZ recently said the roster believes it can regain its best form. EPL S24 will provide another major LAN test of that claim.

donk’s continued performance: the three-month figure cited by Cybersport.ru strongly favors donk entering the event, making his current form an important reference point.

A possible Vitality vs Spirit meeting: both teams are attending EPL S24, but their tournament paths will determine whether flameZ and donk actually face each other.

 

FAQ

What did ropz say about flameZ?

Ropz said flameZ’s form during the first few months of 2026 was, in his opinion, no worse than donk’s and perhaps even better. He cited individual level, statistics and Vitality’s results as reasons for that view.

Did ropz say flameZ is currently better than donk?

No. The latest statement specifically concerns flameZ’s form during the opening months of 2026. Cybersport.ru reported much stronger recent three-month numbers for donk at the time the article was published.

What was flameZ’s best tournament of 2026?

According to Cybersport.ru, his best event of 2026 at the time of publication was BLAST Open Spring 2026, where he recorded a 1.44 rating.

When could flameZ and donk play at the same tournament again?

Both Vitality and Spirit are confirmed for ESL Pro League Season 24 in Katowice from October 3–11, 2026. A direct match between them is not guaranteed.

What role does flameZ play for Vitality?

FlameZ is an aggressive rifler. Earlier interviews show him describing his willingness to entry and sacrifice, while ropz has emphasized his ability to secure openings and create space.