Vitality Clinch Playoff Spot After Stunning 2v5 Retake Against TYLOO

Vitality Clinch Playoff Spot After Stunning 2v5 Retake Against TYLOO

Vitality kept their BLAST Rivals title defence alive in dramatic fashion, overturning a 2v5 deficit on Inferno to defeat TYLOO 2–1 (13–2 Overpass, 4–13 Nuke, 13–11 Inferno) and secure a playoff berth in Group B in Hong Kong. The victory also sets up a seeding rematch against FURIA, just days after Vitality’s loss to the Brazilians in the IEM Chengdu grand final.

The Round That Broke TYLOO

On the deciding map, TYLOO were moments away from a major upset. Leading 11–10 with Vitality’s economy in ruins, YuanZhang “Attacker” Sheng burst up Banana with a triple entry that should have put his team up 12–10.

Instead, Robin “ropz” Kool and Mathieu “ZywOo” Herbaut turned the round on its head. Initially preparing to save, they doubled back into a 2v5 retake on B, capitalizing on TYLOO’s over-aggression and poorly coordinated flashes.

After the match, ropz acknowledged how devastating that moment would be for their opponents:

“If you're TYLOO, you will go back and you will really regret what happened in that round… it was a clear two on five on the B site and they should win it.”

He added that Vitality were unsure about attempting the retake at all until ZywOo found an opening kill from Ruins, after which TYLOO “overstepped a bit,” giving Vitality the chance to steal the round — and eventually, the match.

That single misplay shifted the momentum entirely. Instead of TYLOO extending their lead, Vitality equalized, stabilized their economy, and pushed through to a 13–11 finish to claim the final playoff slot.

A Shaky Showing From the World No. 1

Although they advanced, Vitality’s performance was far from flawless.

Overpass (13–2 Vitality): The favourites dominated the opening map, with a key 3v5 conversion by Shahar “flameZ” Shushan showcasing their firepower.

Nuke (13–4 TYLOO): Momentum flipped completely as TYLOO dismantled Vitality. During a timeout, Dan “apEX” Madesclaire was caught telling his team, “we are trolling right now, I swear,” as the squad struggled to find rhythm.

Inferno (13–11 Vitality): Even the decider was marred by miscommunication and overpeeks, including a moment where apEX was left alone on B during an anti-force, creating a near-impossible retake.

Despite the inconsistencies, Vitality’s stars delivered when it counted. ropz topped the server with a 1.39 rating, while ZywOo and William “mezii” Merriman secured crucial multikills to drag their team over the line. The performance was a strong recovery for ropz, who had struggled in the Chengdu final against FURIA.

TYLOO’s Highs and Lows

TYLOO’s aggressive, confident playstyle — a key part of their resurgence in 2025 — was on full display.

Yi “JamYoung” Yang led the team in impact, posting 85 ADR across the series.

Dongkai “Jee” Ji delivered 50 kills, including a standout four-kill hold on Inferno’s A site.

However, long-standing issues resurfaced at the worst possible moments. In previous interviews, Jee admitted the team struggled with mentality and late-round decisions after their FISSURE Playground 1 victory. Those same concerns — overextending in advantages and losing composure in closing rounds — directly contributed to their collapse in the infamous 2v5.

Jee has previously set big goals for the roster, stating:

“I want to be in the top 10… 2018 was the best TYLOO… In 2025 we want to be higher.”

JamYoung has also spoken about wanting to elevate Chinese Counter-Strike as a whole, hoping TYLOO’s progress will inspire new players and organisations domestically.

Their near-upset of Vitality supported that vision — but failing to close the decisive round will remain a painful lesson.

The State of BLAST Rivals Season 2

BLAST Rivals 2025 Season 2 in Hong Kong serves as the last major event before the Budapest Winter Major. The tournament features eight teams across two double-elimination groups, with matches held at the 12,500-seat AsiaWorld–Arena in Chek Lap Kok.

Group B Lineup:

Vitality (world No. 1, defending BLAST Rivals champions)

FURIA (world No. 2, IEM Chengdu champions)

paiN

TYLOO

FURIA also survived a tough opener, recovering from a 10–7 deficit on Mirage to beat paiN 2–1. After the match, YEKINDAR admitted the team may have entered the game “too relaxed,” noting that with three trophies already this year, “everyone is super motivated to beat us.”

That victory pushed FURIA into a seeding match that was widely expected to become a rematch of the IEM Chengdu final — something now confirmed by Vitality’s comeback win over TYLOO.

For Vitality, Hong Kong represents a chance for revenge and an opportunity to regain stability. For TYLOO, the road becomes more difficult. Their performance showed growth, but the difference between potential and playoffs was summed up in one disastrous round on Inferno.