Vitality Make CS2 History as First Team to Win Two ESL Grand Slams

Team Vitality have officially cemented their legacy in Counter-Strike history by becoming the first team ever to win two ESL Grand Slams, securing the Season 6 title after a dominant 3-0 victory over Spirit in the IEM Rio 2026 grand final.

The win not only delivered another trophy but also unlocked the $1,000,000 Grand Slam prize, reinforcing Vitality’s status as the most dominant roster in the current CS2 era.

Vitality Complete Second Grand Slam Run in Rio

Vitality entered IEM Rio needing just one more ESL Pro Tour title to complete their Grand Slam run — and they wasted no time delivering.

Their Season 6 campaign included victories at:

IEM Dallas 2025

ESL Pro League Season 22

IEM Krakow 2026

IEM Rio 2026

By closing the race in Rio, Vitality completed the achievement within four events, one of the most efficient Grand Slam runs to date.

First Team in History to Win Two Grand Slams

This milestone sets Vitality apart from every other team since the Grand Slam’s introduction in 2017.

Their first Grand Slam was completed at IEM Melbourne 2025, following wins at:

IEM Cologne 2024

IEM Katowice 2025

ESL Pro League Season 21

IEM Melbourne 2025

Winning two Grand Slams in back-to-back cycles is an unprecedented accomplishment, confirming Vitality’s era-defining dominance in CS2.

ropz Becomes Most Decorated Grand Slam Player

The Rio victory also pushed Robin “ropz” Kool into the record books as the only player to win three ESL Grand Slam titles, making him the most successful individual in the history of the competition.

apEX and ZywOo React to Historic Win

Vitality captain Dan “apEX” Madesclaire emphasized the team’s relentless work ethic after the final:

“The secret is to work hard, to always be one step ahead and to have these amazing guys.”

Despite the clean sweep, apEX admitted the team still strives for perfection:

“I want us to be perfect all the time. But I’m proud of them, they played insanely well.”

Superstar Mathieu “ZywOo” Herbaut highlighted how surreal the achievement feels:

“It’s incredible… now we’re winning two Grand Slams. We cannot believe how we are playing.”

He also pointed out that securing the title early helps reduce pressure ahead of upcoming events:

“Less pressure for Cologne… we just want to keep going in this way.”

Dominant IEM Rio 2026 Grand Final Performance

Vitality’s 3-0 sweep against Spirit showcased their peak form. What was expected to be a competitive final turned into another statement victory, as Vitality secured their fourth trophy of 2026.

Spirit player Boris “magixx” Vorobiev had previously joked about hoping to “win at least a map,” but Vitality left no room for resistance.

ESL Grand Slam Format and Legacy

The ESL Grand Slam requires teams to win four top-tier ESL events within a span of ten tournaments, including at least one elite championship-level event such as:

IEM Katowice

IEM Cologne

ESL-operated Majors

Despite changes in sponsorship, ESL confirmed the continuation of the Grand Slam format, maintaining its status as one of the most prestigious achievements in Counter-Strike.

Vitality Era: What Comes Next?

With two Grand Slams, multiple S-tier trophies, and unmatched consistency, Vitality are now widely considered one of the greatest teams in Counter-Strike history.

However, the team shows no signs of slowing down.

As ZywOo put it:

“We won four trophies already this year… and we feel like we cannot stop.”

All eyes now turn to IEM Cologne 2026, where Vitality will aim to extend their dominance even further.