Vitality’s Asian stretch, flameZ’s form and the road to the Major

Vitality’s Asian stretch, flameZ’s form and the road to the Major
In a recent episode of HLTV Confirmed, Vitality’s entry-fragger flameZ joined hosts Zvonimir “Professeur” Burazin and Milan “Striker” Švejda to reflect on a pivotal phase of the team’s year: the two-week Asian swing and their build-up towards the 2025 Major. 

A two-legged Asian stretch
Vitality recently completed a stretch of competitive action in Asia, which featured two major stops: the IEM Chengdu 2025 event in China followed by the BLAST Premier Rivals Season 2 2025 tournament in Hong Kong. 

• At IEM Chengdu 2025, Vitality advanced to the grand final, defeating MOUZ 2-1 in the semifinal.

• In the Hong Kong event, the tournament was part of the “Asia swing” for the global CS2 circuit, with Vitality among the top-tier invites.

flameZ on his form & the team’s outlook
During the broadcast, flameZ addressed several themes:

• His own individual form and contributions to Vitality’s momentum.

• The broader narrative of Vitality breaking their trophy drought and returning to consistent podium-finishes.

• Reflections on the two Asian tournaments — Chengdu and Hong Kong — as crucial steps in their seasonal arc.

• And importantly, how all of this is tied to their preparations for the next Major event, highlighting their goals and expectations.

Major preparation in focus
Vitality are leveraging this Asian tour as both a proving ground and a tuning phase ahead of the forthcoming Major. flameZ remarked that the team is treating these events not just as standalone tournaments but as key preparation for the most important event of the season. 

The show also referenced broader topics such as:

• The release of the Major roster and the “Pick ’Em” mode for fans.

• The concept of “setting the stage (1)” — essentially Vitality positioning themselves early for the Major.

What this means moving forward
From the information available:

• Vitality appear to be in a strong competitive rhythm, with flameZ at the heart of their active form.

• Their Asian tours serve both competitive investment (earning points, trophies) and strategic build-up for the Major.

• The upcoming Major is actively shaping how they operate now: how they choose events, manage form, and aim for optimal readiness.

• Given the high calibre of opponents (e.g., from FURIA to other top teams in Asia) and the dense schedule, this is a demanding stretch — but one they view as necessary.

Final thoughts
Vitality’s itinerary in Asia is more than just travel and tournaments; it’s a deliberate phase in their overall campaign. With flameZ providing input on performance and mindset, the team is aligning event results, practice, and Major ambition in a coherent strategy. If they can carry this momentum forward, they will arrive at the Major with both competitive sharpness and confidence.