ZywOo: “We Cannot Stop” — Vitality Dominate 2026 with Fourth Trophy and Second Grand Slam

Team Team Vitality continue their historic run in Counter-Strike 2 after winning IEM Rio 2026, securing their fourth trophy of the year and becoming the first team ever to claim two ESL Grand Slam titles.

At the center of it all is Mathieu 'ZywOo' Herbaut, who once again proved why he remains one of the greatest players in Counter-Strike history.

Vitality Extend Era of Dominance in 2026

Vitality defeated Team Spirit 3–0 in the IEM Rio grand final, closing out another flawless playoff run. On their way to the title, they also eliminated Natus Vincere and FURIA, showcasing complete control across all stages of the event.

This victory adds to an already stacked 2026 trophy cabinet:

IEM Kraków 2026

PGL Cluj-Napoca 2026

BLAST Open Rotterdam 2026

IEM Rio 2026

With four Tier-1 titles in just a few months, Vitality are firmly establishing one of the most dominant eras in CS history.

ZywOo: “We Feel Like We Cannot Stop”

After lifting the trophy, ZywOo reflected on the team’s incredible momentum:

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

He admitted the streak feels unusual even for the players themselves:

“It’s pretty weird… but we’re just so good together.”

ZywOo emphasized that Vitality’s success goes beyond skill, highlighting team chemistry as a key factor:

“We are so good as humans together.”

Second ESL Grand Slam Secures Historic Status

By winning IEM Rio, Vitality also completed another ESL Grand Slam — a $1,000,000 achievement awarded for winning multiple top-tier ESL events.

This milestone makes them:

The first team in history to win two Grand Slams

One of the most successful lineups ever in modern Counter-Strike

ZywOo noted that completing the Grand Slam early removes pressure for upcoming events like Cologne, allowing the team to focus purely on winning more trophies.

ZywOo Claims 31st Career MVP

ZywOo’s individual performance in Rio earned him the HLTV MVP medal — the 31st of his career.

His impact included:

Dominant AWP performances

Consistent opening kills

High playoff ratings against elite teams

Despite his personal success, ZywOo kept the focus on the team:

“When my teammates perform, I’m happy — it means we win.”

Vitality’s Winning Mentality: Team Over Individual

Vitality’s dominance is not just about ZywOo. Players like Robin 'ropz' Kool and Shahar 'flameZ' Shushan have also played crucial roles.

ropz previously stated:

“Winning every game… that’s an incredible feeling.”

Meanwhile, flameZ made it clear that trophies matter more than rankings:

“The trophies speak for themselves.”

He also highlighted the team’s long-term ambition:

“We want no debate — we want people to clearly say this Vitality era was better.”

Minor Setback, Strong Response

Vitality’s Rio campaign wasn’t completely flawless. The team briefly stumbled in the group stage, losing a map to G2 Esports and ending a 24-map win streak.

However, they quickly recovered and dominated the playoffs, proving their resilience and championship mentality.

Are Vitality Building the Greatest Era in CS History?

After being named HLTV’s Team of the Year 2025 and now dominating 2026, Vitality are entering conversations about the greatest eras in Counter-Strike.

Key arguments include:

Back-to-back elite seasons

Multiple Tier-1 trophies in short time

Two ESL Grand Slams

Consistent MVP performances from ZywOo

With no signs of slowing down, the question is no longer whether Vitality are great — but how far they can go.

What’s Next for Vitality?

With IEM Cologne approaching, Vitality have:

No Grand Slam pressure

Peak form across the roster

Confidence from a historic win streak

ZywOo summed it up best — this team isn’t thinking about stopping anytime soon.