ZywOo Wins IEM Rio 2026 MVP as Vitality Secure Second Grand Slam

ZywOo Dominates IEM Rio 2026 to Secure MVP Award

Mathieu 'ZywOo' Herbaut once again proved why he is considered the best player in Counter-Strike, winning the MVP award at IEM Rio 2026 after a dominant performance throughout the tournament.

The French superstar delivered outstanding numbers in the playoffs, averaging a 1.56 rating across seven maps, including a massive 2.53 rating against Natus Vincere in the quarter-finals. Over the course of the 2026 season, he maintained a 1.42 rating, further strengthening his position in the race for Player of the Year.

This marks ZywOo’s third MVP medal of 2026, continuing his incredible consistency at the top level of CS2.

Vitality Sweep Spirit to Win IEM Rio 2026

Team Vitality capped off their tournament run with a convincing 3-0 victory over Team Spirit in the grand final.

Prize money: $295,000

Fourth trophy of 2026

Second ESL Grand Slam secured

With this win, Vitality became the first team in Counter-Strike history to win two Grand Slams, cementing their legacy as one of the most dominant lineups in the CS2 era.

A Historic Grand Slam Run

Heading into Rio, Vitality needed just one more ESL title to complete their second Grand Slam, following victories at:

IEM Dallas 2025

ESL Pro League Season 22

IEM Krakow 2026

Team captain Dan 'apEX' Madesclaire had previously stated that the team’s main goal was clear:

“We want to win the Grand Slam.”

Vitality delivered exactly that on the big stage in Brazil.

Not a Perfect Run — But a Champion’s Response

Despite their dominance, Vitality faced challenges during the tournament. Their 24-map winning streak ended during a close series against G2 Esports.

However, the team showed resilience, extending their series win streak to 18 and quickly regaining control of the event.

ZywOo Reacts After MVP Victory

Following the final, ZywOo reflected on both his performance and the team’s unstoppable momentum:

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

He also admitted that missing the MVP at BLAST Open Rotterdam to teammate Robin 'ropz' Kool “hurt a bit,” making the Rio MVP even more meaningful.

Vitality Players Confident Amid Era of Dominance

Vitality’s confidence has been evident throughout the season.

Ropz previously sent a strong message toward rivals Natus Vincere:

“We’re going to show them that they can’t beat us.”

Meanwhile, Shahar 'flameZ' Shushan emphasized the team-first mentality:

“The trophies speak for themselves.”

Spirit Expected a Tough Fight in the Final

Even before the grand final, Boris 'magixx' Vorobiev from Team Spirit acknowledged the challenge:

“Maybe we can win a map… but we might still get humbled.”

Vitality ultimately denied Spirit any maps, underlining the gap between the teams.

More Records for Vitality and ropz

The Rio victory also marked a historic milestone for ropz, who became the first player to win three ESL Grand Slams, surpassing Russel 'Twistzz' Van Dulken.

ZywOo Leads the CS2 Era

With another MVP title, ZywOo continues to define the current CS2 era. His performance in Rio was not just statistically dominant—it was decisive in securing yet another trophy for Vitality.

At this point, when ZywOo reaches this level, the rest of the competition is often left fighting for second place.

Conclusion

IEM Rio 2026 will be remembered not only for Vitality’s historic second Grand Slam, but also for ZywOo’s continued brilliance. As the 2026 season progresses, both the player and the team show no signs of slowing down.