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A comeback for the ages sees the French powerhouse edge out MOUZ once again.

Revenge Served Hot in Chengdu

Team Vitality have booked their spot in yet another grand final, taking down MOUZ 2-1 in a thrilling semi-final at IEM Chengdu 2025. The French-led squad turned the tables on their rivals after suffering a loss to them earlier in the group stage, securing a much-needed revenge victory to claim their 10th grand final appearance of the year.

The match was every bit the blockbuster fans expected. Both sides have developed one of Counter-Strike’s most intense rivalries throughout 2025, meeting ten times this year alone. While Vitality dominated early in the season, MOUZ had clawed their way back in recent months, including a win at IEM Cologne that ended Vitality’s hot streak.

After the Chengdu clash, Shahar “flameZ” Shushan summed it up best:

“We worked a lot to beat them, to get revenge for the group stage, and now this means that their win in the group stage is quite nothing. It makes us happy.”

A Nuke Comeback to Remember

The series kicked off on Nuke, and it looked like MOUZ had the upper hand early on, racing to a 12-4 lead. But in true Vitality fashion, Mathieu “ZywOo” Herbaut switched into overdrive. The French superstar dropped 30 kills, including two incredible quad-kills that sparked an 11-round run to flip the script.

Alongside captain Dan “apEX” Madesclaire, ZywOo led one of the most remarkable comebacks of the season, with Vitality closing out the opener 16-13.

MOUZ Respond on Train

MOUZ refused to back down and found their rhythm on Train. Down 4-8 at the half, Ludvig “Brollan” Brolin rallied his team, calling their CT side “the best in the world”, and he wasn’t wrong. The squad tightened up defensively, shutting down Vitality’s pushes and taking the map 13-11 to even the series.

The win showed MOUZ’s resilience, with Jimi “Jimpphat” Salo and Dorian “xertioN” Berman putting up key multi-kill rounds to keep the dream alive.

Inferno Decider Brings the Chaos

It all came down to Inferno, and both teams came out swinging. Every round felt like a chess match, filled with counter-strats and unpredictable plays. MOUZ’s xertioN looked unstoppable on Banana, stringing together a four-round streak that nearly broke Vitality’s economy late in the game.

But Vitality didn’t flinch. apEX called the perfect stack and bait setup to snatch back control, while ZywOo landed a devastating collateral shot that sealed MOUZ’s fate. The final map ended 13-10, sending Vitality roaring into the grand final.

Star Performances

Vitality’s star trio led the way:

  • ZywOo – 63 kills, 1.39 rating
  • ropz – 59 kills, 1.40 rating
  • flameZ – 56 kills, 1.21 rating

Meanwhile, MOUZ’s xertioN fought valiantly with 52 kills, but it wasn’t enough to stop Vitality’s late surge.

Grand Final Awaits

With this win, Team Vitality advance to the IEM Chengdu 2025 Grand Final, where they’ll face the winner of Falcons vs FURIA. The championship match is set for Sunday, November 9, and fans can expect another high-octane showdown as Vitality look to cap off their dominant year with another trophy.