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Team Vitality’s dominant run earlier this year is starting to feel like a distant memory. After lifting seven trophies in the first half of 2025, including the prestigious IEM Grand Slam, the French powerhouse have now stumbled in back-to-back tournaments. Their latest setback came at the BLAST Bounty Season 2 Finals, where they were knocked out 2–0 in the semi-finals by The MongolZ.

In an official post-match interview with HLTV, Estonian star rifler Robin “ropz” Kool admitted the team’s form is slipping.

“The games here are definitely a red flag. We’re not playing like we used to,” ropz said.

Vitality looked shaky even before their elimination, nearly dropping their quarter-final clash against Liquid. According to ropz, small mistakes, poor trades, and a lack of sharpness have been the difference between the unstoppable Vitality of early 2025 and the current version struggling to finish strong.

“We just need to step up in terms of everything,” he explained. “Even when we’re not on our A-game, we need to find ways to bounce back. Right now, that’s not happening.”

Familiar Rivals, Familiar Struggles

Vitality have been facing the same top teams repeatedly this season, MOUZ, The MongolZ, and Liquid, and opponents now seem better prepared.

Ropz admitted The MongolZ played with hunger and confidence:

“They started Inferno with a bang. They were really good individually. It was hard to even get trades.”

While Vitality showed fight with a late comeback attempt, The MongolZ held firm and closed out the series 2–0.

A Team Out of Sync

Fans watching noticed something off too. Some pointed out that Vitality’s chemistry seemed missing compared to earlier in the year. On YouTube and social media, supporters said the squad felt “disjointed” and that their losses didn’t feel like the Vitality that once dominated the CS2 scene.

Even so, ropz is confident the team will reset and bounce back at the Esports World Cup, the next big tournament on their calendar.

“It’s just two tournaments. It could be a flash in the pan. We still have good form and what it takes.”

The Stake Sponsorship Debate

Alongside the discussion about form, Vitality’s new sponsorship deal with Stake, a crypto-betting and online casino giant, has drawn criticism from some corners of the community. While Stake also sponsors Formula 1 and even music star Drake, many esports fans feel uneasy about gambling money fuelling the scene.

Some have even half-jokingly labelled it the “Stake curse,” suggesting the partnership has coincided with Vitality’s sudden dip in results. Whether that’s superstition or not, the timing hasn’t helped.

Looking Ahead

Vitality’s slump is surprising, but not terminal. A team stacked with talent like ZywOo, ropz, and apEX still has the firepower to reclaim trophies, they just need to find their rhythm again.

The MongolZ, meanwhile, are enjoying a breakthrough moment, taking down the world’s best on their way to the BLAST Bounty final. For a roster that’s spent months grinding and chasing recognition, the semi-final win over Vitality might just be the confidence boost they needed to push for silverware.

For Vitality, though, the message is clear: the warning lights are flashing, and ropz knows it. The question is whether they can flip the switch in time for the World Cup.