Vitality declare Grand Slam with epic five-map win over Falcons

Vitality entered as favorites for IEM Melbourne this week and whereas they’ve walked away champions and ESL Grand Slam winners, it was as powerful because it ever will get.

Falcons made the champs work for it, with the 3-2 (13-2, 12-16, 13-9, 10-13, 22-20) victory taking a monstrous six-plus hours. The ten,000-strong Aussie crowd had been as torpid because the gamers by the top, however each left all of it in Rod Laver Enviornment for the historical past books.

William “mezii” Merriman, a significant piece to Vitality’s puzzle, spoke to esports.gg following the grand closing epic, discussing the crew’s method to Falcons within the veto, his particular person enchancment over 2024, and what it should take to remain on prime in such a aggressive CS2 environment.

Six and a half hours of Counter-Strike. IEM Katowice, EPL, BLAST Lisbon, and now Melbourne plus the Grand Slam within the bag. Did you anticipate 2025 to start like this? 

“No method. I imply, after we picked up ropz, I feel we knew we might do some injury. We knew we had been prepared to begin successful some tournaments. I feel we had a tough 2024, however I feel you may by no means anticipate to win this many tournaments that fast. 

“We knew final 12 months it is powerful to win CS tournaments, it is actually powerful, so I am simply blissful that we will journey this wave, this momentum, and actually be dominant as a result of it is actually powerful for the time being. 

“Even you noticed at this time, Falcons, who’re a brand new crew and bought a brand new participant they usually have not had a lot time to follow, they made it actually powerful for us and I am simply blissful we closed it out.”

m0NESY spoke to me earlier this week about Falcons engaged on getting reps on Prepare. What did you consider their Prepare whenever you guys bought to it? It appeared like a map that we thought you guys had been going to have within the bag fairly comfortably but it surely was a bit nearer than anticipated. 

“It is at all times powerful as a result of we do not have a number of prep on them [on the map] however we’re actually assured in how we play. I feel it should not have been that shut. We had like two or three 5v3s or one thing the place we actually should not be dropping these rounds. So it made it so much nearer than it appears. 

“Total I feel they performed a stable prepare. I feel it is also right down to time. I do not assume they’ve sufficient time to have the ability to add depth to their strat ebook. It was extra of a bonus for us.”

One for the historical past books. (Photograph through ESL)

Was there any expectation or any concern about Falcons coming into this occasion? So many had been making ready for the MOUZ problem in that grand closing.

“I feel total you form of anticipate them to be on this type of honeymoon interval. m0NESY is a good addition, he is a top-three AWPer and I’ve stated earlier than it is the distinction when you could have a participant like ZywOo or donk. You possibly can have these prime 5, prime 10 gamers and naturally they’re nice. 

“It takes your stage to a different recreation and even with not a lot time for them when it comes to preparation and follow, you may see what they will do. We had a detailed better of three initially in opposition to them, we knew this best-of-five was going to be powerful as nicely.”

That’s 21 wins in a row. The comparisons to prime Astralis are rife. How do you personally keep grounded and enhance whenever you’re on prime like this? Grand Slam is one achievement, however a Main win is one other, proper?

“I feel for us it is form of like a redemption or revenge form of feeling from 2024. We felt like we positively wasted a while. We did not shut out any of the tournaments that we wished to. We did not win as a lot as we wished to and we wasted the second a part of the 12 months.

“If you’re placing a lot time in coming into this 12 months, we had been going to go as onerous as we might and win as a lot as we might since you by no means know when the subsequent win goes to be.

“After all, we received 4 of those tournaments however for us we have to simply preserve going. If we bum out of Austin, all this is not going to matter. We win the Grand Slam, yeah, it is nice; we have a 21 win streak, nice. But when we do not do nicely on the Main then its all for naught.

“Each participant needs to be within the document books of enjoying nicely on the Majors and successful a Main and I feel that is what we wish to do as nicely—it is our principal objective.”

Mezii is now a Grand Slam champion. (Photograph through ESL)

The crew’s technique is top-notch, your psychological fortitude is world-class, however you’re additionally all exhibiting you may dangle with the very best individually, too. All of you guys seemingly had your moments, even in tonight’s recreation. The place would you charge your self individually the place you are at in comparison with the place you’ve got been previously? 

“I am enjoying some higher CS, some extra constant CS I feel is an important factor. The primary a part of final 12 months, I used to be not enjoying very nicely. I used to be very inconsistent however in direction of the top of 12 months it picked up. This 12 months I am seeing issues at a a lot better stage.

“I wish to be a stable participant for the crew. I wish to be somebody they will depend on. For me, I have been working actually onerous with a number of the workers, the coaches, the assistant coach as nicely, Matt has been serving to me work on my recreation and enhance in some positions. 

“I’ve been extra constant, however I do know I will be higher.”

What is the plan for the remainder of your time right here earlier than you head to Copenhagen? Early evening after such a slog, or hitting Melbourne to have fun? 

“I am not going to have a lot time [to celebrate] however no less than for tonight there’s going to be a couple of drinks. I’ve already completed my first shoey which has been enjoyable, I might have loved doing it on the stage!

“We wish to let all of it soak in, converse to the household as nicely and simply get pleasure from this time. After all, we’re going straight into the subsequent event and we do not wish to fall off. Like I stated, we have a win streak to maintain up now.”

ESL Grand Slam and IEM Melbourne champs Vitality will benefit from the evening out earlier than they fly to Copenhagen for BLAST Rivals Spring.