Following the recent EWC Esports World Cup, Vitality rifler flameZ gave an interview, discussing the first-round loss to B8, the team's current issues on Dust II, and the upcoming situation of mezii and apEX taking turns to "rest".
Regarding the loss to B8 Esports
flameZ: In that match, we completely failed to play our own game, perhaps because our individual form wasn't at its best. This kind of situation can happen, and it has happened before, and we've even won many matches in this state in the past. But this time, we barely executed anything we had prepared, completely deviating from our original game plan. I think it was a really terrible match for us.
Regarding Vitality's issues on Dust2
flameZ: I feel that other teams are increasingly adapting and adjusting to counter us, but this also gives us opportunities because Dust2 is a map we know how to play. The problem is that we need to punish these adjustments from our opponents, and recently we haven't been doing that.
About LVG
flameZ: In the past, Chinese teams' playstyle was very aggressive, relying heavily on individual skill: they were always going for headshots and actively seeking out duels. But now, they are much more structured. They have more tactical plans, and players have more pre-set strategies that are thoroughly communicated beforehand.
Back when I was playing for OG, whenever we faced Chinese teams, we even had to start preparing the day before the match because we knew it would absolutely be a very tough game. But now when you start practicing with them, it feels a bit different: the CS they play now is much closer to the style we face every day in Europe. It used to be really difficult because you were preparing for a completely different style of play.
Regarding the Use of Substitute Players in Future Tournaments
flameZ: I know that when we arrive at the Major with our full roster, everything will be fine. But there is indeed an issue here: in the tournaments where all five of us can compete together, we must deliver good results. Because if we head into the Major with poor results and insufficient VRS points, it also means we haven't performed at the level we should have. If we can't reach the semifinals or those knockout stages we're supposed to be in, our confidence will genuinely take a hit. This event is particularly important, especially in Paris, playing on home soil for the French. We need to perform well here, and also finish the rest of the season strong—we can't afford to underperform in events where we have our complete lineup. Of course, this season has been tough because our preparation keeps getting disrupted: you practice with one player, then it gets interrupted, and then you switch to another. One of them is your in-game leader, which is critical and one of the biggest factors that can change the dynamic of the game. So, naturally, we need to keep improving in these tournaments.
Earlier, Vitality defeated LVG 2-0 in the CS2 group stage of the Esports World Cup 2026. With this victory, Vitality, featuring flameZ, successfully advanced to the tournament's knockout stage, which will begin on August 19.