Team Vitality Win ESL Grand Slam after IEM Melbourne 2025 Triumph

Full Event Overview

At IEM Melbourne 2025, Team Vitality secured a historic victory, defeating Team Falcons 3–2 in the grand final. This win made Vitality the fifth team ever to complete the ESL Grand Slam and earned them an additional prize of $1,000,000.

The final was a true test of endurance and mental strength, with momentum shifting constantly between the teams, making it one of the most thrilling finals of the season.

How the Final Unfolded

Inferno (11:13, Falcons)

Falcons set an aggressive pace early, controlling mid and pushing banana. Vitality struggled with map control, especially losing key B-site holds. Falcons closed it out after a tight 10:10 scoreline.

Overpass (13:7, Vitality)

Vitality tightened their setups, dominated water control, and dictated A-site entries. Magisk shone on support, while ZywOo clutched crucial 1v2 situations.

Mirage (8:13, Falcons)

Falcons bounced back with creative defensive setups, exploiting mid control effectively. Vitality lacked a clear adaptation strategy.

Anubis (13:10, Vitality)

Down 2:7, Vitality pulled off a six-round streak to reclaim the map, powered by Spinx’s sharp mid-round calls.

Nuke (13:5, Vitality)

Vitality shut down Falcons early, taking a 6:0 lead. ZywOo was unstoppable on outside control, finishing the map with 25+ kills and a 1.49 rating.

Key Moments of the Final

• Falcons opened Inferno with a 5-round streak.
• ZywOo’s 1v2 clutch on Overpass shifted the momentum.
• Vitality staged a major comeback from 2:7 on Anubis.
• Nuke was a Vitality clinic, ending 13:5.

For Bettors

Team Vitality

• Highly consistent under pressure across BO3 and BO5 formats.
• Exceptional ability to recover from deficits.
• Strongest on tactical-heavy maps (Overpass, Anubis, Nuke).
• ZywOo leads, but Spinx increasingly steps up in high-pressure moments.

Betting Takeaway: Reliable picks for series bets and outrights. Vitality also show momentum shifts mid-maps (5th–10th rounds), ideal for live bets.

Team Falcons

• Fast early-round play with aggressive openers.
• Struggle with maintaining focus deep into maps.
• Vulnerable in extended BO5 series.

Betting Takeaway: Good picks for first-map bets and pistol round upsets. Caution advised for full match bets against top-tier teams.

What This Match Showed

Vitality proved their ability to dominate any opponent with resilience and tactical depth. Their form solidifies them as frontrunners for upcoming major events like BLAST Spring Final and IEM Cologne.

Falcons showed mechanical prowess but must improve their strategic depth and mental endurance to compete consistently at the highest level.

Summary

Team Vitality not only won the title and the $1 million bonus but also reaffirmed their dominance over the CS2 competitive scene in 2025. Meanwhile, Team Falcons emerged as a promising contender who still needs refinement for major success.