Team Vitality closed out one of the most successful seasons in Counter-Strike history on Sunday, defeating FaZe Clan 3-1 to win the StarLadder Budapest Major 2025. The victory marks the organization’s second Major title of the year and its third Major championship in the past three seasons.

The Budapest triumph adds to a growing list of accolades for the French organization in 2025, bringing its total to nine international titles across Counter-Strike 2 competitions. It is the first time since 2019 that a team has won two Major tournaments in a single season, underscoring Vitality’s sustained dominance at the highest level of play.

Vitality previously captured the BLAST.tv Austin Major in June and entered Budapest as one of the tournament favorites. The team lived up to expectations throughout the event, combining disciplined map control with consistent individual performances to navigate a highly competitive field.

Mathieu “ZywOo” Herbaut once again played a central role in the team’s success. The French star was named Major Most Valuable Player, earning the honor for the third time in his career and further strengthening his case as one of the most accomplished players in Counter-Strike history.

A dominant run through Budapest

Vitality advanced to the playoffs with a 3-1 record in the opening stage before securing a 2-0 victory over The MongolZ in the quarterfinals. In the semifinals, the team faced Team Spirit, a Russian squad widely regarded as one of the event’s most dangerous contenders. Vitality won the series 2-0, highlighted by a comeback victory on Mirage that proved decisive.

Sunday’s grand final took place in front of more than 20,000 spectators at the Budapest Arena, with a global audience watching online. FaZe Clan claimed one map in the best-of-five series, but Vitality maintained control across the remaining games to secure the championship.

Beyond Major titles, Vitality’s 2025 season included an ESL Grand Slam victory and a 30-match winning streak earlier in the year. The team also received multiple end-of-year honors, including Esports Team of the Year awards from both The Game Awards and the Esports Awards.

With the Budapest Major trophy, Vitality finishes 2025 at the top of the Counter-Strike 2 world rankings and heads into 2026 widely regarded as the benchmark for competitive excellence in the game.