“I’m actually disenchanted.” Vitality coach Rémy “XTQZZZ” Quoniam admitted after his workforce’s newest heartbreak at BLAST Open London. “We had the sport on Inferno. However at 12-11, we simply didn’t look behind us and so they had been there.”
For a squad that stormed by the primary half of the season with seven straight titles, the previous few months have been a stark distinction. One other grand remaining look ended with out silverware, and XTQZZZ was blunt concerning the feeling within the Vitality camp: “We need to win. Merely reaching a remaining isn’t sufficient.”
XTQZZZ spoke to Esports.web instantly after the defeat to G2. Picture Credit score: BLAST
G2 strike at Vitality’s low level
Standing of their manner was G2 Esports, which had rediscovered its chew and claimed the London trophy in emphatic style. G2’s run by Group Spirit, FaZe Clan, FURIA, and now Vitality confirmed a stark turnaround in type from a workforce that had truthfully struggled to place collectively a string of excellent outcomes all 12 months.
The grand remaining started with humiliation for Vitality with a 13-2 collapse on Dust2 that made them look extra like a tier-three workforce than reigning Main champions. Although they roared again with dominant wins on Mirage and Overpass, together with a flawless 16-0 T facet from Mathieu “ZywOo” Herbaut, it was not sufficient.
Inferno proved to be the pivotal map. Vitality seemed on the point of sealing the sequence and championship, when having a championship spherical at 12-11. G2 managed to pressure extra time with trophy-saving clutch. Sweeping the additional rounds 4-0, G2 grabbed maintain of the grand remaining and refused to let the grip loosen.
“Then on Prepare, it’s a CT map, we misplaced each pistols, so it’s robust,” XTQZZZ stated, as G2 closed the sequence with a commanding 13-6 win. Match MVP Nikita “HeavyGod” Martynenko and teammate Matus “MATYS” Simko had been the standout performers on the deciding map.
A fading period?
With one other remaining slipping by their fingers, questions concerning the decline of Vitality’s “period” are unavoidable. XTQZZZ himself didn’t deny the suggestion, however sounded weary: “I don’t know.”
He pointed to fatigue as a key issue: “The workforce wants a break,” he defined, after seven relentless weeks of competitors. However he additionally acknowledged deeper issues: “We’re not as sturdy individually by 5 or ten % than in earlier months… and the mentality isn’t ok. We’re annoyed manner quicker than earlier than, and that’s a difficulty. It’s technical and in addition psychological.”
Vitality now faces a vital reset interval earlier than the ESL Professional League begins on October 3. Whether or not that is really the top of their dominance or only a short-term stumble will rely on whether or not XTQZZZ and the roster can rediscover the unimaginable consistency they as soon as had. One factor’s for certain: the starvation to win stays.
