apEX: NAVI Can’t Be Counted Out Ahead of BLAST Final

Vitality will face Natus Vincere in the BLAST Rivals grand final. NAVI hold an 18-1 lead in maps against Vitality dating to NAVI’s switch to an international roster and Shahar “flameZ” Shushan joining Vitality in mid-2023. Vitality captain Dan “apEX” Madesclaire warned that those numbers do not determine the outcome of a single match.

The 18-1 map record covers head-to-head results since the roster changes and frames expectations for the final. The match will decide whether Vitality wins a single game to change that total or whether NAVI adds to it.

apEX cautioned that a final is a different kind of match and urged his team to focus on performance rather than past results: “I’m never sure if I’m comfortable playing against NAVI. Of course the stats show it, but in my head, I’m never like that. It’s another game, it’s a new opportunity for us to win. And it’s a grand final, a grand final is never like the other games. So for us it’s going to be a tough one.” He noted Vitality’s strong showing on Mirage but questioned consistency: “If we play our A game as we did on Mirage, I think people have no chance. But will we bring our A game tomorrow? That’s the question.”

apEX described his role as a veteran leader trying to keep the squad focused despite fatigue: “I’m this annoying older man who just keeps repeating, ‘Guys, let’s fucking go again. I know you’re fried, but let’s fucking go.'”

The BLAST Rivals grand final will provide the result that updates the head-to-head map record between the teams.