flameZ credits Vitality’s communication after EPL win

Team Vitality defeated PARIVISION in the ESL Pro League quarter-final at Spodek to reach the semifinals, where it will face Aurora.

Shahar “flameZ” Shushan entered the match after recording a 1.32 rating in the group stage. He continued that form on Inferno, finishing the opening map with a 2.30 rating as Vitality took the lead in the series.

PARIVISION fought back on Dust2, but Vitality secured the series and advanced. Aurora will be the next opponent after recently beating Vitality and losing to them later on the same day.

“Every second that we talked with each other, there was movement,” flameZ said. “Every second on TeamSpeak was very alive, and that’s something that we know as players: when we are talking like that, no one can beat us.”

The rifler also discussed Dan “apEX” Madesclaire’s utility damage. apEX recorded 14 assists during the half and killed seven players, while flameZ had 16 kills despite dealing less damage.

“I’m killing all your leftovers,” flameZ recalled telling apEX. “He killed seven, I killed 16, and I had less damage than him, so it’s crazy how much utility damage he does.”

FlameZ identified courage as a key part of Vitality’s best performances. He explained that players can still help the team when their individual form is weaker by taking opportunities and continuing to communicate.

“If every player on the team is very willing to go for plays, willing to just do stuff, then that’s when we’re on our A game,” he said.

He credited apEX, Mathieu “MaT” Leber and Rémy “XTQZZZ” Koné with contributing to the team’s preparation. The players also bring individual ideas into matches.

FlameZ added that he has become more vocal since joining Vitality. He described himself as a talkative player and noted that short suggestions during rounds can give apEX and his teammates new options.

“Sometimes just telling, ‘Yo, Dan, we can do that,’ in the middle of the round, just gives him another idea in mind,” he said. “Those little words, they make us win a lot of times.”

The result adds to flameZ’s 2026 record. He has earned four EVP awards during the first half of the year and was considered for the MVP award at BLAST Open Rotterdam.

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