FlameZ: Vitality will chase U.S. trophies, rest before Major

Vitality edged FUT 2-1 in Fort Worth on a day when coach András “coolio” Fercsák stood in for Laurențiu “lauNX” Țârlea. Shahar “flameZ” Shushan said the team will continue to chase trophies in U.S. events but will prioritize rest and preparation ahead of the Major.

The series included an unexpected loss on Dust2, a map Vitality had not dropped earlier in the year, and a tight finish on Nuke before the squad closed out the match. FlameZ attributed the Dust2 setback to poor execution and missed communication after an early T-side lead, saying the team “took it too easy” and failed to finish rounds they had controlled. He also noted FUT found effective timings and lurks that capitalized on those weaknesses.

Frustration after Dust2 led to a visible reaction from the team, including a desk slam and a huddle. FlameZ described a quick reset between maps, with players stepping outside to calm down and focus on communication and round-closing decisions. That reset produced a strong CT side on the decider.

On Nuke, small errors in utility use and missed kills turned manageable situations into close rounds. FlameZ described those moments as signs of rust rather than a systemic failure and said the team would prepare more thoroughly if they meet Nuke again. “We were just a bit rusty on a bit of utility and some understanding of certain rounds,” he added.

The team has been competing in a four-tournament stretch that included BLAST Rotterdam, IEM Rio where they completed the Grand Slam, BLAST Rivals and IEM Atlanta. FlameZ pointed to travel and a tight schedule — frequent flights between Europe and the Americas with limited practice time — as factors limiting preparation and recovery. “It’s tough to bring a lot of energy when you lack energy outside of that,” he explained.

Venue conditions affected the morning match. FlameZ said strong air conditioning left players with cold, dry hands; he used hand warmers wrapped in paper between maps until the temperature improved.

Vitality’s immediate objective remains to reach the playoffs and raise their level there. FlameZ said the team accepts rough starts as long as they advance and noted the squad’s depth allows them to win matches even when parts of their play are sloppy.

Off the server, flameZ and teammate Robin “ropz” Kool plan to hike and take time off while in the U.S., though both expect to remain connected and continue some practice. FlameZ reiterated that conserving energy for the Major is the top priority while still pursuing trophies in the remaining U.S. events.