Onic: Inner Circle’s mental strength topples Vitality

Inner Circle defeated Team Vitality 2-0 in their opening match at BLAST Open Porto in Portugal, closing the series in two maps.

The match included a comeback on Cache, where Inner Circle trailed 7-12 before winning the map and the match. Vitality played the match with a stand-in.

Viktor “onic” Babii said the team’s composure and quick decision-making under pressure powered the turnaround. “Of course everybody knows they’re better than us, and it’s normal, but today we were just mentally much, much stronger. I’m just proud of my guys,” he said.

He recalled a specific moment on Cache when he twice typed ‘tactical’ in chat while trying to buy a tac kit, then called an unexpectedly fast round after realizing there was no utility purchase. The rapid play won a key round and shifted momentum in Inner Circle’s favor.

Babii noted the win added roughly 80 VRS points to the team’s total and that additional points will come from the event prize pool, improving their standing in Major qualification. Inner Circle will face either 9z Team or MOUZ in the next round.

He added that the squad’s current focus is gaining experience and building discipline rather than chasing short-term results. The roster, which won Super DraculaN before the player break, has posted a high win rate in recent months and is working on chemistry as a young lineup.