Team Vitality launches CS2 academy after IEM Rio win

Team Vitality has launched Vitality Academy, a development roster for Counter-Strike 2, after winning consecutive ESL Pro Tour events, including IEM Rio 2026 and its $1 million prize. The academy will operate as a training pathway linked to Vitality’s main CS2 team.

The organization prepared the squad for several months under the codename “Project H.” It credited recent competitive results with increasing sponsorship interest and commercial revenue, which provided funds to expand the competitive program. Vitality said the academy will compete at LAN events immediately and follow a structured development plan.

Coaching will be led by Pablo “VdaK1NG” Escobar. Matthieu Péché, an Olympic canoeist who managed Vitality’s main CS roster from 2018 to 2025, will serve as team manager. The academy will have access to the same facilities as the senior team, including bootcamps, joint practice sessions and direct feedback from the main roster.

Fabien “Neo” Devide called the academy “investing in the future of our ecosystem,” adding that strong development pathways are needed for esports to grow. He linked the launch to the team’s recent results and to increased commercial opportunities.

Devide said senior players are expected to mentor academy members and cited Dan “apEX” Madesclaire’s work coaching lower-tier French teams as an example. He pointed to the free signing of Robin “ropz” Kool as an instance of roster management the club prefers over paying buyouts.

The club acknowledged recent departures in its performance staff, including Anne Banschbach and Qayser Sachdev, and said operations have continued without a drop in results. Vitality plans to accept younger players, including 16-year-olds, and aims to increase access to Counter-Strike careers in France, where League of Legends currently attracts larger audiences.