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Team Vitality Rises from the Ashes to Sweep ESL Pro League S22 Grand Final
Team Vitality delivered a masterclass in resilience and dominance as they vanquished Team Falcons 3-0 to claim the ESL Pro League Season 22 crown. From the nail-biting opener on Inferno to a commanding close on Dust2, Vitality showcased why they are among the world’s elite.
Map Veto in ESL Pro League S22 Grand Final
In the best-of-five grand final:
- Vitality removed Ancient
- Falcons removed Overpass
- Vitality picked Inferno
- Falcons picked Train
- Vitality picked Dust2
- Falcons picked Nuke
- Mirage remained as the decider (unused)
Inferno: 13-10
On Inferno, the series opener, both teams began in deadlock, trading rounds and showing respect for each other’s tactical depth. Yet it was in the tightly contested moments of the second half where Vitality’s defense surfaced most vividly, allowing them to string together decisive stops and counter Falcons’ best efforts.
Train: 13-9
Moving to Train, with the pressure of playing on the opponent’s pick, Vitality refused to relinquish their grip on the map. Their approach was marked by frequent pace shifts and well-rehearsed utility, exploiting gaps in Falcons’ defenses while their own CT setups repeatedly turned away multi-man hits. The mid-map duels (crucial on Train) were largely dominated by Vitality’s in-form riflers, whose ability to shut down flanks and punish overextensions took the wind out of Falcons’ sails, leading to a second methodical win.
Dust2: 13-5
Vitality stormed through Dust2 with overwhelming offensive strength, racing to a 10-2 lead in the first half by shutting down Falcons’ defenses and executing near-perfect site entries, most notably through mezii’s 19 kills and flameZ’s multi-frag impact; the second half was merely a formality, as the squad transformed their composure and pressure into an effortless 13-5 map win, demonstrating complete dominance in both statistics and momentum.
Ropz' 5th ESL Pro League title
A noteworthy achievement from the Grand Final is ropz’s continued ascent in Counter-Strike history as this title marks his fifth ESL Pro League trophy overall, having won his first with MOUZ, collected two with FaZe, and now earned back-to-back championships with Vitality.
DHL MVP: Zywoo
ZywOo received the DHL MVP award for his consistently elite performance throughout the Grand Final, showing up with decisive impact in every map and complementing Vitality’s firepower with reliable clutch potential, sharp AWPing, and utility play that once again marked his reputation as one of esports' true superstars.
What's next for both Vitality and Falcons
This championship marks the return to form for Team Vitality and firmly places them back in the conversation for the top spot in the Counter-Strike world, showcasing their adaptability and depth as they eye further dominance in upcoming events. For Falcons, the loss is a hard lesson at the highest level, and how they regroup from this defeat, addressing tactical gaps and shoring up their synergy, will be pivotal if they are to challenge for titles again in the near future.
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Feature image credits: ESL
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