Mezii and Vitality are on high of the world after the win in Melbourne. Now comes the arduous half—staying on high.
Vitality entered as favorites for IEM Melbourne this week and whereas they’ve walked away champions and ESL Grand Slam winners, it was as powerful because it ever will get.
Falcons made the champs work for it, with the 3-2 (13-2, 12-16, 13-9, 10-13, 22-20) victory taking a monstrous six-plus hours. The ten,000-strong Aussie crowd had been as torpid because the gamers by the tip, however each left all of it in Rod Laver Area for the historical past books.
William “mezii” Merriman, a significant piece to Vitality’s puzzle, spoke to esports.gg following the grand remaining epic, discussing the crew’s method to Falcons within the veto, his particular person enchancment over 2024, and what it’ll take to remain on high in such a aggressive CS2 environment.
mezii: “If we do not do properly on the Main, then all that is for naught”
Six and a half hours of Counter-Strike. IEM Katowice, EPL, BLAST Lisbon, and now Melbourne plus the Grand Slam within the bag. Did you count on 2025 to start like this?
“No approach. I imply, after we picked up ropz, I feel we knew we may do some harm. We knew we had been prepared to begin successful some tournaments. I feel we had a tough 2024, however I feel you possibly can by no means count on to win this many tournaments that fast.
“We knew final 12 months it is powerful to win CS tournaments, it is actually powerful, so I am simply joyful that we will journey this wave, this momentum, and actually be dominant as a result of it is actually powerful in the meanwhile.
“Even you noticed immediately, Falcons, who’re a brand new crew and received a brand new participant they usually have not had a lot time to observe, they made it actually powerful for us and I am simply joyful we closed it out.”
m0NESY spoke to me earlier this week about Falcons engaged on getting reps on Practice. What did you consider their Practice whenever you guys received to it? It appeared like a map that we thought you guys had been going to have within the bag fairly comfortably nevertheless it was a bit nearer than anticipated.
“It is all the time powerful as a result of we do not have lots of prep on them [on the map] however we’re actually assured in how we play. I feel it should not have been that shut. We had like two or three 5v3s or one thing the place we actually should not be shedding these rounds. So it made it lots nearer than it appears to be like.
“General I feel they performed a strong practice. I feel it is also right down to time. I do not assume they’ve sufficient time to have the ability to add depth to their strat guide. It was extra of a bonus for us.”
One for the historical past books. (Picture through ESL)
Was there any expectation or any concern about Falcons coming into this occasion? So many had been making ready for the MOUZ problem in that grand remaining.
“I feel total you type of count on them to be on this type of honeymoon interval. m0NESY is a good addition, he is a top-three AWPer and I’ve stated earlier than it is the distinction when you might have a participant like ZywOo or donk. You possibly can have these high 5, high 10 gamers and naturally they’re nice.
“It takes your stage to a different sport and even with not a lot time for them when it comes to preparation and observe, you possibly can see what they’ll do. We had an in depth better of three initially towards them, we knew this best-of-five was going to be powerful as properly.”
That’s 21 wins in a row. The comparisons to prime Astralis are rife. How do you personally keep grounded and enhance whenever you’re on high like this? Grand Slam is one achievement, however a Main win is one other, proper?
“I feel for us it is type of like a redemption or revenge type of feeling from 2024. We felt like we undoubtedly wasted a while. We did not shut out any of the tournaments that we needed to. We did not win as a lot as we needed to and we wasted the second a part of the 12 months.
“Whenever you’re placing a lot time in coming into this 12 months, we had been going to go as arduous as we may and win as a lot as we may since you by no means know when the following win goes to be.
“After all, we received 4 of those tournaments however for us we have to simply preserve going. If we bum out of Austin, all this is not going to matter. We win the Grand Slam, yeah, it is nice; we have got a 21 win streak, nice. But when we do not do properly on the Main then its all for naught.
“Each participant desires to be within the report books of taking part in properly on the Majors and successful a Main and I feel that is what we wish to do as properly—it is our major objective.”
Mezii is now a Grand Slam champion. (Picture through ESL)
The crew’s technique is top-notch, your psychological fortitude is world-class, however you’re additionally all displaying you possibly can grasp with one of the best individually, too. All of you guys seemingly had your moments, even in tonight’s sport. The place would you fee your self individually the place you are at in comparison with the place you have been up to now?
“I am taking part in some higher CS, some extra constant CS I feel is a very powerful factor. The primary a part of final 12 months, I used to be not taking part in very properly. I used to be very inconsistent however in direction of the tip of 12 months it picked up. This 12 months I am seeing issues at a significantly better stage.
“I wish to be a strong participant for the crew. I wish to be somebody they’ll depend on. For me, I have been working actually arduous with lots of the employees, the coaches, the assistant coach as properly, Matt has been serving to me work on my sport and enhance in some positions.
“I’ve been extra constant, however I do know I may be higher.”
What is the plan for the remainder of your time right here earlier than you head to Copenhagen? Early night time after such a slog, or hitting Melbourne to have fun?
“I am not going to have a lot time [to celebrate] however at the least for tonight there’s going to be a couple of drinks. I’ve already carried out my first shoey which has been enjoyable, I’d have loved doing it on the stage!
“We wish to let all of it soak in, converse to the household as properly and simply take pleasure in this time. After all, we’re going straight into the following event and we do not wish to fall off. Like I stated, we have got a win streak to maintain up now.”
ESL Grand Slam and IEM Melbourne champs Vitality will benefit from the night time out earlier than they fly to Copenhagen for BLAST Rivals Spring.
